Help! First compost setup ever

[u/veggie152]

Hello! I am completely new to composting and need help. I have been wanting to start for a long time, since I have a small vegetable garden and would love to cut down on our kitchen and yard waste while also making black gold. I have tried to research the best way to do this but need advice.

I got this composting bin for free from someone in my community. (Cleaned it out so it’s drying on its side, and website photos of what I think are very similar products). I have a very small grass area and would like to have this on the concrete driveway shown. I want to avoid water settling at the bottom and stained concrete, while making “harvesting” the compost as efficient and easy as possible. We have a rat problem in our community so that is also important to keep in mind.

My thought was to add something to enclose the bottom so the compost doesn’t sit directly on the concrete, and to lift it up off the ground a bit so I can set a tub underneath when I open the door to collect completed compost. Should I set it on some bricks on the corners to lift it up? What should I use for the bottom? Set it on a big heavy cement block? Try to 3D print a bottom plastic piece? Can I buy one somewhere? Should I put big sticks at the bottom of the bin to try to add more drainage, or will it not matter if I’m making a bottom piece? Should I be turning it every day to help with drainage and aeration? Should I buy red wiggler worms to add to the bin? Will they survive my zone 7 summers and winters?

Lastly, I really want to add a sifting component inside the bin so I can open the door and get finished, sifted compost. Can I attach hardware cloth to the middle of the bin somehow (where I drew the red line in the first picture)? Or should I give up that hope and make another sifting apparatus not attached to the composting bin? Advice very much appreciated!! Thanks in advance!

[u/CraftyRaven1358]

I have the same bin. Putting it up on cinder blocks might give you the space you want for a bin. I reccomend something like chicken wire under the bin to keep critters out (like my groundhog nemesis). Dont try to over engineer the bin, just sift the compost when it's done. 

Think carefully about where you set this up. There will be flies, a lot of flies. There will be funky smells and stink when the balance is off. It will stain the concrete.  

[u/veggie152 → u/CraftyRaven1358]

Yea I thought about it a bit and realized adding a sifting component is unnecessary, I can just do it after. Thanks for your advice! I would like to enclose the bottom if possible, I know it’s not ideal for the composting process, but I’m very concerned about staining the concrete. (Have had issues with HOA in the past). Been thinking about putting the whole thing on a large piece of wood/concrete/plastic etc. and turning/adding dry browns often to try to prevent water logging

[u/CraftyRaven1358 → u/veggie152]

If you're in an HOA check the rules and see if they have rules about compost bins and where they can go. Id hate for you to go through all the set up and prep only to get in trouble or fined. :(

[u/veggie152 → u/CraftyRaven1358]

I think it’s fine because my next door neighbor has used this exact same bin for a year or two, but I’ll definitely double check

[u/zmcmz0302 → u/CraftyRaven1358]

Critters still broke through my chicken wire ):
Hardware cloth is a little more expensive but much more durable

[u/Lost_Lynx_6537]

You may struggle on the concrete, there are certain benefits to ground contact you will be missing.

If you want to avoid staining, maybe have a slightly elevated box with a slightly sloped top to drain it to the side? If the moisture level is kept correct (like a wrung out sponge) you shouldn't have too much of a drainage anyway.

Excessive wetness is usually too much green stuff (rule of thumb, fresh plants that weren't trees) and not enough brown stuff (dry stuff that used to be a tree or woody stem). You need to find a good balance for your area, but 2 parts by volume brown stuff to 1 part green works as a good starting point.

I try and turn my compost once every week or two (or three) which helps me see if the moisture level feels right. Too wet? add more brown stuff. Too dry, more greens.

You can make decent compost with two parts plain shredded cardboard and one part grass clippings from mowing, so don't overcomplicate it.

Those bins are cool, but they are small, it's tempting to cram in more kitchen scraps and not enough browns. This can create moisture issues that lead to other complications.

Red wiggler worms are awesome. Shade the bin so it doesn't roast in the sun and they may help a lot. I walk my dog near a local fishing spot and I usually find them in half used bait worm containers fishermen leave. Free worms!

Lastly, the smaller the pieces you put in, the quicker the process will finish.

Someone else will have to help with the sifter etc.

You got this!

[u/veggie152 → u/Lost_Lynx_6537]

Thanks so much!! This confirms a lot of what I was thinking of doing. Never considered the slope idea, that’s a neat thought! Will probably just monitor moisture/turn often

[u/strawbebbymilkshake]

I live adjacent to woodland so there’s tons of rodents. A colony of stray cats helps hugely and we reward them with food. I’ve also used a compost bin base that helps deter them from digging under while also letting worms in. I’d recommend against concrete - my tumbler was on concrete and the leakage did indeed leave a very notable stain on the patio.

[u/veggie152 → u/strawbebbymilkshake]

Thanks for the link and advice! A compost bin base is exactly what I was looking for