Closed bin

Getting started

You can use just about any large bin, like a 30-gallon trash can with a lid or a horse trough with a tarp to cover it.  Whatever your container, drill quarter-inch holes around the sides and in the bottom.  Space them 6–8 inches apart.  This lets air in (important to avoid smells) and keeps unwanted critters out.  Don’t drill holes in the lid or cover.  This lets you retain moisture, which you need.  Secure the lid or cover with bungie cords or a ratchet strap.  Set the bin up on a few bricks.  This lets air come in and excess moisture drip out.

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Start by putting a layer of browns on the bottom, just enough that you can’t see the bottom.  Then, add your compostables.  Ideally, you’ll add twice as much browns as greens.  You can just eyeball the ratio.  Add a few handfuls of dirt, just this first time.  This adds important bacteria, fungi, and other decomposers to the mix.  Stir everything up.  If you're using a trash can, you can strip the lid on and roll it on the ground.  Otherwise, you can use a metal hand rake.  When you're done, add a layer of browns on top.  Just make it thick enough that you can’t see the actual compost below.  This helps keep smells at bay.  Next time you add compost, take this layer off and reuse it as a cap.  Over time, it’ll break down.  Just add new browns to this cap as needed. Cover the bin securely.  Voila!  You’re composting!

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On a weekly(ish) basis

Remove the cap of browns.  Add your week’s compostables.  Stir it up.  Recap.  Secure lid.  Reward yourself for being a conscientious earthling.  If you have to skip a week, no problem.  But try not to skip, like, a month. 

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When things go sideways

At some point, things will take an undesirable turn.  The good news is that it’s fixable!  If you open the bin and it stinks to high heaven, you likely need more oxygen and more browns.  Mix the bin, add more browns, mix it again, cap the top with browns, put the lid on, and check back in a week and repeat if needed.  On the other end of the spectrum, if you open the bin and it’s bone dry and boring, you likely need more greens in your mix.  You can also gently spray down the inside of the bin with a hose and mix it.  That’ll help, too.  If you open the bin and it smells a little earthy, your compost is moist but not drippy, and there are various bugs and worms moving about the material, congratulations!  You’re doing everything right!  Have yourself a cookie.

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Full bin!  Now what?

Once you’ve filled up your bin, it needs time to complete the composting process.  Move on to your second bin, and mix the first one when you mix the new one.  You’ll notice that it starts to look less and less like what you composted and more and more like dirt.  This is what you want.  The volume will also decrease, which is good.  Invertebrates like worms will move in.  This is also good.

 

Once your second bin is nearing capacity, you can test your initial bin to see if it’s “ready”.  Seal a handful of its compost in a ziplock bag.  You can toss the bag back in the bin.  Open it up in three days.  If it smells gross, your compost needs more time to continue composting.  If it smells like, well, dirt, you’re good to go!  If you want, you can sift the compost and use the “overs” to start your next bin.  Or, you can just use the compost as-is.  Put it around outdoor plants and trees.  Put it over parts of your lawn that are struggling.  Gift it to your friends and neighbors.  Mix it with spent potting soil.  You can store it for up to a year.  Just keep it dry, but not air-tight.