Hubby's handwork! A brand new - made from recycled items - compost bin...

My husband has a knack at keeping things going just a little longer or using parts from something that has completely quit working to make something new.  Ok...so sometimes I guess you could say I don't always appreciate the way my husband can re-invent things.  Sometimes, I just want a new one!!!  But - with our budget, we just can't get a new one.  Sometimes his handwork means he can start it, but this 'used to be city-girl' just can't seem to make it work!  I tend to just want to cart it to the curb if it isn't functioning properly (like push a button and it works) - I am great with recycling - but I want to take it somewhere and let someone else deal with what to do with it!

However - we have had televisions that operated long past their years - if you only knew just where to touch the buttons to make the required function happen (I once put a strip of masking tape under the buttons to detail the instructions to a novice user).  He has fashioned planters benches, a rabbit hutch, dog pens, a playground fort, an art room, a dog door, toy boxes, shelves, and literally dozens of other things out of retired items.

Over the years - I've been developing a love for growing things.  I really enjoy the taste of home grown veggies and fruits (and the price).  I've learned that composting is so essential to fertile soil, and really minimizes what I dump into the trash.  I've even tested herbs grown in store bought potting soil and herbs grown in compost and seen an amazing difference in plants health and size!  However, our compost storage options have left me begging for improvement.  We started in an old boat shell - but I quickly complained that, though it contained the compost well, it was difficult to turn the compost in the awkward shape of the boat (in a word: back-breaking).  Then we started keeping it in old barrels, cut in 1/2,  but this too was not "easy" enough for me!  Remember - I was born a city girl - and hard labor is just not my favorite thing!  Not to mention, I babysit, home school, and volunteer with church, co-op, and our school district, so I tend to be short on time.  Well - now - he has come up with a design that I am really excited about!!  I told him he get's the hubby of the year award.

He has fashioned a compost bin from the following items:

1.) 4 casters
2.) A big sturdy piece of wood (casters bolted to this) and some boards for support under that
3.) An empty 55 gallon plastic barrel (sits on the casters)
4.) 2 hinges
5.) A slide hasp
6.) Some pipe insulation
7.) And - an old steering wheel

Take a look at this bin:

This is the opening:

And here is my sweet daughter, who has the daily chore of emptying our compost bucket, and is truly excited about the steering wheel feature he added for her to turn the bin!

I am loving this new invention!  I am so excited because now we can easily turn the compost - and I love easy!!  I am also loving that now I can place a small container under the bin, tilt it down, and retrieve the fertile compost soil when I am ready to use it!  No more digging it out of barrels! 

Now....what to grow....where will I plant my next garden...I'm thinking herb garden....rose garden....wildflower bed....strawberry pots....veggies....hmmm...

Honey?  I think I need you to make another bin just like this one!