Presto ProductsGeobin Compost Bin - 246 Gallon, Expandable, Easy Assembly, Made in The USA, Outdoor & Backyard Composter

This bin is a great value. It's simple, cheap, and it works. Frankly, it does not make much sense to spend over a hundred dollars for a bin, which is what most cost. The best alternative to this is to make a bin yourself out of wire fencing or hardware cloth, which I have heard works great and I almost did that myself before settling on this. This is more convenient and more attractive, which matters if (like me) you don't have any place on your property to put it out of sight. It's also only barely more expensive than the DIY version.BUT -- this particular version, from this seller (My Green Gloves Dot Com) does NOT come with the stakes that are included in the slightly more expensive version offered by multiple sellers (including Amazon itself). If you want the stakes (and I would suggest that you do), go pay a few more bucks for the other one here: Presto Products GKL0951-6 Geobin Composting System Yes, you can go buy stakes are your local hardware or garden store, but you'll spend more than the difference between these two versions.UPDATE Jan 2013: It appears that the none of the Geobins ship with stakes anymore, though some folks may be selling old stock that still comes with stakes. But there's no guarantee that you'll get stakes if you buy via the link above. Anyway, it turns out that the stakes are not all that important -- I've found that once you get the thing nice and full, it stays put pretty well on its own. Now that my first one is full, I am going to be ordering a second one.UPDATE Feb 2014: Having owned two of these bins for over a year now, in continuous use, I can add to my original review the fact that they are really quite durable. I'd had some concerns initially, but they hold up pretty well. The plastic does get strained/stretched where you fasten it together, but it doesn't tear. Whenever I turn my compost, I unwrap it and reassemble it upside down and inside out relative to how it just was. This keeps the plastic from getting stretched in the same places all the time and keeps everything in shape. I don't know if they'll last forever, but at least another couple of years, if not more.Speaking of turning, don't waste your time with those plunge-type compost turners -- they don't really do much. If you want to turn your compost, get an ensilage fork (aka "pitchfork"), unwrap the Geobin from the pile (if your compost is sufficiently moist, it will hold its shape well enough even unwrapped), set it up right next to the pile, and fork the pile into the bin in its new location. A fork works much, much better than a shovel for this job. This is great exercise! It only needs to be done a few times for each batch of compost, until it no longer heats up after turning.

The longer 9/6/19 review was not posted by Amazon and I’m not sure why. I’ll remove the link to Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott from Washington State University, just incase this was the issue. I will also remove the box store information regarding my DIY bins. I will not provide you with my order of preferences, and the whys, of the bins on our property since this could also have been a trigger for not publishing.This is solely my opinion after years of composting. I'll provide you with my recommendations on closed bin versus open bin versus DIY. The tips provided are what worked for me as I do my best to work smart in order to enjoy my vegetable garden.I'm getting ready to purchase two more Geobins. The reason - ease of use and for the fraction of the other compost bins we own: Envirocycle, Hot Frog or Good Ideas. Geobins are also more convenient than DIY bins made with 32 gallons garbage bins. We own 2 Envirocycle, 2 Good Ideas, 4 DIY, 1 Hot Frog, 1 Geobins, 2 DIY chicken wire bin and 4 DIY 32 gallons garbage bins.Geobin vs DIY chicken wire: Geobin is the winner because of the ease of take down, set up and storage. Yes, it less expensive to use chicken wire but it's not as easy to manage set up and take down. The Geobin also provided better compost than DIY.Tip - Geobin: Place one or two 4 foot rebar(s), minimum of 1/2 inch, within the Geobin pile to aid with aeration in the center. 1/2 is easier to find, if you have 3/4 it's much better. Place your rebar in the pile before building up for easier use. Every few weeks, when no frost, I give a couple of cranks to introduce air. I do not shred my leaves. I do not turn my pile. I don’t worry about layering. The compost I get from the Geobin is to place around my plant starts. They are full of worms and provide nutrients for our short growing season.Geobin vs closed bin: for food scraps we utilized the close bins (Envirocycle, Good Idea and Hot Frog). We are in a city and did not wish to attract vermin. Raccoons are especially troubling and the closed bins keep them at bay. Geobin was solely for leaves, spent coffee grounds and yard waste. The quality of compost from the closed bins is decent, but it takes so much longer than Geobin. You also have to get the brown/green ratio just correct. Most times we spend a good amount of time balancing inputs for the closed tumblers or you have a wet stinky mess.Tip Geobin two-other uses: In summer we plant potatoes or sweet potatoes. Use to keep fallen branches, in fall we place branches within beds for a mini-hugelkultur or mini-core gardening.Tip for setting up Geobin: lay flat for a day. It’s easier to set up if you allow it to relax. DO NOT extend to the maximum. The stress could stress the plastic and have it tare. Set up the Geobin as soon as the season starts to turn. You will be surprise how quickly it will fill up with garden yard waste & grass clippings. Place a couple fallen branches on the bottom for aeration.Happy gardening.

Let me tell you about the Geobin compost bin - it's a real gem for anyone looking to get into composting without breaking the bank.First off, this thing is a steal. It's one of the cheapest options out there, which is great if you're just dipping your toes into the composting world or if you're trying to be a bit more eco-friendly on a budget.Setting it up? A piece of cake. Even if you've never composted before, you'll have this up and running in no time. It comes with these nifty interlocking keys that let you adjust the size to fit your needs.Speaking of size, this bin is like Mary Poppins' bag - it holds way more than you'd think! We're talking up to 246 gallons. Whether you've got a tiny city garden or a sprawling suburban yard, the Geobin's got you covered.One thing I really love is how well it breathes. It's got these clever little holes all over that keep the air flowing. Trust me, your neighbors will thank you - no stinky compost here!Now, let's talk durability. This isn't some flimsy plastic that'll fall apart after one season. The Geobin is made of tough stuff that can handle whatever Mother Nature throws at it. You'll be using this for years to come.Is it perfect? Well, not quite. It could use a few more clips to keep everything in place, especially when you're dealing with a full load. But honestly, that's a small gripe for an otherwise fantastic product.All in all, if you're looking to start composting or upgrade your current setup, the Geobin is a solid choice. It's easy to use, built to last, and won't cost you an arm and a leg. Happy composting!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​