I recently installed a two-bin O2 compost system. Here are some construction photos!
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| The bins are close enough to the barn to make stall cleaning more convenient. |
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| The site for the new compost bins. The retaining wall and ramp were already in place from when there was a dumpster there. I can push the wheelbarrow up the ramp to dump it into the bins from above. |
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| We started with a new asphalt pad to provide a nice level site and make clean-up easier. |
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| This is the first bin before the doors were installed. The PVC pipes (perforated on the underside) are for aeration and the 4x4's next to them are to protect them from the loader when I empty the bin. |
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| Here's the first box with the doors on, from the outside... |
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| ...and from the inside. |
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| This is the blower motor that does the aeration magic. 4" PVC valves are $$$$ so I put in separate pipes to each bin and I will just move the blower back and forth when I switch from one bin to the next every month or two. |
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| Here are both bins, finished with lids to keep the moisture content steady. |
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| The hinged lids open easily for dumping and emptying. |
The bins are 6' wide by 6' deep by 4' high. The lids are made out of Suntuf polycarbonate roofing panels.
You can read more about my experiences with the aerated compost system here:
The Composting Process
Spreading
Is It Right For You?
Pallet Floors for Air Pipes
3-Years of Composting (coming soon!)
You can read more about my experiences with the aerated compost system here:
The Composting Process
Spreading
Is It Right For You?
Pallet Floors for Air Pipes
3-Years of Composting (coming soon!)
Hello, did you purchase a system from O2 composting or did you DIY? I would love an update about how this is working out for you. We are in the process of building/renovation our small horse farm and your blog has been a huge inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Liz
Thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad my blog has been helpful to you. :-) Yes, I did purchase my system from O2 Compost. You can DIY for less but I have found their tech support pretty useful. I'm coming up on a year of using it now and I'm working on a "lessons learned/would I do it again" type of post, so stay tuned!
DeleteI'm looking forward to reading that, too!! I'm getting horses (my horse and a few companions) on my farm in the next couple of months. I know from having dairy goats that manure management is a thing!! Get that post done soon!! ;-D
Delete... Please!
DeleteI echo what Libby stated, thank you for this post and your blog--its been so helpful as I build my small farm as well! Any chance you have a link to that "lessons leaned/would I do it again" post?? No pressure...:)
ReplyDeleteHi and thanks for reading! Happy I could be of help. Here is my very long post with pros and cons after a year of using the aerated compost system: https://thesmallhorsefarm.blogspot.com/2018/06/aerated-compost-is-it-right-for-you.html
DeleteWow! You did a really nice job with those. I am in the midst of a similar project myself, so this information is very helpful.
ReplyDeleteThanks!! :-) Happy to be of help.
DeleteCan you tell? How often does the fan work? How many hours a day?
ReplyDeleteI run mine for 30 seconds every 30 minutes, day and night, but you may need to play with it.
DeleteI've had very similar bins designed by O2 Compost for the past four years. I like the idea of the 4x4's next to the PVC pipes to protect them from the tractor. I wish I had thought of that. At this point my bins are significantly rotting out. That's not really surprising when you think about the fact that the moist compost pile cooks at well over a hundred degrees. Of course the wood will rot. I wish I had thought of this earlier and lined the walls of the bins with heavy gauge plastic. Just staple the plastic to the top of the walls and let it hang down to protect the wood walls from premature rotting.
ReplyDeleteOoh that’s a good idea, thanks! I should add that the next time I empty a bin.
DeleteWhy did you not use cement blocks for your bins?
ReplyDeleteCement would have been more permanent than I was looking for at the time, but now that my wood is rotting I'm looking to replace it with cement or concrete!
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