It's "Bin" Great So Far

Now that the time to write our 3rd blog post has come around, I am happy to report many new developments in my project. I now have created the basic frame of my compost bin out of a black, 31 gallon garbage can (pictured below). My dad helped me drill 6 rows of 8 holes, each approximately 1 cm in diameter and every row 5 inches apart from each other. The lid of the garbage can has 21 holes, and the bottom of the can was drilled as well in order to promote ventilation and the drainage of unwanted water.

Originally, I had actually not intended to use a garbage can for creating compost; I thought that this sort of container would not be big enough, since it did not fit the requirements of having a 3x3x3 ft^3 volume that one of my other resources had indicated. However, a brief venture into Home Depot left me without a concrete plan for the materials that I had wished to use, considering that I could not find adequate chicken wire, wooden snow fences, or even wood that I wished to use to make the compost bin. Hopefully this design(which was also on the plan I provided in my last post) will work out, and insulate the compost inside enough to hold heat.

After constructing the base for the compost, it was time to start actually putting things in it. To assist with this, I used a separate bin in the kitchen to hold the compostable feedstock(food scraps). 

This was crucial, as i didn't want any meat or dairy products(or god forbid, plastic) to find their way into the compost; however, I still had to fish out a couple pieces of bone here and there. 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I would have to start collecting dry and wet materials to put into my compost, and luckily enough, my house is located near quite a few oak trees with ample supplies of dry leaves, so I started off with a sizable layer of those leaves at the bottom of the compost.

Afterwards, I put in a layer of food scraps(from plant sources) to supply the "wet" aspect of compost, resulting in it looking a little something like this:

At this point in time, there is still some way to go before the bin gets to a large enough size to produce heat in the middle, so for the following weeks I will be documenting my progress in trying to do just that. With all the rain lately, it has been hard finding dry brown feedstock for the compost, so I might look for a way to stockpile oak leaves while they're still dry and available. Turning, which helps increase airflow and shorten the amount of time compost is created, is also a method that I will start using once the compost gets bigger, and I will keep this blog updated once I start doing it and see how(or if) it improves the way that the compost gets along. Also, it still remains to see whether this bin will work; if it fails to decompose the way that it should, then I might have to try and create another way to get rid of extra food scraps. Until next time, however, I'll keep working with this model and see how it goes. I will also try to look for nearby facilities to reach out and ask questions as well, and maybe even attend a few classes if y schedule clears up.

Mainly, what I have learned about myself is that I find it really hard to adhere to my goals or long-time projects when there are other things that are there to distract me in my schoolwork. I've struggled on the past with procrastination and other problems, but for this project especially I feel that I should work more towards breaking this habit of mine and putting this project in a higher priority. Our culture in school especially prevents us from focusing on the "big picture" at times, especially when it comes to doing well in school; I think that this project, in the long run, will help me stay focused in what I hope to accomplish, not just for 20 time.