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Setting Up a Compost Bin: A Step-by-Step Guide by Angus Stewart

1. Selecting the Location

Location, location, location is the real estate agent’s motto, and it applies equally to compost bins. A convenient and appropriate position in your garden is very important for a successful composting setup. Here are some tips for finding the perfect spot:

• Accessibility: Place your bin in a location that is easy to reach from your kitchen but far enough away from the house that it is preferably out of sight.
• Drainage: Ensure the spot has good drainage to prevent waterlogging around your compost bin which will make it harder to access in wet weather. A slightly elevated area or a surface with gravel underneath works well.
• Sunlight: Partial sunlight helps maintain the right temperature for decomposition. However, too much direct sunlight can dry out the compost during the hotter months of the year, so some protection is desirable.
• Ventilation: Adequate airflow is necessary to prevent odours and facilitate aerobic decomposition. Avoid placing the bin in a completely enclosed area.

2. Preparing the Base

This step will depend on what sort of composting unit you have selected. If you have a compost tumbler or above ground worm farm, a paved area or concrete slab is ideal. For most other composting systems such as the Tumbleweed Gedye Bins or various sized Tumbleweed Flat Pack Compost Bins where the base is in contact with the soil you will need to prepare the base of your bin as follows to promote drainage and aeration:

• Layering with Branches: Start with a layer of coarse materials like small branches or straw. This provides a stable base and promotes airflow.
• Add Soil or Finished Compost: Adding a layer of finished compost, worm castings or topsoil, as any of these materials will introduce the beneficial microorganisms needed to kickstart the composting process.
• Rodent control: Depending on the type of composting system you have adopted, there are various measures that can be taken to guard against rodents in the compost. For bins that open onto the ground such as the Tumbleweed Gedye Bin a layer of rodent proof galvanised mesh or similar barrier is a foolproof solution.

3. Adding Compostable Materials

Successful composting relies on a balance of "green" and "brown" materials:

• Green Materials: These are nitrogen-rich and include kitchen scraps (vegetable peels, excess food), fresh grass clippings, and other garden organics. They provide the nitrogen and many other nutrients necessary for microbial composting activity.
• Brown Materials: Carbon-rich materials like dry leaves, cardboard, paper, and straw fall into this category. They provide the carbon essential for a balanced composting process.

Aim for a mix of roughly 40% green and 60% brown materials by weight. Too much green material can lead to a soggy, smelly pile, while too much brown can slow down decomposition. You can always add extra of either group of materials if you have gone overboard in either direction. We find shredded paper and cardboard extra useful if things get too wet, or some animal manure if things get too dry and composting stalls.

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4. Observation while your bin is getting established

Be careful to look and smell your new composting set up as you may need to adjust the balance of what you are feeding in if it starts to smell bad. Sticking metal tool handles into the compost heap is also a good way of monitoring things as you will feel a little moisture and usually some warmth when you withdraw it if your new heap is functioning well.   Now that you have set your compost bin up stay tuned for our next blog post on how to manage them and what to do when your compost bin is full.

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