If you are environmentally friendly and desire to help Mother Nature, using compost bins is a great method to speed up the process of composting in your own backyard.
Composting can also help gardeners save money by being able to produce their own fertilizer from organic wastes. If you are not good at building things or simply do not want to spend the time building the compost bin, there are four types of efficient compost bins you can purchase:
1. Enclosed Bin: Enclosed compost bins are great for growers with limited space.
They are the most popular bins, because of their neat appearance and low price.
In addition, you don’t have to turn a holding unit, making these bins low-maintenance, and the lid protects from rain and animals.
However, low maintenance comes with slower composting: composting can take any where from six months to two years.
The only way to speed up the decomposition process is to aerate the pile.
2. Rolling Bins: This compost bin is ideal for homeowners and others with sufficient space. Rolling bins are low maintenance and easy to use and low.
All you have to do is roll it to your yard waste, load it up, and roll it away again. However, fully loaded bins can become heavy and difficult to roll. On the plus side, a quick tumble every day or two mixes and aerates the pile for you, the lid protects compost from rain and animals.
3. Compost Tumblers: If you have limited space and are looking for a compost bin that compost swiftly, compost tumblers are ideal for you. As the name implies, compost tumblers function by turning their contents periodically.
Just like enclosed bins and rolling bins, the lid protects from rain and animals. This energy-efficient bin supplies bacteria with the oxygen it needs, making it easy to aerate, while speeding up decomposition.
On the downside, once the compost tumbler is full and the process begins, you must wait before adding materials.
4. Worm Bins: Worm bins work by a process called vermicomposting; red worms are used to dispose of organic material and turn it into a rich, organic soil conditioner known as worm castings. These can be used by both homeowners and apartment dwellers with limited space, because worm bins can be placed anywhere.
For example, they can be established under the kitchen sink, outdoors, or in the garage. Another benefit of worm bins is that they are low maintenance and can be used year round.
A drawback is that unpleasant odors can occur if the bin is overloaded. This can be resolved by allowing the worms sufficient time to decompose the waste, before adding more.
Something else to take into consideration is the temperature, because if it is too cold, the worms will freeze. The ideal temperature of the area should be between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
No matter which type of compost bin you decide on purchasing, each bin is guaranteed to accomplish its task efficiently.
The type of bin you choose depends partly on personal preferences and partly on the amount of organic waste you have. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each compost bin will help you make the perfect choice for your needs.
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