A Compost Bin to Last a Lifetime

This short video skipped over a lot of the details. You can find the full video on this project here: • Building a Multibay Co...
I chose metal for this build because I have built many compost bins before with wood and all of them have rotted away in just a few years. 😕 At this point in life, I would much rather build something once the right way than have to repeat the same job multiple times. While much cheaper structures can be assembled to help support your composting efforts, they are typically missing one or more of the desired features of this metal design, such as longevity, strength, aesthetic appeal, effectiveness, and ease of use. This large multi-bay compost bin system enables us to manage a huge volume of composting for our homestead vegetable garden while keeping the process orderly and attractive.
MATERIALS USED
• 17 Gauge Galvanized Metal Fence Posts 1 7/8” x 6’6”
• Galvanized Post Caps
• 7 sheets of 24 gauge 30”x 8’ corrugated metal siding 7/8” thick
• 25 Gauge Galvanized Stud 1 5/8” x 8’
• Steel U-Channels 1” x 8’
• EMT Conduit ½” x 15’
• Pan Head Self-drilling Metal Screws
• Cedar Decking 5/4“ x 8’
TOOLS USED
• Circular Saw
• 7 inch Metal Cut-off
• Sledge Hammer
• Trailer Hitch Ball
• Post Level
• Level
• Measuring Tape
• Radial Arm Saw
• Angle Grinder
• Tin Snips
• Impact Driver
LEARN MORE
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[@brianrice1613]

It took me awhile to realize why I recognized this guy when he came across my shorts. This was my 9th grade science teacher! Glad to see him thriving

[@hulkamania5071]

eat my shorts

[@tanonymous2557]

Gardening with science 👀 maybe I’ll have to tune in

[@REAPER3fitty]

No shit? That's cool

[@Ansset0]

He was cumming across your shorts? Ex teacher? Lovely. I'm hoping that true love still exists 🤮

[@Randmguy91]

That’s so cool 🤙🏼

[@robwoodke6592]

Very cool and simple idea. It looks like it could be done in a weekend.

[@havidgekoochek]

It will not stand the test of use.

[@patrapper7367]

I think that if you just would go by compost made already that he could have saved half the cost and spent the other half of the cost into other plants fruit trees and stuff to grow

[@Alyss93]

My brain: Oooh, so pretty, that would be fantastic for my garden!! My wallet: No, please, not again 😭😭😭

[@bcope8501]

Beating on a ball hitch for driving gavanized? GENIUS!

[@brrryyyyce]

Interesting build, but you MUST drill lots of air holes in the metal so the compost stays aerobic. You’ve created an environment where the bottom of the pile could go anaerobic. That will ruin your compost.

[@VegetableAcademy]

I address your concerns about air flow in the full video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5qTqJlunJWdnbc

[@hulkamania5071]

how will it ruin his compost? people make anaerobic compost too.

[@AlpacaRenee]

You could use expanded metal instead of corrugated, or at least at the base 12”

[@stevekent3991]

I have an insulated hot compost tumbler. The air vents are tiny. It makes great compost fast. Microbes are very very small organisms, they don’t need as much oxygen you might think they do. As long as there is air that’s ok.

[@___.51]

@@stevekent3991I love my compost tumblers, I got all three from friends and neighbors that gave up on composting 😅 wicked quick.

[@VT-ix5oh]

You will need to compost for 3 lifetime s to cover the initial cost

[@Oceansta]

It's not always about the cost.

[@jackb8563]

​@@Oceansta it's all about the metals leeching into the soil 😂

[@jstewart627]

​@@jackb8563all your water goes through miles of pipes and the old infrastructure of pipes are full of holes going into the ground leaking and pulling in dirt and metals. I get all my water from the mountain. Some worry is not necessary though, but it is good to avoid some things.

[@kristiwilbun18]

Those cheap Chinese galvanized materials wont last a lifetime.

[@MobileVisions]

I think making one 3’ x 3’ x 4’ pile and turning every couple days is about $1000 cheaper… and not permanent. But yours looks fancy and probably does the trick too 😅

[@LanceCarmony]

The most beautiful compost bins ever created!!

[@Nachos_with_a_slice_of_lime]

Looks great looking forward to the update in a few years.

[@R.L.U.]

Looks great but you need airflow. Either drill or shoot some holes in the sides or install a 4 inch pvc pipe with tons of tiny holes or less larger holes. You can do this as you buld your compost. Easy fix.

[@veronicaanne1359]

Hmmmmm????? So, so sorry to add a negative comment! But you are going to hate those corrugations in your iron.... Some Rio with 1 inch squares does exactly the same job. Trust me, cos I've got it in my yard. Does the trick... Good luck 🤞

[@wilecatrexy]

Even the galvanized steel will decompost when in contact with the compost. And I would assume that heavy metals will contaminate the compost. I use pallets for compost bins for free. When the wood decays, it turns into compost.😂

[@robertdeschu4367]

Way prettier than my homemade bins, but don’t forget to add some ventilation!

[@DD-uf2uo]

To expensive. Just get some bitty +Baby 🐔 wire, make a circle (as big as you want out in the open area) with it with some posts, have the wire one foot above the ground at the bottom and about 4 or 5 feet high. Throw leaves ect over into it. As the leaves and other things rot, rake it out from the bottom. .

[@JuneHarriseco]

It's aesthetically pleasing, but something is missing in function. You might consider clarifying how much will go in there.

[@teenwolf219]

Looks great. Metal cutoof blade is unnecessary tho. Use a reg wood blade. Theyre all carbide tipped these days.

[@alockworkorange7296]

Ill bet my left nut those galvinzed post will rust underground cause they often do when just dug but since u hammered them in the chance u scraped off enough zinc to definitely let the rust in

[@Oceansta]

Looks grear dude! Nice job. Why do you need that much capacity though? Just curious

[@blender_wiki]

Good luck with galvanized steel. They don't last for life in this conditions

[@kbee225]

At least your compost will be rich in zinc from all that galvanized steel

[@Ansset0]

Perfect setup for a rotting structure, just perfect. Content should be called "how not to.."

[@Randmguy91]

It’s galv steel and cedar, I don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon 😅

[@kimmycup2704]

But lid. You need a lid unless this is pretty far from the rest of your garden 😅

[@ObiwanNekody]

Are those screws properly rated for galvanized steel?

[@michaelmannen4607]

My compost bin is a bunch of logs stacked together

[@blender_wiki]

Nice build, but acidity in compost is not friendly to your galvanized iron

[@LanceCarmony]

Hell yes it will stand the test of time. What a fckn beast of a compost area!!!!

[@BrixThePlanter]

The only thing I don’t like is metal

[@joshrayner7167]

Wait IT SNOWS WHERE YOU ARE??

[@joshpiotrowski3487]

Life time and 20 years are different

[@american6431]

Great job. Where is the list?

[@wwflguy]

Thats a whole lot of compost

[@annavalliara2034]

It's beautiful ❤

[@bluewolf4915]

ok so you're rich......

[@Chopperdoll]

Nice set up.

[@rhondabarlow860]

It's pretty.......

[@heavymetalbassist5]

I rock piles in a field, flipped weekly with a baby kubota. Im sure yours will last a while but I think I might be finally above your level. Also dont cut metal siding like that, use snips. You heated it up and anywhere a slag spark hit will rust.

[@chrisbraid2907]

Compost bay.

[@aidanlynch1694]

No airflow? Oof

[@nmoran2046]

Kool the only “week’ link would be the steel stud for your c-panel that won’t last very long compared to the rest of you material choices This would easily translate into smaller or larger applications 🤙🤙🤙 Next I am steeling the trailer ball trick

[@innerjon]

Really nice

[@hannamignano]

Brilliant!

[@thefarmingnurse]

How dare you

[@denimjez]

Is there going to be enough ventilation?

[@VegetableAcademy]

I address the subject of ventilation in my full length video on this project here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5qTqJlunJWdnbc

[@whitshane3511]

I always find these stalls to be very labor-intensive. Why not use the same square feet to have 2-4 very large tumblers so turning the material becomes easy? Don't get me wrong, this is a very well-made version of the stalls. Just appears obvious to me how there are better ways to do this with gravity/physics.

[@VegetableAcademy]

I made a 40 gallon compost tumbler for my father years ago and the weight of the compost inside made it next to impossible to turn by hand even with the leverage of a long handle. The volume of that small drum still doesn't even compare with the volume of these bins. Rotating drums sacrifice a lot of volume because of the needed air space on all sides. Cubic containers offer the most efficient use of space and once you've collected several tonnes of organic matter, it's just easier to leave it on the ground to compost without any added energy.

[@whitshane3511]

@@VegetableAcademy All good points, but I still think there's a lot of room for innovation. A powered rotary tumbler for a 55 gallon drum would certainly solve turning a tumbler/drum manually. Feels like there is something there with building something up instead of out in order to use gravity. Or using a large auger instead of digging the whole thing up intermittently? You are simply trying to introduce air and mix up the materials. Should not require all of the shoveling...

[@whitshane3511]

How about using compressed air to simulate ASP compost system? Good alternative to manually turning it. You can certainly do it on a larger scale with a bouncy house fan and some schedule 80 pipe. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWjcl5usiKiWgs0

[@greenmountaingrower4680]

Some old pallets and chicken fence work just fine and actually allow for more airflow lowering the chance of your pile going anaerobic

[@stevekettelson7368]

I’m wondering if you should have built the walls as vertical panels to handle lateral load better.

[@shireethompson5028]

Great job

[@alicecain4851]

The words beautiful and compost aren't often used together, but your compost area is absolutely beautiful - and useful! Cool!

[@jackosborne9872]

You need air,sun for heat,water for moisture, and be able to turn it at least once or nore a week. Use pallets for seperate bins.

[@RobbertvanHaaften]

Fabulous. That will survive the test of time until your grandkids are grandpa's 😂 nice job!

[@TheRainHarvester]

Wear swimming goggles while cutting that metal?

[@chazhinkeldey1465]

Hmm... I wonder how long that'll last...

[@demitaylor8873]

Wow..thanks for the idea..I'm going to do this!!

[@pixi8690]

This ingenious! So gonna borrow this design!

[@jsholdingscaribellc5701]

This guy is so awesome !!!!!! 💪 😎 🔥

[@illtrax]

Nice build 👌

[@nickreffer3046]

Wow, that was clever

[@jaminlove]

Gangsta

[@The08miller08]

Looks amazing but doesn't it need aeration?

[@VegetableAcademy]

I address the subject of aeration in the full video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5qTqJlunJWdnbc

[@jtyl3464]

Nice

[@G8tr1522]

🤯🤯🤯

[@fjr3499]

No worries about using galvanized materials ?

[@juggftw4868]

The point of it being galvanized is to prevent corrosion, untreated steel is not very weather resistant, and the zinc is fairly unreactive so it shouldn’t cause problems with the compost

[@VegetableAcademy]

I address concerns about galvanized metal in the full video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5qTqJlunJWdnbc

[@nw0913]

Will that metal rust?

[@TheBunnyBeatdown]

Galvanized is extremely rust resistant. We build out raised beds out of some corrugated galvanized panels that were sitting next to out shed for 10 years. They have no rust on them.

[@jakey28]

No air flow

[@VegetableAcademy]

I address your concern about air flow in the full video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5qTqJlunJWdnbc

[@Alex147CT]

One more amazing thing would be to put a concrete floor to avoid phosphorus (P) leakage. Amazing setup!

[@kr1886]

A great example of conspicuous consumption 😮

[@evantspurrell]

not going to last

[@gmailman001001]

Looks expensive

[@toucanvanbeak]

With a pail that small it will take a lifetime to fill your all set

[@VegetableAcademy]

Indeed, but a lot more organic wast comes directly out of our garden plots. That pail is just for our kitchen scraps.