Baby, it’s BRRR outside… and I don’t think it’ll get much warmer until April or May-ish. I’ve still got time for a few outdoors projects before the real winter hits us (I hope).
Last night, tossing and turning – because of course, my head always picks the perfect time to start brain-storming. What a more perfect time than 11:30PM on Sunday night? I mean c’mon!! Nope – not visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. Visions of compost bins. How romantic, the stuff dreams are made of right? Well, apparently it’s the stuff homesteader’s dreams are made of!
Project numéro un: So while my body is desperately screaming LET ME SLEEEEEEEEEP!!! My brain is systematically building a DIY compost bin in the back yard. Who am I to argue?
Pallets. Old, upcycled wooden pallets – a two-compartment unit with cover, and half doors on hinges and latches for easy access. It’s perfect! Only I don’t have pallets. So now the objective is to find myself 6-8 pallets, for free of course (Isn’t the number one rule of debt-free homesteading, to do things with as little money as possible?)…and brackets, hinges and latches. Hopefully, by this time next week I’ll be able to show you the finished product! J (And I plan on doing this myself – sans any help from hubby… well, maybe just the cutting for my half doors…not entirely comfortable with any type of saw just yet. I value my digits – and every other extremity!)
Project numéro deux: Yard work. I honestly don’t think anyone ever helped out the old woman who used to live here, there’s a literal jungle in my back yard (I’m pretty sure a fox lives back there somewhere), and if I plan on using it, I’d better get my butt in gear before it’s covered in a million inches of snow! And, bonus… a lot of that stuff will be going directly into my yet-to-be-built compost bins! Oh, I’ve got big plans for this back yard, and I can’t wait to share it all with everyone!!
Now is the era of dreaming up projects, starting them, and actually FINISHING them! …hope I can find those pallets!!!
My Little Urban Homestead 
I love that you have a fox back there! We have a little family of foxes that live in our grove. Sometimes, mostly in the winter, I feed them a little to help them through the tough months.
I’ve been dreaming of a nice compost bin for several years but never seem to get around to it. The bad thing is I collect stuff to put in the bin and I don’t actually have it yet! I can’t wait to see how yours turns out!
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My husband has seen it, and our neighbors have told us that prior to us moving in they would see it every morning with breakfast in mouth. I’m not 100% if he actually lives back there or just nearby, but it’s a nice thought! I’ve been wanting a bin for a few years, and like you haven’t gotten around to it…also like you I collect things but they disappointingly end up in the trash because of my invisible bin haha. I’m hoping to have it done this weekend!! 🙂
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You can do it! Apparently I can’t but you can! lol
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You absolutely CAN do it!! 🙂 listen if I can, anyone can lol
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We used old cedar fencing to build ours in a similar style (pic here: https://theecofeminist.com/2016/04/21/week-in-pictures-24/). We lined the bottom with 1/2″ chicken wire to keep out rodents but I’ll be damned if they didn’t chew through them…and the wood! So in the spring we’re taking it apart and investing in a steel tumbler style bin…not nearly as pretty but they have chewed the heck out of the wood!
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I’m not sure if I’ll have a rodent issue or not, but I’m hoping that if I do, they’ll leave the wood alone as there’s plenty of room for them to go in and out without chewing it. Hoping they stay out, however I looked it up and mice are herbivores and so their feces aren’t harmful in compost. I mean, our gardens are outside and I’m sure have been submitted to their fair share of rodent poop – not appetizing, but I don’t think harmful. 🙂
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Unfortunately rodents chew because their teeth never stop growing. They have to chew on wood and hard stuff to keep their teeth short. Wish I had better news for you.
On the bright side, foxes love to eat rodents. 🙂
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