Whether you use a purchased bin or a bin that you have made yourself, try following these rules of thumb when setting up your compost:

• Place the bin on level ground in a sunny spot.

• It's best not to use a bin with a bottom surface - you want the worms to be able to easily come up through the soil below.

• Use a lid, or keep a bale of hay nearby so that you can keep the materials covered (a couple inches of hay will do the trick).

• Choose a good location for you compost pile - it should be easy to access from your garden. You also want to be able to control the contents as best you can, so avoid placing the bin near trash cans or adjacent to foot paths where there's heavy traffic.
  
  
• Print and laminate Compost Do's and Don'ts and attach it to your bin as a reminder.

You can purchase a compost bin (usually around $50, available at Lowes or from your town’s Department of Public Works), or you can make your own.


Garden Hint. Get families involved! Community members may not have the space for a bin at home, but they can still collect scraps and drop them off at school (along with their kids in the morning!). Schools are also increasingly incorporating composting into their cafeteria programs.