10 Minute Compost Bin

I’ve honestly never given much thought to composting until just recently. We were pretty disappointed with our garden last year, so I decided to give composting a try. I am very much a newbie to the composting world, but I’ve read how amazing it can be for your garden.

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How To Start Composting On A Budget

I figure giving composting a try certainly can’t hurt but unfortunately, a Compost Tumbler wasn’t in my budget so I researched my options for a DIY compost bin that would make sense for our backyard homestead. We don’t have the space for a compost pile, and I wanted to keep my cost low, so I picked up a 32 Gallon Trash Can at a local big box store for $10.

How To Make A Cheap Compost Bin

Once I got it home I decided I couldn’t just go crazy on the trash can with the power drill, so I used a tape measure to roughly map out where I wanted my holes to be. I marked where I wanted my holes to be vertically every 4 inches, then I spaced them out 5 inches apart. I didn’t make this too complicated. It honestly doesn’t need to be pretty I just wanted some sort of alignment. So don’t overcomplicate it!

Once you know where you want your holes drilled, make sure your power drill battery is charged up and go for it. I found laying the trash can on its side and straddling it with my legs to hold it in place while I was drilling was the easiest way to keep the trash can from moving.

Make sure you drill holes in the bottom of the trash can and also the lid.

Once all your holes are drilled you’re ready to start using your compost bin. I placed mine on two cinder blocks that we already had in the backyard to promote airflow around the bin. I haven’t decided yet if I will be turning my compost with a shovel or rolling my bin around the yard. I’ll have to try both and post an update later this summer.  I will also be placing a disposable tin pan underneath the bin to catch some of the compost tea and use that to water my garden as well.

That’s it, your ready to start using your 10-minute compost bin! Don’t forget to check out my post about making your own DIY Kitchen Compost Bin for $3.