Soilsaver Compost Bin – A Good Low Cost Composter

We’ve already written some about some reasons to start composting. And it doesn’t take any real money to get started composting on your own. But some gardeners would like to compost, but either aren’t handy enough to set up a compost bin, or just don’t have the time. But you don’t want to spend a ton of money, and would just like a good low cost compost bin. The Soilsaver compost bin is one of the most popular, so we take a look at how it will work for you.

What are some of the features of the Soilsaver composter? First, it is a fully enclosed bin. Some of the less expensive bins don’t include a base, and while some will tout that as a way to enrich the soil under the bin, in my experience it’s also a good place for critters to find their way into the bin, so my preference is for a bin with an enclosing floor.

This unit is big enough that it will heat up if you get a good mix of materials in it, but not so large that its a big chore to load and unload. It’s about twenty eight inches on a side, and almost three feet high. It’s lightweight enough to easily handle, and if you are interested in turning the pile, and don’t have a good compost turning tool, you can simply lift the bin off the pile, set it near the current pile, and put the material back in, resulting in a thoroughly mixed pile. Not as neat as a tumbler, but not bad for the price.

You do need to be careful about finding a level surface to place it on. If you look at the reviews on Amazon, most of them center on how well the lid fits, and if it’s not on a flat surface, it can cause the lid to fit badly.

It’s a great composter for the price, and they’re cheap enough that you can buy more than one. Having several bins makes it easy to start batches at different times, and the pile is not so large that it can’t be managed, so for some gardens several cheap composters is a better idea than one expensive Cadillac composter.

Check out the reviews, and see if this is the compost bin for you.