Home >> Science & Nature >> Nature

How to Make a Composter Using a 55-Gallon Plastic Barrel

Compost is a mixture of organic matter that has been decomposed by bacteria and fungi. It can be used to improve the quality of soil, allowing it to better retain nutrients, moisture and air. Compost can be bought from popular garden centers for a relatively cheap price, but can also be made in the garden. A simple composter can be made using a large container, such as a 55-gallon plastic barrel, and some common household tools.

Things You'll Need

55-gallon plastic barrel with lid
Drill
1/2 inch (12.7 millimeter) drill part

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the lid from the barrel and tip it upside-down. Drill a series of 12 holes into the bottom. Make sure the holes are evenly distributed upon the surface. The holes will help liquid drain from the barrel and allow air to diffuse in.
- 2
  Turn the drum upright. Place a mixture of dried leaves and wet organic material, such as grass clippings, into the drum. You can also put organic food scraps into the drum, saving on trash disposal. Fill the drum about half-way with this material.
- 3
  Place the lid on the drum and fasten the locking ring. Place the drum in a sunny or mid-shaded area, directly onto soil in the garden, and away from water sources.
- 4
  After two to three days, open the lid of the drum. The compost mixture should be starting to get warm. This is due to the aerobic bacteria -- bacteria that need oxygen -- oxidizing the carbon material in order for to obtain energy. Heat is a by-product of this process. Close the lid again and wait a few weeks, checking on the compost every day. When the compost starts to cool, tip the drum on to its side and roll it around in order to mix the compost heap thoroughly. This process allows oxygen to distribute evenly through the mixture, helping aerobic bacteria to further break down the mixture into compost.
- 5
  Check the consistency of the compost. If it appears to be dry and flaky, add water until the mixture is moist, but not soggy. Alternatively, if the compost appears too soggy, add more dry organic material and roll the barrel to mix it in. Leave the compost for two to three days and check again. Repeat as many times as needed, until the compost no longer heats up after mixing and leaving for a few days.
- 6
  When the compost no longer heats up, leave the mixture in the barrel for between a month and a year.
- 7
  Check that your compost is ready. If the compost is ready it should of shrunk to approximately half of the original volume, and the original organic matter that was placed in the barrel should no longer be recognisable. Instead the heap should have turned into a brown, fine, earthly smelling mixture.

Nature