Small garden composters start with a Beehive compost bin

If you are new to garden composting and have little space for a garden composter, you may be concerned about how the garden compost bin will affect the garden. I would recommend new home composters with small gardens to start with a beehive compost bin if possible. It’s true that in many gardens, the homemade compost pile is usually a pretty messy affair, and the often purchased garden compost bin isn’t a pretty option either, all brown or green plastic. In many situations this is fine and, in fact, appropriate. But particularly in smaller gardens, where things can’t be hidden and every element and garden accessory has an impact on the whole, it’s good to achieve the garden recycling dream of home composting without detracting from the beauty of the garden. A wooden beehive compost bin will provide you with an effective garden composter while enhancing the beauty of your outdoor space.

It makes sense, in a small garden, to have a relatively small garden compost bin. But it should still be practical. The compost bin should be large enough that it will take you at least three to six months to fill it. It is then left for three to six months to decompose. During that time, you need another compost bin to fill. If you only have one compost bin, you’ll need to regularly remove the decomposed contents from the bottom of the bin, while continually adding it to the top of the bin. This is possible but far from ideal. Two garden compost bins, or a double-chamber compost bin, is best. But I admit, once you get the home composting bug, you’ll want more. In fact, we have four at present, but in the future, who knows!

My first foray into the world of home composting was with a 200 liter capacity plastic compost bin sponsored by the municipality. I have to say that it worked very well. The plastic keeps the compost from drying out and keeps things warm. The garden compost we got from our plastic bin was fine and crumbly and really gave me the garden compost bug. But that big plastic compost bin didn’t look so good in the small urban garden we had then.

Town halls often sponsor compost bins and water barrels. Check with yours. This is how we got our first water barrel and a plastic compost bin. He made both very cheap.

However, the ugliness of those plastic compost bins is a turn off for some. In fact, I have friends with small gardens who simply wouldn’t have one in the garden to spoil the view. Even though they like to be ‘green’ and ‘eco’ in other ways, they didn’t dare to recycle kitchen waste and recycle garden waste through such a big eyesore! Silly, I suppose, but true and far from weird thoughts, I imagine. Let’s face it, as much as many of us like to lessen our impact on the earth, we still have certain wants and needs. And, if keeping your yard pretty and/or plastic-free is your thing, the plastic compost bin and water barrel combo isn’t for you!

This is why I am such a fan of the wooden beehive composter. That are beautiful. In fact, I would love one, although it would be totally impractical since we compost vast amounts of organic matter. They are so attractive!

I think being able to buy a beautiful product is a great thing. If you’re not one of life’s natural garden composters, happy with bins made of pallets, plastic, and chicken wire, a touch of glam might well motivate you. I see no reason why you wouldn’t want to regularly visit and refill such a pretty garden compost bin! Surprisingly, they aren’t nearly as expensive as I assumed they would be either, and they really do make a feature wherever in the garden they appear.

I would always recommend having as large a compost bin as possible and actually composting as much garden, kitchen and animal waste as practical. I’m the proud owner of a dry compost toilet, so I know what I’m talking about. But, for small gardens and just those who are new to home composting, I think getting a nice compost bin is a great idea.

Many people think that making compost for the garden is dirty, or difficult, or hard work, that for them, building a series of compost boxes is never even going to be a thought. But for anyone starting to compost at home, even with a few kitchen scraps and grass clippings in a relatively small pre-built compost bin, that’s still a reduction in commercial compost sales, peat bog destruction, and backfilling. of landfills.

So, while I’ll never own one, I fully see the point of beautiful, rustic wooden beehive compost bins and still desire them in my more feminine gardening moments. But for me the main goal of garden composting is to make as much hummus as possible so it’s never practical here.

I think they would make great press for someone (with a nice garden) not yet converted to the merits of composting yard waste or kitchen scraps as well. For those people they will see ‘what is compost?’ quickly and through the pink-tinged shows of someone with a particularly beautiful compost bin!

Sealed garden compost bins are great for composting without worrying about vermin or indeed kids getting their hands on kitchen waste. In humid climates, their sealed containers mean the whole pile doesn’t get too wet (which would prevent microbes from being able to function). They also keep all the goodness from seeping out. Sealed compost bins are equally great in hot climates where the pile could dry out (microbes need moist, but not saturated conditions).

If you were just getting started with garden composting or if you were looking for a small garden composter, you would definitely look into the wooden beehive compost bin option. Whether it’s to improve the look of a small garden or because you’re just composting kitchen waste on a small scale, they work well and look great.