Create a homemade family compost bin under $20!

(You might remember seeing this post last summer, I am still using my homemade compost bin, here is a refresher.)
I saw one like the one I made at a nature program I was attending (I refused to pay $20.00!), I then created my own!

I started container gardening a couple of summers ago, I am not a pro, not every plant comes out great but I love seeing that something is growing.

Each summer I am able to make salsa a few times.  I have found that my  favorite things to grow are peppers and herbs.  Last summer I used a Topsy Turvy Upside-Down Planter for my peppers-it was really neat.  For my herbs I just used the containers.  I also had a peanut plant (I think I purchased it too late in the summer to see any good results.  My tomatoes never grew last year-again I think I started them too late). 

Well my point to this is that I am having to get soil for my containers.  It can get expensive and honestly I do not buy expensive dirt-I also don't buy anything really fertilized or organic.  I have thought of a compost bin but I know that I am not going to want to "turn" the dirt and I also did not want to invest in a turnable compost bin in case I choose to not stick with composting, I am excited to say that I have stuck with it and have been adding my scraps to the bin throughout the winter. 

Here is how to make your homemade compost bin, you can certainly make this a fun family activity that won't take a long time and is inexpensive:

• one Rubbermaid container (I say Rubbermaid because the plastic is more flexible and durable)
• newspaper
• food scraps
• red wiggler worms
• dirt (just some from the yard is fine)
• water
• leaves or some cut grass
• screwdriver

Okay so all I did was take a Rubbermaid container that I already had,  poke a few holes in the bottom for drainage (I did 4, one at each corner), add some dirt, took some newspaper and shredded it by hand, threw some fruit and veggie scraps in, grass or leaves, red wriggler worms and moisten the whole thing, poke a few holes in the top for ventilation and you are set!  You can order the worms online for $25! Yeah-I was not paying that-I started calling bait shops-I purchased mine from Joe's Bait Shop on 6th and Lincoln.  I received 30ish worms for under $4.00.  I have purchased more worms, I get two containers at a time.  The worms do last about 6 months.  Once a week or so just shake up the contents, you could also do it each time you add scraps.  Kiddos can throw on some gloves or get their hands dirty and carefully mix up the contents by hand.  Sometimes getting dirty is the most fun. :)

Make this a fun family activity...

• kiddos can tear up the newspaper into strips (young children can do this, my niece loved shredding paper when she was 10 months!)
• kiddos can add the worms (treat them with gentle hands, they are your workers and need tender loving care)
• kiddos can add the dirt/soil
• You might want to poke the holes in the lid and the bottom unless your kiddos are a little older, it would be a good learning experience but definitely supervised) 
• Rule of thumb: if it required some kind of dirt to grow it can go in the compost bin.  Carrots, oranges, apples, beans, you get the picture.  No meat!  This is a great way to get your family to realize how much waste goes in the garbage and may have them thinking about what they consume and how much they take.  
• I know that kiddos are more excited about activities that they were able to help create.  This could be a great job for children.  After dinner or snacks they can be in charge of putting the acceptable scrapes in the compost bin.
• Kiddos can also help with the "turning" of the bin, they can shake it or get their hands dirty and move the contents around, just be gentle your worker worms need to be treated with care).
• If so inclined kiddos can use acrylic paint or permanent markers to decorate the outside of the bin.  Use words like recycle, garden, flowers, veggies, put your family name on it, be creative.  Also add pictures like fruits and veggies, flowers, sunshine, worms, the possibilities are endless.  Make it fun!  I wouldn't use stickers because they will fall off in the rain and just become trash.

Completing my container compost bin cost me under $20 (bin would have been about $5 but I used one I already had, food scrapes $0, free newspaper, worms a little under $8-every six months).

In the long run you will end up saving money on the dirt you will need for planting projects.  The dirt from compost bins is also more nutrient rich, my uncle calls it "gardener's gold" because it is richer and is better for growing fruits, veggies, herbs and more.

  Experience=Priceless :)

Do you have a compost bin or container?

***It is important to use newspaper not magazines or gloss paper as that will not break down the same way.  Periodically add more grass/leaves and newspaper to add the variety to the bin, it helps get everything broken down, your worms will appreciate it and your kiddos will have fun ripping and adding it. :)

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