Question about compost containers?

Question

I was wondering if I should buy a compost container, or can I just use a garbage can? Any tips on how I get started? What do I throw in first, and should I drill holes in the garbage can? Thanks!

Answer 1

I've got a garbage can with some great mature compost in it right now, as my main compost container was full and I had a ton of extra stuff to compost.

Compost making is best done in a container that will trap the heat,  allow air movement and preferably allow worms in, to help in breaking up your material.   If you can add some holes to your container to help with aeration, drainage, as well as allow worms to come and go you'll have a great starting point.  Otherwise, in summer, compost production is pretty fast, due to the heat.  You can add worms from your garden into your can too.

The other key tips I recommend for compost making are:

1  Siting - ensure that it's a good hot spot

2. Mix green and brown plant material in layers - green would include green leafy material, such as grass and other plant leaves.  Brown would be older dead material, such as fallen leaves etc.  I store some of the fallen leaves in autumn to mix in the following year.  Mixing your compost this way ensures a good balance for the chemical processes that happen whilst compost matures.

3.  Add some garden soil into the mix, as this will contain many bacteria etc that will help in the process, possibly some worms too, if you don't add these separately.

4.  Turn over the compost regularly,  as this will help mix up the activing organisms, as well as spread the decaying process around, rather than just hot spot pockets.  Every couple of weeks is fine, though this becomes harder as your bin gets fuller.

In winter you can help insulate your bin, and keep it warmer, by adding some old carpet on top, etc.  Sometimes I also throw in the odd bit of animal manure too, or surround the pile with animal manure in winter, as the heat from decaying manure will help your compost to mature more quickly, when otherwise it would be cold and very slow to process.

Ensure that you pile doesn't try out too much,  and occasionally add water if it gets this way.

My final overflow compost 'bin' is any old plant tub that I may have around.  I cover this to retain heat.  

Hope this helps.  Good luck!  Rob