rebuilding compost bins and raised beds

Hi folks - I am planning to rebuild my composting bin but instead of using wood (which is expensive and not long lasting), I'm thinking of using:

4" PVC pipes, cut into say 6 foot lengths,  pounded into the ground (about 2 feet deep) to make them stable (or use galvanized steel pipes);

wrapping chicken wire around 3 sides;

then wrapping landscape cloth on the outside of the chicken wire

I am also thinking of making raised beds using the same materials, make them 8 feet long, 2 feet high and wide.

What do you think, give me pros and cons, benefits and hazards of using the PVC or steel pipes, any suggestions about how to build raised beds and compost bins that last long and do not cost a small fortune.

Thank you, Catherine

Hi Catherine

I wouldn't use pvc pipe it is very brittle and like glass when it is cold.
We had an old bin with 4 wooden posts as supports driven in 6 foot deep and it didn't take long for them to drift and end up wonky. We have a similar one now with 4 corner posts driven in and then some steel rope run around the top of posts in a loop to stop them splaying out and it has been really good so far (3 years)

Hi Harry, thank you for the information. I did not think that the pvs pipes would become brittle when cold. I will not use them. So, I'm thinking that the steel pipes would be a better choice. Steel rope, did not know there was such a thing - where can I purchase it?

Catherine Guzovich wrote:Steel rope, did not know there was such a thing - where can I purchase it?

Probably you can get some at your local hardware store. If you want to shop around, maybe here: https://www.mcmaster.com/products/steel-cable/

Some folks here on the forum have had good success from using recycled pallets.  Do you have some of those available in your are?

Another lady said she recycled a metal dog crate into a compost pin.

Another recycled six chain link fence gates.

I Like you chicken wire idea minus the pvc and landscape cloth, using wood or metal where the pvc would be.

For some other ideas that might interest you or others:

https://permies.com/t/147662/composting/Show-composting-setups-pretty

Hi - just want to give a shout for the Geobin, which is a 'manufactured' bin that's lasted me 3 seasons so far. Cost is maybe a little more than what you outlined but probably not much once you add up the chicken wire, posts, fasteners, labor. My favorite feature is being able to simply unwrap the pile, reset the Geobin off to the side, and flip the compost back in to turn it. https://yardfullyproducts.com/product/geobin-composter/

Looks like a decent product but I couldn't tell if it could be combined with another one to expand diameter?
Would be ex0ensive compared to pallets for my purposes but would lo9k shar,if it lasted 6 years or more perhaps a worthwhile investment

I used t post and cattle panels. The holes are really too big though but I had them already. That’s no help for raised beds though. I made them out of cinder blocks. Then I started buying aluminum beds. About the same price if you find them on sale and a lot less work. Not that the blocks look bad but the aluminum ones look better. Neither of those are overly environmentally friendly I don’t think though.