My wife has been asking me to build her an outdoor compost container for awhile now, so I decided it was time to complete this simple project for her. I bought 2 X 4 pressured treated lumber ($20.00) and used old window screens from windows we replaced this year. It was simple to make and is very easy to use. I did not put a cover on it because she told me she read that it is better to leave it open so rain and snow can get in. I had planned to use more screens for the top but, per her request, I did not. This was a lot of fun and I even mitered corners which really impressed my wife and her sister. The nice thing about this is that at the end of winter I simply lift it up, move it over about one foot, and set it back down. I can shovel any in-composted material back into the bin and use the ready-compost in my garden. It is a great place to recycle my shredded paper and during the winter I turn everything over each time I add material. I also will sometimes cover new material with snow. In the summer I add grass clippings and other organic material. I have used it a couple of years now and it is still holding up very well.. I have been thinking about removing the end pieces (sliding windows) and replacing it with vinyl soffit material cut to length. You could also use the soffit material on the sides (it is really inexpensive and easy to cut using a utility knife or sheers. I did find the sliding windows would come off when I turned over the compost with my pitch fork or shovel.
My wife has been asking me to build her an outdoor compost container for awhile now, so I decided it was time to complete this simple project for her. I bought 2 X 4 pressured treated lumber ($20.00) and used old window screens from windows we replaced this year. It was simple to make and is very easy to use. I did not put a cover on it because she told me she read that it is better to leave it open so rain and snow can get in. I had planned to use more screens for the top but, per her request, I did not. This was a lot of fun and I even mitered corners which really impressed my wife and her sister. The nice thing about this is that at the end of winter I simply lift it up, move it over about one foot, and set it back down. I can shovel any in-composted material back into the bin and use the ready-compost in my garden. It is a great place to recycle my shredded paper and during the winter I turn everything over each time I add material. I also will sometimes cover new material with snow. In the summer I add grass clippings and other organic material. I have used it a couple of years now and it is still holding up very well.. I have been thinking about removing the end pieces (sliding windows) and replacing it with vinyl soffit material cut to length. You could also use the soffit material on the sides (it is really inexpensive and easy to cut using a utility knife or sheers. I did find the sliding windows would come off when I turned over the compost with my pitch fork or shovel.
