My Compost Bays
Inspired by what i learned during the course year i began building a compost bay from old pallets and timber stakes. I first started in June by driving the posts and putting the pallets in place. That was as much as i got done then and had to leave it until the autumn before i could do more. I started to build up layers with greens (nettles, 'weeds', grasscuttings), straw, manure, newspaper / cardboard, water, nettle liquid feed, lime, and seaweed liquid feed.
When i had more time i was able to make a timber support frame to hold the bays rigidly together and also as a platform for a roof. These were 4x3 inch timber lengths i found in the old cowhouse which hoards various bits and pieces. Posts and crossbeams were fixed with galvoband, screws and 6 inch nails. The second image below shows a side view.
Bay 1 on the top is where the fresh and new material is piled, Bay 2 in the middle is where material is turned into from Bay 1. Bay 3 is still empty until bay 2 has been turned into it. Bay 2 material seems to be decomposing nicely and has a darker colour that when first made.
The roof then is made by 6 overlapping sheets of cut to size cladding, which were taken from leftover lengths when we built a cattle shed more than a decade ago. These were screwed onto the timber supports with cladding screws using a drill. Black plastic is held in place by nailing the cut-offs from the pallets. It is rolled down over the fromt to keep out rain. The front of the bay is closed off with 2 polystyrene sheets. this allows a build up of heigth of compost. They are held in place by 2 metal rods and can easily slide out in order to fill more material.
Rabbit wire is tacked onto the pallets so that material doesnt spill outside the bay frames and Bay 1 now is more than hald full. Some additional plastic is placed on top to help keep the heat in.
When i can i add more to the heap, but i do not intend to use compost for beds until late next year. I want to wait at least 12 months.....
Posted
by John Flynn
