Home Composting
Wire hoop composters are easy to build. They are an inexpensive way to keep your compost pile tidy. The materials cost $15 to $30 new -- much less for recycled or salvaged materials. To make a one cubic yard composter, you will need a piece of galvanized heavy-duty wire mesh fencing or hardware cloth 10' X 3'. Look for 1.5" to 2" mesh. You also need four pieces of easy-to-twist wire larger than 12-gauge to close the hoop. Each twist-tie should be about 5" long. Bend the mesh into a cylinder and secure the sides with the wire ties. That's it!
Choose a compost location that is protected from the wind so the pile will not dry out too quickly. Also, choose a place where there is enough space to turn the pile easily. Compost is best turned by lifting the hoop off the compost then filling it again in an adjacent spot. Fork the compost back into the hoop in its new location with a shovel or compost fork being careful to lift with the legs - not the back.
Free Classes on Home Composting
It is easy to get started with home composting. Free classes are offered monthly in several locations. In these classes, students learn simple tips and tricks that turn yard waste and kitchen scraps into rich fertilizer, mulch, potting soil, and soil amendment. Why buy expensive bags of soil at the nursery? Composting is an easy, inexpensive way to save money and save the environment. Take a free class this month and see how.