I’ve been researching composting for awhile and even attempted to build a compost pile enclosure a few years ago. Turns out the dog is stronger than I thought. So we haven’t been composting, but I know it would really help the environment and has great benefits for my endeavors. Therefore, I decided to revisit the idea, this time in the form of a compost bin. Have you priced the compost tumblers? They are insanely expensive. So I wondered if it was possible to make my own. And the answer is yes!
It turns out that an outdoor trash can can be a compost bin. All you need to do is drill several holes in the trash can for ventilation and drainage. Also, stack it on something to get it off the ground and allow you to catch the drainage water which makes a great liquid fertilizer. So I picked up an outdoor trash can at Home Depot for $22 and drilled some holes.
But I also need something for gathering scraps in the kitchen so I ran to the farm and ranch store for a feed bucket and found something better. They were selling small galvanized steel trash cans with lids. (The cans have peanuts in them so the shells help you start composting sooner.) The can was $10. So, DIY composting was $32 for us.