Let the composting begin. Randy got my compost barrel made this past weekend. A couple of years ago we bought two 55 gallon food grade barrels from an all organic nursery, they use a lot of vinegar. One became the rainwater collection barrel I have been using for couple of years and am thinking about getting a couple more set up. Now the other is for composting. Some small vents will be added this coming weekend and I will need to remember to turn it so the door is down when it rains but other than that I think it will be very usefull for me.
That's very inventive Toni. How high is it? It's hard to tell from the photo. You should fill it up in no time. Do let us know how it goes.
How is it set up to turn, or do you do that manually, details please, I think I can get some of these barrels. Are they plastic or metal.
As it sits in the picture, the hinged bottom of the opening is 35" above ground level....or roughly waist high on me. The opening is 14" square. The barrel is sitting on four wheels, I have to roll it by hand. The barrel is plastic, I think a metal barrel would be way to heavy for easy turning and would rust contaminating the compost. When Randy gets off work, we will take the barrel off and take more detailed pictures of the frame he built along with some measurements.
The outside measurements of the base of the stand are 25" x 36". The legs are 20 1/2" long and are angled in just a bit, we measured 15" from center of one board to the center of the other board to get the correct angle. The top boards that the barrel sits on are 34" long. The measurement across the top from outer edge to outer edge of the boards is 18" All the boards are 2" x 4" Randy says he didn't draw or preplan any of it, he just started measuring and cutting. The wheels are the type you would attach to the bottom of a piece of furniture that you wanted to be able to move around.. They need to be aligned perfectly or it will cause the barrel to roll off when you turn it. That board standing up at one end is there to keep that from happening since he figures the wheels are just a tad off. Hope this helps and makes sense.
Thanks Toni for all the info and picts. I showed my husband the idea. It'll be on that honey do list.
Also, Hubby just suggested I tell you that it was put together with 'deck screws' They do not rust and will last far longer than plain wood screws.
What a wonderful piece of invention! I wish I had saw your project several months earlier so I would have not spent money on my new compost bin.
Composting is the most effective way to create a soil with great texture, drainage and nutrition for plants. If every one understood the cost efficiency of this recycling method, the amount of garbage would be greatly reduced.
That is so clever and to think you guys made it yourselves. 8) Also the idea with the srews is smart. The commercial ones are so expensive that i just make a heap here. But I will consider following your example if I can get someone to help me build it.
I put a 55 gallon drum on the wheels of an upsidedown wheelchair. It rolls so easy. Then I cut a 12" x 12" hole in the middle of the drum. I put hinges and a hasp on the piece I cut out to make a door for loading the leaves, kitchen scraps, etc. Next I drilled about 20 1/2" holes in the bottom and in the removable lid about 6" from the edge so the liquid won't leak out. I rotate it every day, sometimes twice a day. When it's ready to empty I just roll a wheelbarrow under the edge of the barrel, remove the lid and rake the compost in the wheelbarrow, put the lid back on, put the ring back on the lid, tighten it up and start all over again.
