I just build a compost bin out of boards but didn't put any air hole in the sides. Do I need them? :?:

It depends. Some people don't "tend" their pile at all so it breaks down when it breaks down. Keeping air into the pile, turning it and keeping it moist are all critical to a speedy breakdown.
Tony M

Tony is right. The more air you get to the compost, the better and faster it will break down. In the summer I turn my compost every two weeks. I built my bins with screen wire that has 2" X 3" holes. Sometimes I think the openings may be to big, but the ingredients seem to break down faster. Also I can add water to the sides of the compost and not just on top. You might want to reconsider, if possible, to rebuild your bins with spaces between the boards on the sides. It will help get air into the compost from all sides. Also, if possible, add a stack to the center for air to get to the bottom center of the pile.
Hope this helps. If you have any further questions, please ask and we will find answers for you.
If you want pictures of what mine look like, send me a PM.

I built mine with scrap lumber (1x4) and chicken wire. It's a little bit leaky, but not overly so by any means.

~Dave

You got any pictures. I would like to see how you built yours.

I'm off tomorrow so I'll see about slapping a picture or two up. Would love to see other people's DIY bins too. Mine's not going to win any style points but it's effective and it was built with things I had around the house already.

~Dave

what sizes should the air pipe be? wayne

I bought a piece of 4" by 10' PVC pipe from Home Depot. I cut it in half and drilled many 1/2" hole around the pipe, from top to bottom. Since I have two bins, instead of removing the pipe (stack) when I turn the compost into the other bin, I thought it would be easier to start with the pipe and add the compost around it until the bin is full. Once the first bin is half emptied, I remove that pipe and wash it off, and store it in the garage for the next turning.
My bins are 4' X 4' X 4", so they hold alot of compost.

Here's a picture of mine. As you can see there's a little spillage, but much less than I first assumed there would have been using chicken wire. You could always double up on the chicken wire if you wanted, but this was all I had.

I made this one out of some 1x4 boards used for shipping stained glass, some 1x2 stakes I had lying about, some chicken wire, lots and lots of staples, and wood screws. It's divided into two bins..

Bin

Pretty isn't it?

~Dave

Dave, your bin looks very workable, but your avatar is way cool

Dave,
Your bin looks great. You ought to be able to make alot of compost, or Texas Black Gold, as I call it. Don't let it get to dry, and remember to add both browns and greens for some excellent compost. Your garden, trees, and flowers will thank you for their delicious meal.

Looks like a good bin. I really like your dog too.

Thanks. It's hidden on the side of our house that no one can see so I wasn't really concerned with looks.

That photo was taken shortly before she tossed up the compost she'd insisted on eating. You'd think she would have learned after the first couple of times she's done that..

~Dave

Note to self: Plastic tarp as cover for (my) bin. Bad idea. Make a hinged wooden lid this weekend.

The 2.5" of rain I've had in the past 36 hours has collected ontop of the tarp, compressed the compost down to a solid mass and filled up with boat loads of water.

~Dave

OH!!! OH!!!! OH!!!! Don't get rid of your tarp - there is a silver lining to this situation. I have a similar situation - we used the kids old pool liner to protect the pile from getting too much water during the rain. However, instead of ditching our cover we have taken to saving that rain water in old buckets (like from ice cream and coffee) to water the pile with in dryer times. The first big rain I had the same problem as you. Now, my pile doesn't get so compressed as yours as I have a tower in the center that is supposed to increase aeration. Perhaps you could take a couple of PVC pipes and put caps on the top so they don't rupture the liner and then encourage yourself to go out in the rain and collect the water? Or, perhaps you could arrange the compost in a slant so that the tarp is graded down and directed to a barrel that could collect the water?

Just a thought! Happy Composting!
Christina