cheap-as-free compost bin

So, we're both pretty inexperienced with composting (and some of us don't like to get dirty...) so we found this very easy, very cheap compost bin project and went for it. Basically the only material investment required is a big plastic bin ($7 or so at the hardware store, or free if you dumpster dive, we went the store route this time.) Here goes.

1.) Drill 8-10 holes in the bottom of the bin (for aeration purposes)

2.) Fill it up about 1/4 full with either newspaper scraps or leaves (we have a lot of both, so I did about half & half.)

3.) Pile dirt on top of that to about 1/2 full.

(Optional): We found this cookie jar at hobby lobby so we could have something presentable to hold the food scraps before we took it out to the bin.

Slapped a carbon filter in the lid to keep the stink to a minimum...

And now whenever something goes bad or we have scraps, we can just throw them in here until it gets full and we take it out to the real heap.

4.) Put your scraps in and mix so they're completely covered. At this point you're supposed to spray the mix down with a little water to aid in the breakdown, but since our yard has been swamped for the past 3 months, our dirt was plenty juicy already.

5.) Attach the lid and drill 8-10 holes in that as well.

6.) Lug the bin somewhere out of the way, preferably out of direct sunlight, as too much heat will dry the compost out. I put it next to all the other trash & recycling things so we can take everything out to the same place at the same time.

Lesson learned: If you're gonna use mud like I did, maybe move the bin first. Thing was heavy.

Idea basically stolen from: http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/08/younghouselovedotcompost/

List of compostable/noncompostable items:

http://compostinstructions.com/what-you-can-and-cannot-compost/