Outdoor composting bins
Outdoor composting is simple, easy, and effective. It can consist of a pile of grass clippings and leaves that is left for worms and bacteria to break down. Or, you can upgrade to actual composting bins and speed up the process, reduce smells, and make it easier while still getting the same rich, organic soil. This page is dedicated to the different outdoor composting bins you can use to create your own compost soil.
Compost pile
A compost pile is simply a pile of organic yard waste that is left in nature to be broken down and turned into useful compost. I keep a pile in my backyard for all the grass clippings in summer, leaves in fall, plant clippings, and any manure I get from a neighbors small farm. Given time, worms and bacteria will turn this waste into valuable, organic compost that I pile around my plants and work into my garden. This type of composting is very easy, free to do, and provides wonderful compost to be used. I usually remove the compost each spring and then let it rebuild throughout summer and ‘stew’ all fall and winter.
Outdoor composting bins
Outdoor composting bins can range from simple or build-your-self to composting bin units that you buy from a manufacturing. I have a neighbor how built a four-sided chicken wire ‘coop’ that allows air and moisture to help the composting process happen. The top is a roof that opens easily to allow additional grass clippings to be tossed on top. The chicken wire also prevents larger rodents from getting into the compost bins and make a mess of it.
Other outdoor compost bins include store bought, self contained units. These generally sit above the ground and allow for easy spinning of the unit to provide oxygen into the composting process. This helps the bacteria grow that will help break down the material into compost. Good units are made to handle heavy amounts of material to compost and are durable and also weather resistant. Good outdoor compost bins will increase the heat inside the bin causing the process of composting to happen faster and killing unwanted seeds (preventing weeds from sprouting when the compost is added to the garden). There is a wide variety of useful composting bins, depending on your budget, needs, and preference in colors or shape. Shop around and find one that best fits your needs….but any composting bin should break organic material down and help produce the compost your garden craves.