Hi
I'm thinking of building a manure box for my new allotment, something to throw manure in and keep it for 6 months or so until it's rotted.
I'm thinking of using the wood from a couple of standard size wooden pallets.
Anyone done something similar?
Regards,
Easywriter
many of the muck boxes on our site are pallet wood 'though we're fortunate a local wood recycler drops off any wood they can't use as well.
My OH has built several for neighbours .He usually prises the wood apart if they aren't uniform in shape and most folk seem to line them with old compost bags.
We are divided equally between to cover or not debate either way seems to offer the same result :)
Thanks for the reply
Well, I'm thinking COVER, with tarpaulin or platic sheeting or something, to make it easy to add more manure as and when. I'm also thinking of leaving a small gap between each wood 'rib', not wide enough to let the manure fall out, but enough to let some air in. Or make airtight?
We get free deliveries of pallets from a neighbouring builders' yard, so most of us have compost heaps made of pallets. The usual method is a stout stake on each corner, then lash or nail them together.
I don't think it makes much different whether you cover or not. I used to, but don't usually bother now.
We've got a couple of old washing line props I'm hoping to use as the corner posts.
Just thought - CREOSOTE the wood (on the outside) or could that contaminate the manure?
I don't think creosote is recommended any more.
But I'm sure you've got better things to do with your time? By the time the timber rots, the manure will be ready to use. Get some new pallets and start again. (Burn the old ones and use the ashes!)
Put a couple of inches of soil on the top, instead of covering it, and sow some pumpkins/squash in it... they'll love it... :)
I nail two 1.2m pallets onto the ends of a 2.2 ,m pallet, and then half a 2.2 m pallet on other side for a dropped front, lined with black plastic, voila, one compost bin.
If you get good quality pallets (the 1.2 x 1.2 m heavy ones ) there treated to last 20 years.
Agree about the treating, waste of time. The bin will last for years without it (i'm up to year seven).
I have always struggled nailing or screwing pallets together. I use copious amount sof cable ties, about four at each corner and that seems to stop the thing moving and if you want to remove the front to get at it its an easy job with a knife.
I used just piled it against the mesh border fence on my plot and used two pallets to contain the sides. The front is left open for easy access. I ordered a trailer load in February and 50 wheelbarrow trips later the job was done!
The heap has already reduced in height by a foot or so, so its doing the job!
Love your idea Saddad, will be recycling that one and claiming it as my own ;)
My pumpkin (a gift from Manuel) did well in my manure/compost box last year. It had 3 water cans of water a day, which did the compost good and still have pumpkin in the freezer. I have also just planted two pumpkin plants (grown from seed) in my rubbish heap and covered them with straw, nothing lost, nothing gained. Don't worry as I have loads more.
I'm not sure I would bother building a special box for it. We just piled it up in a corner, covered it with a tarp and dug into it as and when it was needed.
Like the idea of growing pumpkins or courgettes on it :)
We put our leftover manure in a composter OH made. With only half a plot there was nowhere to stack it. Might use it to grow squash in.