How to build a compost barrel

Rotating compost barrel

Composting at home: Today, everyone is conscious of their carbon footprint and it's impact on the Earth's ecosystem. Many cities and towns have introduced composting programs that collect and recycle your kitchen waste by turning it into compost and re-selling it back to their taxpayers! H'mmm can we get a discount on our property taxes? ;) 
So why not compost at home since you have the bi-product at your hands. A rich sweet smelling compost can be used as a top dressing or mixed into your garden soil to benefit your plants, and its free.  
Leaves, grass clippings, weeds, dead flowers, plants, food scraps, fruit wastes, coffee and tea grounds, dryer lint, newspaper, shredded paper, corrugated cardboard and manure are some of the ideal products to compost. The formula is roughly 8 parts brown and 1 part green (carbon to nitrogen) chopped up and mixed with some earth. Keep the compost damp and let it sit for a few days. Then rotate it every day for one week and twice a week for the next 2 weeks. The compost pundits say you can produce compost in 3 weeks! If the compost smells add more brown and if it does not heat up add more green. Since this is my first barrel I will report back to you later in a few months on its effectiveness. Also, drill lots of 3/8" holes in the barrel because compost needs plenty of oxygen, water and heat to decompose. This post is dedicated to my buds, Jean-Yves, Wayne, and Doug who have taken great interest in this project. ); Take a look at the quick paced slide show demonstrating how to build a compost barrel. Put on your dancing shoes, turn up the sound and click play! Reduce, reuse and recycle, my friend!