Compost trench

[Anita Plot]

I think this has been discussed on here in the past but I am not sure.

I was wondering if it would be as easy to just dig a trench to put my compost in rather than using a compost bin. The bin annoys me so much.

I had thought that rats may be a problem with a trench but as I have 7 cats I think I have that one covered.

What are your thoughts on this please?

Anita

[Novice Gardener]

Well, I've read loads about peeps digging a compost trench on which to grow beans, but not read anything about just having a general compost trench. Would you bury the compost in the trench, then dig it up at a later date to spread over your plot, or would you just keep extending the trench till it covered the whole of your plot?

[Mcbee]

i think there was an article in the january GYO about a compost pit / trench. The logic seems fine but i think I'll stay with the traditional bin

[Gwen11ian]

An old American tradition was to work in a three row rotation of path, plant row, compost trench.. the following year it was compost, path, plant row.. the year after plant row, compost, path. The plants going where the compost was the year before, and the compost going where the soil was compacted by using as a path, and the path is the fallow between. If you got the space, it might be a good method to try.

I did a compost pit a few summers ago while living in Pennsylvania, and I had everything from skunks, squirrels, and an occasional bear digging it up. I only buried it about six inches deep because it was in a wooded (and therefore rooted) area. You might need to get down a good 12 inches to keep out the foxes and such, if you find they're a problem.

[Two_Sheds]

The bin annoys me so much.

Why? What's wrong with it?

It might be better to tackle your bin that to start doing trenches.