Best way to make a compost bin?

[mpdjulie]

My husband intends on making a compost bin from timber for our allotment.  I was wondering which way would be best - open framed (like wooden pallets) or gapless (like a box with a lid).  Both will have a lid made for them.
Julie
???

[mpdjulie]

[compothefirst]

Whatever design it is, it needs slabs underneath and chicken wire round the sides to deter rats (learnt from experience!)

[Tee Gee]

and it wants at least one removable side for access to your compost!

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

We like using pallets - only for the reason that it lets air into the heap - and they are often Free  :)

Thanks

[chriscross1966]

Some of these:


and one of these:



chrisc

[mpdjulie]

I thought you needed to leave the bottom of the heap open to the earth to allow worms access into the heap.  Wouldn't putting a slab underneath stop that?
??? :-\ ???

[chriscross1966]

I thought you needed to leave the bottom of the heap open to the earth to allow worms access into the heap.  Wouldn't putting a slab underneath stop that?
??? :-\ ???

Worms will get in there quickly enough anyway and once you#'ve got two worms in there you'll have lots of worms soon.... if rats are a problem then there's no point in letting them have an easy burrow....

chrisc

[elvis2003]

oh,and dont let your husband say yes when your neighbours  ask if you can store their heavy scaffold timber along the opening sides of all your manure and compost bins,they will still be there 11 months later when you need access to them. do i sound bitter?
;D

[cornykev]

Yes Elvis you sound bitter and bloody right too, start using the timber I would.
Julie I would always leave the bottom of my compost bins open, if the rats want to get in, they'll get in what ever.  ;D ;D ;D

[elvis2003]

its tricky as they have become friends,not that friendly mind as they dont tend their plot,we weed it more than they do to prevent all the seeds blowing over  ;D

[cornykev]

I'd use some of it and play dumb thinking it was for both of your uses.   ;)    ;D ;D ;D

[elvis2003]

naughty naughty kev  ;)
i wouldnt do that,even if we did need it,and thers so much of it i still wouldnt be able to get at my compost if half was moved,im going to have to give them a call methinks

[stevew451]

hello i made mine out of cheep decking with slide in front slats as you fill up easy peasy

[jono]

Hi,
Get some old pallets and steak them into the ground with some fence posts, leave the bottom open as you want all the bugs to get into it and also good drainage! and if rats want to get in they will, millions of houses suffer with mice and rats across the uk, if chicken wire kept them out then i'd be in the chicken wire business!!
Remember to add lime to hardy weeds and if you other half isn't shy male urine is a good ingredient! Oh and remember to turn it and have a good mix of green and brown! Hope this helps!