How to Build a Compost Bin on a Hill

Overview

Composting is gaining more and more importance over recent years, especially with the trend toward green living. It is the method of reusing household waste to create an organic matter that is packed with nutrients and conditioners for garden or container soil. It encourages homeowners to recycle decomposable waste themselves, thus reducing the amount of space it takes up in landfills. And you don't have to live on a flat surface to compost--you can also do so if your property is on a hill, following these steps.

Step 1

Select a shaded area on the hill that is relatively close to your house so you can fill the compost bin with waste easily, even in extreme weather conditions. Measure and mark a 3-foot square on your selected spot with powdered chalk. Depending on the scale of your operation, you can extend the square to up to 5 feet.

Step 2

Use a shovel to dig dirt from the demarcated area to level the base, and collect it in a wheelbarrow to dispose of it appropriately. Remember to dig more towards the back of the hill due to the incline, than the front. Check the base with a carpenter's level to make sure it's flat and even, and make necessary adjustments by removing dirt in any spot to get it in line with the surrounding area.

Step 3

Purchase four 3-foot-high, 3-foot-long, pressure-treated wooden pallets from a shipping company or furniture store, along with several feet of heavy-gauge galvanized steel wire from a hardware store. Purchase 5-foot-high wooden pallets if you dug a square that size.

Step 4

Place the wooden pallets over the demarcated area carefully to form an open box. Push them an inch deep into the soil so they stand on their own.

Step 5

Cut the galvanized wire into eight 8- to 10-inch lengths, using wire snips.

Step 6

Slide a length of wire to connect any two top corners of the pallets where they meet to secure them together. Twist it around several times and push it down so the pointed edge is not visible, and hence does not pose a threat. Repeat the procedure with the bottom corners of the same two pallets using another length of wire. One side of your compost bin is secure. Join all the corners of the pallets at the top and bottom in the same way with galvanized wire.

Step 7

Collect "green" waste, such as leaf and grass clippings and leftover food scrap; and "brown" waste, such as coffee filters, wood and stem cuttings, shredded paper and cardboard.

Step 8

Fill your bin with 3-inch alternating layers of greens and browns, and wet with a garden hose to ensure the contents are evenly moist. Turn the contents with a pitchfork so they mix thoroughly.