• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

How to Make Your Own Composting Bin

October 22, 2010 by ds_48512 Leave a Comment

Cut down on the amount of stuff you throw in the garbage and do something healthy for your garden by starting your own compost bin. Making your own composting bin takes very little effort. All you need is a plastic bin or trash can, a drill and material such as vegetable scraps and dried leaves to compost. Organic matter will break down and provide you with compost for your garden as long as you keep the contents of the bin balanced.

Step 1

Drill several 1/2 inch holes on the bottom of the bin and 6 inches up its sides. When in doubt, drilling more holes is better than drilling too few, as you want there to be plenty of air flow in the compost bin. Drill several holes into the lid of the bin as well.

Step 2

Place the empty bin on the tray, or directly onto soil if you have a large enough garden plot. You want worms, slugs and earwigs to be able to get into your compost. You also want the liquid from the compost to have a place to go, instead of collecting on a concrete walkway. You can catch it in the tray and pour it over plants when they need a bit of wet fertilizer.

Step 3

Pile a 6 inch layer of “greens,” or wet and fresh compost material, such as scraps from your kitchen, fresh grass cuttings and used coffee grinds and tea bags into the bin.

Step 4

Put about 6 inches of “browns,” or dry compost material, such as brown leaves and shredded newspaper in the bottom of the bin. You need to keep the distribution of greens and browns as even as possible for your bin to work properly.

Step 5

Add about 2 Tbsp of compost activator. You can use an activator that you purchased or use a few Tbsp of finished compost.

Step 6

Mix the greens and browns to get air flowing through the compost and to help speed the decomposition process. Turn the pile with a shovel or pitchfork every time you add materials to it.

Warnings

  • Do not compost dairy or meat scraps, cooked vegetables, diseased plants or weeds, pet waste or glossy paper. Some of those products will not break down, others will contaminate your compost.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Around The House

About ds_48512

Based in Pennsylvania, Emily Weller has been writing professionally since 2007, when she started writing theater reviews. Her writing covers a wide range of topics including theater, vegetarianism, travel and news. Weller has a Master of Fine Arts in dramaturgy and theater criticism from CUNY/Brooklyn College.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

ModernMom TV

Featured

The Little Boy On First Base

To all the coaches, parents, and fans of little … [Read More...] about The Little Boy On First Base

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

What Can I Substitute for Butter When Making Frosting?

Signs of Allergies to Infant Formula

Signs of Allergies to Infant Formula

Signs of PMS or Pregnancy

How Long Can Cupcakes Be Stored After Baking

How Long Can Cupcakes Be Stored After Baking?

Signs of Gestational Diabetes

Pregnancy & Signs of Gestational Diabetes

How to Cook Beef Round Cubes in a Pan

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Signs of Water Breaking in Pregnancy

Signs of Water Breaking in Pregnancy

early signs you are pregnant with twins

Early Signs You Are Pregnant With Twins

fade hair color quickly

How to Fade Hair Color Quickly

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2023 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.