Homemade Compost Bins

Posted by Jamie McIntosh Apr 30, 2009

Although I use my plastic compost bin frequently for kitchen scraps, I’m really grateful for my homemade compost bin. Made from four shipping pallets wired together, this bin isn’t much to look at, but it holds a wealth of leaves from our deciduous trees in the autumn. I don’t have a problem with rodents, since I put all the cantaloupe rinds and other smelly goodies in the enclosed plastic bin. In the spring, when I’m overwhelmed with nitrogen-rich grass clippings, I have enough carbon-rich leaves saved in the pallet compost bin to get the blend I need to make quick compost.

If you don’t have access to shipping pallets, a three-sided bin made of cinder blocks makes a good storage area for excess leaves. If desired, gardeners can make a four-sided bin by using masonry nails to attach lumber to the open side of the bin.