A wire-mesh holding unit is one of the least expensive and easiest units to build. It can be constructed using hardware cloth, welded wire, or galvanized chicken wire (ungalvanized wire won't last long). The wire mesh bin also makes it simple to turn the organic materials. Simply lift the wire, set it aside, and use a garden fork or shovel to scoop the organics back into the pile while collecting finished compost from the bottom.
MATERIALS:
- 10-foot length, 36 inches tall, of 1-inch galvanized chicken wire, OR 10-foot length of 1/2-inch wide hardware cloth
- Hardware cloth
- Heavy wire for ties
- Three or four 1' tall wooden or metal posts (for chicken wire bin only)
TOOLS:
- Heavy-duty wire or tin snips
- Pliers
- Hammer (for chicken wire bin only)
- Metal tile (for hardware cloth bin only)
- Work gloves
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
Chicken Wire
- Fold back 3–4 inches of wire at each end of cut piece to provide a strong, clean edge that will not poke or snag, and that will be easy to latch.
- Stand the wire in a circle and set it in place for the compost pile.
- Cut the heavy wire into lengths for ties. Bind the ends of the chicken wire together with the wire ties using pliers.
- Space wood or metal posts along the inside of the chicken wire circle. Holding the posts tightly against the wire, pound them firmly into the ground to provide support.
Hardware Cloth
- To remove edges that could pierce or scratch hands, trim the ends of the hardware cloth so that the wires are flush with a cross wire. To ensure secure handling when opening and closing the bin, lightly file each wire along the cut edge.
- For the compost pile, bend the hardware cloth into a circle and set it in place.
- Cut the thick wire into ties-lengths. Use pliers to secure the hardware cloth's ends with wire ties.
