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Barrel Composter

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Build a barrel composter or buy a barrel one. I built my own barrel composter to keep rats, mice, and other pest away from my compost pile and speed up composting time. We put food scrapes in the compost pile and naturally it will bring pest looking for foods if they can get to it. The barrel composter keeps out pest but let's in other beneficial bugs that will help the compost break down even faster then it does in the barrel. Since all my compost goes into the barrel it holds in moisture and heat. Not only that but I am able to turn the barrel a lot easier then turning a pile on the ground with a shovel or pitchfork.

Once a week I just turn the barrel and it aerates the compost. Here are some of the things you will need!
If you do not want to try your hand at building one then you can always buy one. CLICK HERE to check out lots of composters on Amazon or you can part it out at the links below.

Parts:
  • One 20-55 gallon (72-200 liter) plastic drum.(I got mine at a carwash for like $5)
  • One 48 inch (1.25 meter) length of pipe with a 2 inch diameter (5 centimeter). 2X4 treated lumber.
  • 2" to 3" Nails (Nail Gun is optional.)
  • About 4 2" to 3" full mortise hinges for the door. (Make sure to get stainless steal hinges.)

Tools:

Almost all of these things can be purchase at Home Depot but even with shipping it is close in price. Up to you:)

God Bless!!

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5 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2013 at 6:37 PM

    How do you attach the cover lid to the rim on the one side end of the barrel that's open ? glue ?

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  2. UnknownJanuary 6, 2013 at 10:01 PM

    If your talking about a metal barrel it should have come with a lid strap:) If that's not what your talking about I will need photo's of what you mean. You can go to our group and post photo's. http://www.facebook.com/groups/Home.Farm.Ideas

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    Replies
    1. AlejandroJanuary 8, 2013 at 11:18 AM

      Thanks for your answer Matt. My question was more from wondering if i can use one of those 200 Lt. metal barrels that contain car oil, obviously empty, in the sense that the oil residue, even after washing it, or the rust, might contaminate the compost. What do you know or think about this ? And my question about how to attach the lid to the barrel comes from the picture of your plastic composter, where they don't seem to match each other...thanks !

      Delete
    2. UnknownJanuary 8, 2013 at 12:05 PM

      If you are planning on using a metal barrel that has had oil in it, me personally I would think twice. Oil can leach into the metal, and even if you rinsed it out really well eventually it's going to come out in the compost. Rust is a natural thing but I think too much of it could cause a spike in metals in your compost. I would personally stick with foodgrade plastic barrels:) I didn't have time to get a picture of the barrel that I use so I found one online

      Delete
    3. UnknownJanuary 8, 2013 at 12:06 PM

      Did you mean, how to attach the front door of the composter?

      Delete

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