Want To Start Composting? 3 Expert-Approved Designs For A Backyard Bin

Home composting feels like it has a higher barrier to entry than other eco-friendly actions, but is that really true? We spoke with Rick Carr, M.S., the director of farm operations at Rodale Institute (an organic agriculture research nonprofit) to see how it can be made more accessible to beginners. And after getting the veteran composter's take, we can confidently say that building a backyard bin doesn't have to be daunting. It turns out, to start a compost pile, all you really need is some outdoor space, wood or wire, and a little bit of patience.

Carr has found that many backyard compost bins on the market are actually too small to fit this criterion, which is all the more reason to DIY your own. Making your own compost bin will also likely be cheaper and allow you to customize based on your space. Here are Carr's three favorite techniques for doing so, based on the scraps you're adding to it:

Start by standing three up in your yard to form a U-shape, and drill them together to lock them in place. You can leave it at that or add a fourth pallet to make the pile more enclosed. Consider putting the fourth pallet on a hinge so that you can easily access your pile, or add a wire lid to the top of the cube that you can open and close when you want to check on it.

Carr says this is a good option if you're low on space or don't have many scraps to compost. Start with a roll of wire fencing that's at least 3 feet high. Using gloves, arrange the wire in a circle that is at least 3 feet in diameter with some overlap. Then, secure the two ends to each other and close the circle off with zip ties or more wire, or attach them to a stake in the ground.

OK, this one's less of a bin than a hole. If you're only composting lawn clippings and yard debris, it's as easy as digging a hole in your yard, adding the scraps, and re-covering. "They're not going to attract any rodents," says Carr, and will enrich the soil as they break down over time.

This could be a whole other article (and, in fact, it is!) but here is some high-level information about how to keep up with a compost pile now that you have your bin in place:

Buying or making a compost bin is the first step of starting a compost pile at home. If you're going the DIY route, consider using wooden pallets or metal wire for a quick, easy, and effective bin design.