Simple Worm/Slug/Snail Farm / Compost Bin

Worms are great, but in our garden, there are many slugs and snails as well that do an equally good job of breaking down plant material.

My simple compost bin began as a plastic Shipping barrel (HDPE 77 gallon plastic drum), and some bricks to keep it above ground level

• Drill a bunch of 1/4-inch holes in the bottom of the barrel, about 1-inch apart
• You now have a compost bin
• Find a shady corner of your garden over SOIL where you can easily hide the compost bin, such as behind a tree, or a wall of potted plants, or close to your water tank so it looks like part of the plumbing
• Place the bricks down in an upside down U shape so the opening faces you
• Place the compost bin on the bricks, with the open side on top
• Layer some compost material and soil in the bin
• Throw any random worms / slugs / snails into the bin to help things get started
• If you leave the top open, it allows air movement, sunlight and birds to get in
• You can always use the aluminum cover of the shipping barrel or build a wooden cover for it if you wish
• Cut up your compost material and throw it in the top
• Water it every so often just to keep things moist
• Any excess water will drain from the bottom anyway and nourish the soil beneath the barrel
• Droppings, castings, and compost material will periodically fall through the holes on the bottom
• It usually takes about a month to cycle material
• Use a shovel and periodically clear/collect the stuff that falls out of the bin underneath