Easy DIY Compost Bins | 3 Bin Compost Plans

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Welcome to the official April Wilkerson KZbin channel. I’m April and I’m the creator of Wilker Do’s. I'm not professional or have any training, so I just pick the project I want to tackle and figure it out step by step. On this channel you will find a variety of content like DIY home improvement, How-To’s, construction and more.

[@littlehousewoodworking5292]

I love my compost system. This one is pretty basic but a good start. I used the hardware cloth for my first version many years ago, but found it doesn't hold up well with the pitch fork and/or shovel's catching it as I move the material. I'm probably redoing it this spring. I have a plan using concrete blocks. Wood is so expensive it's practically cheaper with blocks. I'd recommend making a sifter for the third bin. Then as you shovel the cooked compost over, you can sift the dirt/broke down compost and sift out the large pieces that need more time. Place those back into the 1st or 2nd bin. I have a 3 bin system where I will rotate back and forth between bin one and two and keep the 3rd bin for completed compost to use in my gardens. I've had my latest 3 bin system going for about 8-10 years and I'm going to rebuild it this year with a possible 4th bin for fresh raw scrap. Currently my raw (tree branches, leaves, grass clippings, garden pickings etc ) are thrown in a pile behind the 3 bins waiting for the next time I rotate to get added in. Remember to layer. Compost works best when it's built like a Lasagna of green, brown, and dirt layers. Doesn't need to be perfect layers and actually works best when mixed up a bit, but the method works for keeping proportions correct. Its also good to keep it moist, not wet. So be sure to water the layers as you turn your pile from one bin to the next.

[@juliehorney995]

Yes to the sifting lid!

[@flatsville9343]

Round wire compost bins made of fencing or cattle panel can be fully opened by creating a gate with wire hooks or D rnigs at the T Post or rebar stake. No sawing, drilling or screwing. Can be easily relocated. I use them to compost in place to create new beds. Rake off what didn't decompose to at least mulch stage. Pull back to dirt & plant in. There are always earthworms below ready to go.

[@jasonclark4954]

Been composting for many years. my suggestion is to get some masonry tiles for the bottom floor. This makes shoveling out much easier and helps keep wildlife from digging up under. In my 3 bin system, only the first bin has a lid (movable), after the compositing starts the animal attraction diminishes and it helps the kids pick the right bin to drop food waste. Over time the piles in the bins start to all look the same and as you rotate the bins its easy to forget which one is #1.

[@joedenatale4176]

Great Job April! Just be careful on a windy day while working your piles, do not want the wind to slam the top doors on your head. Especially the 2x2 on the end. Maybe an 8ft 2x2 can hold them up for added security. Another idea to add, to make sure no animals do get in and may be trap in, us a bungy cord to tie down the doors. Were they is à will animals will get in especially if you have no tie down. Love your channel! Hi from Montreal Canada.

[@thekaduu]

It's not too late. Look up "static compost". Just drill 1/4" holes on 2" pvc, put them on the bottom of the "cooking" compartment and force air through it (mattress inflator on a timer... 10 sec on and 50 sec off). This speeds up the composting process considerably. Also, mixing cheap chicken feed with no antibiotics, I got the core temperature to 67C (153F) in 3-4 days and it was usable in 21-22 days. Good luck.

[@jewdd1989]

Fascinating, I know absolutely nothing about composting but I like the idea of being able to speed it up

[@pattiland3452]

Do you have a photo of your setup to share?

[@apriln2108]

Chicken feed? Or chicken manure?

[@thekaduu]

@@apriln2108 Chicken feed with no antibiotics.

[@michaelpoulsen205]

​@@thekaduu does it matter if feed is pellet or crumbles?

[@JeffreyMoon1974]

I have a very similar system that I built almost ten years ago and it has been GREAT for making TONS of compost to use in our gardens. It helps that we have not only food scraps and lawn and garden clippings, but paper litter and bedding that we use for our rabbits and guinea pigs and pine shavings that we use as bedding for our chickens. Filling a bin takes six months tops. My only change to this design would be to add an extra horizontal beam about halfway between the ground and the top of the bins on the sides and back of each bin. The fabric cloth WILL stretch over time, especially if it fills more than halfway, and securing to this will only help. Also, there is a way to make your material compost faster. Start by filling one end a little less than halfway. Then, move it every few days between that bin and the center bin. In about four to six weeks, you will have usable compost. In the meantime, you can start filling the other end bin. Best of luck!

[@trapped7534]

May I suggest that you buy a few thousand red wigglers and add them to your bins. Also I found a great tip a few days ago (Sadly I don’t remember who from) but buy an old blender from resale shops or yard sales, designate it for “scraps only”. Any kitchen waste destined for the compost bin gets blended. Take that slurry out and pour it into bins. Encourages worm activity.

[@JeremySpidle]

I had willow roots living under my compost bins. I've now elevated the bins on pallets over a thick polycabonate barrier after trenching out the roots. I lost a year's compost to that tree... kinda. I'll take it down and chip it one day!

[@halfglassfull]

TEN YEARS back, I built a 3 bin system out of reclaimed cedar from a fence. It has finally began to rot out. Fixing to replace it, I was going to use fresh PT wood sides but now I've seen this I will use hardware cloth on 3 sides. GREAT DESIGN! For our hot dry summers I use a drip irrigation system on a timer to keep the piles moist. Which also makes the piles heavy and I will likely put some cross members midway up each wall to keep the hardware cloth from bowing out too much. I also used horizontal and angled cross bracing on the back half of the tops to keep the walls from splaying out whilst stll being able to reach in to turn and shovel.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Sounds great! Thanks for sharing and for watching.

[@jennifersatchell3388]

You're an inspiration to other women diy-ers!

[@mcmathwoodworks]

After seeing the full video, I like your method of holding/attaching the hardware cloth way better! Using a cutoff wheel looks so much easier than cutting one square at a time with tin snips! And why didn’t I think of using a broom to hold down the other end of the cloth while working on it? lol ;) I like the design and how you can add/remove slats to your desired height! Thank you for sharing!

[@therelaxingwoodshop7495]

Really smart to bring the wheel barrow up to the removable front. Niceone April

[@nicariverashorts2521]

I like the removable front-slotted design, I'm sure it's going to come in handy 😀. Great job!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@tierneyrose110]

How are you so productive?!?! Its really amazing. Good job and thanks! Also we look a lot alike. It's super strange and extra interesting for me to watch your videos because of it.

[@wolfgangschmidtke8023]

Hallo April und danke für deine Nachricht und tschüß aus Düsseldorf Germany

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching. Hello from Texas! :)

[@lovejones7545]

April these bins rock and so do you! thanks for sharing this project build with us❤

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks so much!

[@mikecurtis2585]

Great project I like that design!!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@jewdd1989]

I like that air is surrounding it in almost all sides and the dados in the front to remove and add boards. Nice job, keep us updated on how the composting goes. If I built one I wouldn’t need such a large space but it’d be nice to not buy fertilizer/compost all the time.

[@richragan4810]

Thank you April.

[@SaltyOwlAlmanac]

Irrigation and compost nerd here. This is the perfect method for composting. The only other method I recommend is a worm bin. Since you nailed this so hard, I’ll share my nerdgasm dream add-on to this project: install a line of 1/2” irrigation just behind the rear posts and an irrigation box to one side. Up to each bay, run 1/8” tubing and spray heads, and connect a moisture (and heat?) sensor that can be stuck into each pile like a meat thermometer, but moved for forkin’. Program to keep each pile sponge-moist and voila, we can keep them babies cookin’!!

[@SaltyOwlAlmanac]

Thank you for the recommendations on pressure treated wood ! I will definitely look further into it.

[@EasyLiving8]

EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE, thanks so much for taking the time to do this GREAT video and share it with us, can't wait to show it to my wife, have a GREAT WEEKEND!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@beaux2572]

Holy smokes watching that table saw clip was terrifying. Never block the side opposite of the fence. Additionally, never lean onto the cut side of the wood, ESPECIALLY if you're going to have your hand over the blade like that.

[@leroymitch3153]

you sure do keep busy coming up with new ideas

[@95dodgev10]

To win the "game" of getting the lids open you could add a push stick on a hinge to the front of the lid. Just grab the stick which could be like 1x1 and lift up and open and then the hinge would let it swing up against the lid when upright to avoid a headache and keep it out of the way when working with the compost. Then grab the stick or pull the string to close and the stick will hinge back forward for next time.

[@terrancesnyder9323]

GOOD AFTERNOON

[@Texasfishingfamily]

If you take that roll of hardware cloth in your hands with the end coming toward you at the top and then step on it as you unroll it, it will be almost completely flat and easier to work with.

[@JesusdUribe]

Perfectly built nice job

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Great addition to your garden area April. Thanks for sharing this video with us. Stay safe and keep up the videos and fun. Fred.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks for watching!

[@Guitarzan8]

I threw together my 2 stage compost system with free pallets from the big box lumber yard for the sides and back and screwed them together after leveling. I don’t have a top, no critter problems so far after 4 years. lots of winter snow on top though here in MN. I lean a pallet over the front to hold up the pile. It’s pretty good looking since its relatively square. Plus I use a pitchfork to turn it. Wire fence like yours would grab the pitchfork when I’m turning. I like being able to really stick the fork in without worrying about breaking anything. I like your buried posts idea. I’m going to use that on my pallets so they don’t lean. Nice job as always! 1.5M subscribers?? Way to go!

[@jimkoz5052]

Great job again April. Keep up the great work and Take Care

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thank you! You too!

[@lenniesolis-collazo5817]

Thank you for this tutorial, you did a nice job. Thank you, blessed day

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thank you so much!

[@chrisflavelle1200]

The fun part about digging holes in the ground for fences, etc., is belling the bottom of the hole, adding a bit of gravel for drainage and then putting all of the soil back into the hole. I did this on several fences I have put up in past couple of decades, only to hear about the problems the new owners had trying to get the posts out of the ground when they wanted to make changes. I never had a rock bar, but always had an old shovel handle handy to use as my tamper. I was just wondering if you had thought about making the openings wide enough for the bucket of your tractor for ease of moving compost from one stage to the next.

[@briancollum3176]

Great video, 👍

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@shirleysmith2044]

Thank you for your great video. When I build my garden and compost I will put a see through peaked top on it to keep the poisons from the chem trails off my organic produce.

[@dennishinkle5010]

April they look great. My chickens might get a bit confused though. lol👍♥️

[@BearCreekWoodworking]

I tired Gloves In A Bottle after your last sponsored video April. I must say I Love It! It works GREAT!!! Thanks for informing us of these Cool Products. Oh By The Way - Your Compost Bins are COOL TOO!!! I enjoy gardening also!

[@HadassahHaman]

Beautiful!¡!❤

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thank you!

[@akbychoice]

While core drilling the decomposing granite we ran into sometimes gave off radiation. Enough to make the Geiger Counter to tick.

[@lunkerpond9765]

Great job, looks good

[@69virgin1966]

I love that smile!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@carolinabasantes5168]

excelent work!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@AprilWilkerson]

You're welcome! Glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching.

[@G2JMC]

Pretty cool❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@davethepak]

Love the video - thanks for sharing. Angle grinder for cutting the mesh was a nice idea - always get good ideas from your vids....

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad you liked it!

[@aissabousbaa8588]

Bravo April, beau projet, je dois en faire un moi aussi. Il have to make it soon.

[@akagapeach]

awesome

[@mikescarhole]

Great video!

[@kennethriviere3221]

Great job

[@jasonthomas1760]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who finds arguing with inanimate objects helpful lol

[@gillgjr]

Your awesome. Thanks

[@LoisToYou]

Really great video

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.

[@KonamisQuest]

Floating your 4x4 by hand and going back and forth with two fences...just move the adjustable fence on your table saw........

[@TaylorBurrington-qz7mh]

No one carries pro wood within 50 miles of me :( any other treated lumber you would recommend?

[@edwilliams968]

My Question is will a pressure treated lumber, shouldn't you be wearing a mask when cutting and milling the lumber? I the Copper based lumber different?

[@zepryspet]

And I wouldn't use it to near compost or veggies but to each his own.

[@chris2818]

Do you think a person using your plans can build it in five panels (one back / four walls) in the shop then move to site? I was thinking it might it easier to keep square and assembly. The issue I see is level. So I'd back fill with granite and tap and find to level with long board and block just above ground level. Then just drop panels in place and backfill with more granite. I think this might be easier but you've built it before, so you do you see an issue with this thought? Thank you.

[@dsmmike95]

You think the front panels you make could be used to make a privacy wall/panel? Been thinking of using that groove idea to use less hardware.

[@richragan4810]

I noticed you cut pressure treated wood on the Saw Stop. Did you use the bypass mode so as not tp trip the brake?

[@grunff]

Azole 🤣 (I know it's a chemistry term, still funny)

[@roneychandomi1368]

Excelente método para el abono orgánico te felicito 👍👸🙏

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! And thanks for watching. :)

[@leslieturner]

How do I find the plans for this project?

[@AprilWilkerson]

I've left a Link under description of the Video. Click on "Show More" and scroll down. Thanks for watching.

[@karlarudnicki4294]

I watched the video twice but didn’t really hear any dimensions. Is it possible to share?

[@AprilWilkerson]

I've left a Link to the PDF downloadable Plans and Cut List available under Video Description. Click on "Show More" and scroll down. Thanks for watching.

[@ianmargo2513]

Thanks for you video. I think it would be easier to follow if there were no discordant background music.

[@leroymitch3153]

do you make things for other people if they ask you to?

[@AprilWilkerson]

No, I don't do custom orders for people but instead film tutorials showing others how to make it themselves. Thanks for watching.

[@Morpha-Ahprom]

💖

[@FlightSimDude]

👍

[@GibClark]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@wdb1932]

Far better to pour concrete piers and mount post on those. Always better to do a professional job. Also, dado blades cut faster, better dados.

[@ThreePedalCollective]

she did have a dado blade, look again. 😅

[@Harrythehat58]

want to come and build me a garden? lol

[@Harrythehat58]

@April_Wilkerson I don't have telegram

[@jayejaycurry5485]

If you don't add animal products to your compost, you shouldn't have any difficulty with animals, except maybe raccoons. Chickens could be another issue as they like to scratch for worms in the compost.

[@FrancineJones-s1b]

you sure do keep busy coming up with new ideas

[@WillysPerformanceCycleCtr]

Nice set of composting bins April. I like your step by step instructions. Always nice and you keep it simple. Thanks for sharing this one with us. Have a great day!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad it was helpful!

[@alansmith4734]

I saw a sign on another TV Show, that you could make. It said "Measure Once. Cuss Twice!"

[@majcorbin]

April, What is the most distinctive characteristic, of the DOG WOOD TREE? [A] why, its BARK,of course

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

THANKS APRIL 🤗👍😎💚💚💚

[@realpdm]

I'm impressed with your hole digging in the hill country. I live just north of Austin and I call our dirt 'defective'. Digging a hole with a post hole digger like that would be nearly impossible. I've been thinking of making some compost units like this, but make them the width of my tractor bucket, so make moving material between them and away easier. Yours turned out really nice!

[@fdelacou]

Haha! We had a say in Arkansas that you don't "dig" a hole, you earned a hole. Digging enough dirt to create my raised bed removed as much rocks than dirt! 😀

[@florencejessup2432]

When I was farming, I found it easier to use a windrow system if I was turning the piles with my tractor. I found the windrow needed to be in a spot where I could access it from both sides.

[@lowcrawl73]

Nice bins, if I ever need to redo my composting, I will definitely use these.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@yoanngrange]

Great build. 👍 3 units 👍 removable front boards 👍 air and rain access 👍 dimensions (considering your beds) Now, the best compost is the one you don’t make. You can directly pour your vegetal waste onto your beds and incorporate them in your soil. Lower temperature rise, faster composting, less handling, more nutrients. If you don’t like the look of it, cover it with straw.

[@davidcorless5581]

YOU COULD HAVE USED Y2K FOR YOUR POSTS APRIL, EASY.

[@MikeDolanFliss]

Prowood is great, but: how do you order their color option treatments? I've only seen the generic pressure treated in above ground / ground contact versions. Is that something orderable from the home depot prodesk, for instance?

[@louroberts5567]

Hi, April! Now, THIS is a great project! Some good ideas for my composting area as my surrounding fence is dying a slow death. Thanks for sharing ANOTHER awesome video! God bless.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching.

[@pusatkarya]

Hadir kawanku salam kenal nyimak

[@georgeanderson1240]

it seems like the common denominator is this is another commercial for the sponsors. You got to do better hiding it. still following you but i cant watch some of the videos that look literally like a product advertisement.

[@AprilWilkerson]

There is no sense in hiding anything. I'm not a weekend hobbyist, this is my job. Yes I have sponsors and bills and obligations to my employees. Most Makers do have sponsors, but I have always shown what I built, how I did it and what I used explaining about the products. I only work with companies I believe in their products, but you are still getting free content. No different than tv having commercials or radio. Thanks for watching.

[@danduhn8328]

There the same as the Jim Crockett setup from the 1976 PBS Victory Garden show.

[@geronimo238]

Me gusta tu trabajo.Ademas sos muy linda y simpatica. Saludos desde Argentina 🇦🇷

[@johnlee7085]

A different perspective on composting, and a lot quicker is vermiculture; worms. Such useful little critters, but probably not as good with a wood project.

[@nasarazam]

Would the net siding hold the sideway weight of compost?

[@AprilWilkerson]

So far no issues at all. Thanks for watching.

[@kevinjamesparr552]

You need 4 bins really

[@BibiProvenceBBSmoothMusic]

I love it, but i have a question why you didnt cover the bottom with the same chicken wire you covered the sides and top with, to keep critters out. They can easily dig a hole to get their way into the Compost bins. Love your details. Awesome!!

[@fernandodonoso1575]

It was the same mug for coffee and the granite gravel? Multi purpose tools rock! And it's better if you like the earthy notes on your coffee. -I really liked the overall design btw- ;-)

[@johnheyden7277]

You know, instead of fighting the hardware cloth on site you could just uses a "Fence stretcher"...yes that is a real thing!

[@ifitrocks]

I like the video but way too complicated of a design for composting lol

[@fdelacou]

One little trick to accelerate composting that I have been using is to add earth worm to the bin. That will accelerate everything!

[@juneritchie2498]

Absolutely inspiring!!! (and attainable) Now, I just need to find space. 🤔

[@73991000]

How big is this?

[@ebikescrapper3925]

When putting tea bags in compost heap / bin tear them, this allows the bag to escape. If you can be bothered, empty them out

[@brokenthought1102]

should have a hanging magnet to catch the lids but still easy to pull closed

[@velray1231]

As always luv watching u work . U make it look to simple, grunt or say oh shoot now and then.

[@kevina1084]

That’s awesome. Totally unnecessary to build this fancy structure to decompose yard waste, but I love it.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Not at all! Extremely useful. I don't want an unsightly pile to be able to have healthy compost for my garden. Thanks for watching.

[@CodlFaaic]

Your gesture always brings a smile to my face. Thank you.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! Happy to hear that!

[@JesusdUribe]

Ok thanks

[@adambilal42]

Very nice april

[@hofhouder4090]

Another great step-by-step instruction video! I didn't read all the comments so this might already be in there somewhere, but one suggestion, if I may: Make the 2 wire panels inbetween the bins removable. This makes it far more easy to shovel your compost-in-the-making from one stage to the next. With only a removable front, you'll have to shovel everything into a wheelbarrow to dump it into the next bin or lift everything by hand over the wired panel into the next bin. That's either a lot of extra handling or a lot of backache. The combination of a by section removable fontend and a removable side is perfect for working your way down a bin while moving it to the next, without the extra strain on your back and without spilling anything outside the bins. Hope this suggestion helps!