How to Build an Easy DIY Compost Bin

Here's a simple compost bin build you can make with wood from a local hardware store, or even DIY it from pallets. It's an extension of the classic 3-bin hot composting system, to add two more bins. This size works well for us at the Epic Homestead due to the size of our garden, and the 5th bin is a great potting soil / finished material storage as well.

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[epicgardening]

Single Bin Design (to add more bins, add more side panels)

Back

All pieces cut to 3' long

(6) 1x6” boards
(1) 2x4” boards

2 Side panels

All pieces cut to 3' long

(4) 2x6” boards
(4) 2x4” boards
(10) 1x6” boards
(4) 2x2” boards

Front

(6) ea 1x6” boards cut to fit front, roughly 32” each

[charlotteluker]

As someone who has been watching you since the beginning, I have to say, I am so impressed at not just where your channel is, how far your garden and homestead is, but at your video quality! I think you can really tell how far a channel has come when their videos start to look like a TV show, and I have to say, I am so happy for you! Thanks for inspiring all of us to keep gardening and teaching us how to do it efficiently with what we have!

[gangofgreenhorns]

Made a 3 bay this length with pallets, and t-posts. Has worked great. Cut some scrap OSB for the front slats.

[jonathanharvey]

I would suggest you have them a couple of feet away from that back wall so you can keep weed free and you can check for vermin. Since a 6-inch gap would make a inviting rat run and making impossible for maintenance around the back.

[matthayes]

I had a friend retire from a pallet store with quite a few of those heavy duty plastic pallets.... needless to say he's a good friend.

[umiluv]

Ultra cheap way I made mine was 1/2” hardware cloth at 3 ft tall. Measure out to around 10 ft long for the circumference and boom! 3 ft volume cylinder using zip ties. I bought 100 ft at $150 ish last year.

Edit: I’m 5’3” and I can manage turning the compost into another bin next to it. When it gets close to the bottom, it’s easy to lift the bin and then pitchfork the rest of the compost in to the new bin. It would likely be much easier to use the slat system but if you don’t have a lot of money and have a lot of compost to make, this method is great.

[Holodomor.]

I love these short, sharp, & straight to the point videos! I’m super jealous of your compost set up now! Enjoy!

[legalyzeit]

a month ago i came across 13 pallets that were wrapped in plastic. turned them into my 3 bin setup. so much nicer to have than piles. great video keep up the good work

[joelkrestinski]

This is a fine project. I've also found success with burying compost on a rotating basis. Divide garden into quadrants and bury in one of those quadrants each year to give that space a rest. Worms will migrate in and out of that space and bring their castings to the rest of the garden.

[naegwut]

I like that you say epic in front of everything

[jstewart]

It looks nice. Idea, if need more airflow. Put a spacer in there between the slats as you slide them in to make a gap if it needs more air.

[helenmcclellan]

Nice!
I am going to show my husband this video. He is plannung to set up a compost station for me this Fall. Can't wait to see how you plant to fill it and how the five areas will wirk.

[amac]

If you stained the wood in boiled linseed oil it will enhance the rot resistance of the wood and still be food safe.

[rhondagillespie]

Looks Great! I need one badly, I will also send this link to my husband.😂

[dakotathoman]

That mural with the chicken, cactus, and looks to be maybe babka is pretty cool.

[lemonlime]

hey, just wanted to say the editor is doing a great job!

[Powerfamilygarden]

That’s nice!! I have a wire bin but I like the look of yours better. Making the space not only functional but beautiful is my goal.

[K-Zone]

Use raw (not boiled) linseed oil to protect that wood! I saw another comment to use Boiled linseed, don't, it contains metals and chemicals to help it dry faster, that make it toxic around food. Raw linseed oil is perfectly safe for food

[RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

😊Cool, but too much work for me to do, I just compost in place, and that gives me more room to grow tons of food, and that works for us

[gigihenderson]

For the front, I would ensure more play than just the 1”… maybe 1.5”. when all the wood gets wet, it will swell, both the side braces and the front boards. Also, depending on if you treat it or not, the front boards will warp, again making it quite difficult to replace the board.