Build a compost box in about two hours with this sturdy yet inexpensive design. This box has an open front to allow easy turning and addition of materials. Hardware cloth between the slats contains the compost while providing necessary airflow. The box is wide enough to allow for two piles using the cold compost method – completed compost on one side and raw, unbroken down materials on the other.
The dimensions of the finished box are 6-feet wide, 3-feet deep and 3-feet tall. Most lumber stores will cut your lumber free of charge, which also makes it easy to transport the materials home.
Cut the 12-foot 2x4 into four 3-foot lengths.
Cut the 8-foot 2x4 into a 6-foot and 2-foot length.
Cut five of the fence planks in half.
Lay two of the 3-foot 2x4’s parallel on the ground, wide side down. Place the 3-foot planks on top, spacing the gaps evenly. Note that the bottom has a few inches for legs, which will allow the box to adjust to uneven ground. Screw the top and bottom of each plank. This is a side assembly; make two.
Take the sides to the compost box site. Have a helper hold each side while a third person screws the 6-foot planks on the back. Start with the top plank and work your way down, matching the spacing to the sides.
Screw the 6-foot 2x4 at the base of the front.
Wrap the outside of the compost box with hardware cloth. Tack the sides with u-shape nails and use heavy-duty staples for the rest. This step works best if a helper applies pressure on the opposite side to prevent cracking the planks. Attach the 2-foot 2x4 in the middle of the back to stabilize the box and hardware cloth, with the bottom planks supported. The greatest pressure from the compost exists at the bottom of the box.
