Composter

After being less than impressed with the barrel composter, I put together the temporary pallet L last winter.  Over the next couple of months I decided that there were a few things that I needed out of a composter:

1. a decent floor so that I can use a shovel to turn it.

2. more than one compartment also for turning capability

3. build out of materials that I already had.

4. as close as possible to the back fence in case a critter gets in it they are not close to the house, but not too close that gate can't open...

and it would be nice if you couldn't see the pile from the house.

My plan was to build an E-shaped structure out of the bricks that had been removed from a different part of the yard, on top of pavers to create as surface for the bottom. But I have seen what happens when you put pavers directly on the grass- they sink in and grow weeds between them.  So I also planned to use gravel and sand to keep the 'structure' level and prevent that whole disappearing act.

I staked out the area of the composter, I also used a string around the bottom, which you can see in the next picture.

I waited until the gravel arrived and Dad came down to actually start digging. Here is the hole after a lot of digging. I would definitely say that my digging skills have improved.  Dad worked on dealing with all the extra soil.  PS if you need some soil please let me know, I have a lot to get rid of.

Once the hole was deep enough ~6" or 7", Dad and I put 4" on gravel in and then sand on top.  This went quickly and we were both getting tired so I didn't get a picture of the gravel.  Between the two layers I used a tamper to compact it, and then also used it on the sand, though I am not sure if that was part of the directions I read, it sounded like a good idea.  Dad encouraged from a lawn chair.  By then it was really hot but we were pushing through it because Dad was only down for the day.

In went the pavers:  

Dad had to do some finagling on the last corner.  We put down a little bit more sand and swept it into the cracks, then hosed it down.  I had read to do this twice but dad convinced me that this is a composter and one layer of sand fill is enough.

Using bricks that had been in a different part of the yard we built the E-shape in.

Did I mention how hot it was by this point, like the hottest day this summer so far.

I better like this composter because it seems pretty permanent. 

Now to move all the compost over to it....