How to Make a Compost Pile Bin

Outline a 3-foot-square area in a corner of your backyard with powdered chalk. Ensure the soil is well-draining and exposed to shade.

Spread the two 8-foot 2-by-4s on a level surface and saw each in the middle so you have four 4-foot lengths. Each length forms a corner post of the compost holding unit.

Pound a 4-foot length 10 to 12 feet in the ground over a corner of the square outline using a sledge hammer. Firm the soil around the base of the post, if necessary, so it stands on its own. Pound the remaining three posts over the other three corners of the chalk outline. Ensure the tops of the four posts are level with each other.

Saw a 12-foot 1-by-6 lumber into 3-foot boards so you have four lengths. Cut each of the remaining four identical lengths in the same way. Stack the 3-foot lengths into separate piles, each composed of five lengths. Each pile forms one side of the wall for the bin.

Position a 3-foot 1-by-6 on the ground between two corner posts so it rests on its long 1-inch edge. Hammer or drill each corner of the board to the corresponding corner post using two to three 8d nails or screws.

Lay another identical board 2 inches above the previous 1-by-6 and secure to the corner posts using nails or screws. Repeat the procedure until you join the five boards from one pile to two corner posts, thus forming one wall of the compost pile bin.

Position a 3-foot 1-by-6 on the ground between any other two corner posts to form the second wall of the bin. Secure it in place with 8d nails or screws. Repeat the process of joining the remaining four boards 2 inches above each previous one on this wall, and the other two sides of the bin to form an enclosed unit without a lid.

Fill the unit with 3-inch-thick alternating layers of green waste (grass clippings, softwood plants, kitchen scrap, weeds and tea bags) and brown waste (dried leaves, hardwood plants, straw, coffee filters and cardboard). Chop, break or shred larger waste into 2-inch squares that decompose easily.

Mix the waste two to three times a week with a shovel or pitchfork. Mist the waste frequently with a spray from a hose to keep it evenly moist at all times. Compost is usually ready in 10 to 12 months.