I completed the wood construction today. It was beyond dark when the last
nails were hammered in, so I didn't even unroll the chicken wire yet. Which
is a good thing now that I've read your advice! It's tucked away safely in
my little garage, and will go back to the hardware store in exchange for
some hardware cloth and some tarps. The wood frame is pretty study, so I'm
happy that it all turned out good, and I can't wait to finish it next
Saturday.
After it's completed, I'll be mowing .38 acre of grass that's anywhere from
3-4 inches tall up to 6 inches in some areas. I'm also thinking about
renting a chipper next weekend and adding a nice mix of chipped pine
branches and grass. I'll probably fill my first bin of 5x5x3 easily, but
then be able to take it easy for some time.
As I'll have two bins empty, should I use the center bin to toss the left
bin into, and back and forth every week? That seems to be the advice I've
read. Also, I've got a pretty moist environment (we generally have fog in
the morning, but not always) and I don't want things too wet, and I've also
read about using a hose to wet down the layers as I add them. I'm guessing
I should just do a light spray between layers?
"Bill Robinson" wrote in message
news:MOD$001210.10271@rec.gardens.ecosystems... > > Jason shared that he was in the process of constructing > a series of compost bins and that he was planning to > build them using 2 x 4s and chicken wire. He asked > about the design, placement, and use of the bins. > > For one, I think that chicken wire is too light and > it would be better to use hardware cloth. It is much > stronger and more stable. I like the idea of a three > bin system with the bins lined up in a row for easier > operation: a bin to receive raw stuff which is allowed > to age and wilt, filling the second bin with aged and > wilted stuff from the first that has been run through > the shredder-chipper, and the third bin for more or > less finished from bin 2 that is also screened. > > If the bins are all the same size, you can make a screen > that will work with all three. I use one made from 2 x 4s > and heavy duty hardware cloth. > > I did an article on composting for the L. A. County Rose > Garden's web page at http://victorian-rose.org/Design/GD.may.00.htm > and another one on shredder-chippers for that same web page at > http://victorian-rose.org/Design/GDnov.00.htm > > I'm in the process of trying to write FAQ material on > shredder-chippers. Any comments or suggestions? > > Bill