Build A Simple Compost Bin With Straw Bales

Some individuals choose to spend hundreds of dollars on equipment, tumblers, and pens to start in on their compost efforts. If we are as similar as I believe we are, you plainly don't have the means to go about composting this way...

...But I have a much more affordable, yet more effective way to produce compost that you may have already heard of.

The method I like utilizes an extremely cheap source that your compost needs anyway: straw bales.

You are going to be using bales of straw to build an enclosed space around your compost heap. As I stated earlier, straw bales are extremely cheap and work very well as brown material (read below for description) and are invaluable to your efforts. Here is how I make use of the straw to construct a simple compost bin.

This is how I create all my heaps: I create a 3-sided enclosure 2 straw bales high on each side that holds all the organic waste you have to throw in. You want to leave one side open. I would recommend using 8-12 bales to start out with. Think of this,at the back of the enclosure you want 2-3 bales in a row, stacked 2 layers high. To the right and left of the front face you should have 2 bales, one bale deep, stacked atop one another. In this way, you can build a fixed area that serves a multitude of uses.

Using straw bales contains the waste very well and also helps retain heat and moisture, all while adding valuable brown matter to your simple compost heap. Layering your waste has proved to be very effective, but I will talk about that in a second. In time, the bales will decompose along with your kitchen and yard waste; perfect to include in your new straw bale system made from new bales. Just add to the pile whenever you have organic waste, and nature will do the rest!

Keep in mind that you need to mix your compost, this is also quite important. A good mixture of green and brown waste is crucial to create a good base. The green matter should be the fresh waste from your garden, flowerbeds, or home. Brown matter includes any older and dead garden waste, paper products, sawdust, or old leaves. Be sure to layer these materials with soil, or feel free to add manure or old compost to give your compost an extra boost by increasing the amount of microorganisms and worms to the heap. Coating the pile with manure from grazing creatures is a good way to keep critters away from your compost pile. If you layer appropriately and incorporate the types of waste described above, you are on the proper track to a thriving compost heap. Keeping the pile moist is the next step.

Keeping the pile nice and wet is as essential for success as it is necessary to keep the smell down. The moisture is fantastic for keeping the pile odor free and quickly starts a feeding frenzy for many little micro-organisms that break down the heap. A warm and moist compost pile is absolutely necessary to help the bacteria and worms do their part in breaking down this organic waste and creating nutrient rich fertilizer.

Building your straw bale compost heap where it gets a lot of sun exposure is also a great strategy. The straw bale method works so well because it naturally retains the heat and kicks your efforts into overdrive.

If you do as described above, before you know it you will have plenty of great compost for whatever you need it for! Just remember; straw bales, layer, heat, moisture. Following these simple steps will produce high potency fertilizer that your garden will thank you for.

Stay tuned for more simple compost methods!