If you have a Hobby Farm or homestead, consider building a compost bin to use your kitchen scraps and yard trimmings effectively. Here is a simple guide on building a 3x3x3 compost bin out of scrap materials you may have from other projects. Using up your scrap materials is a great way to effectively use every piece of material you have for several reasons. It helps the environment by reducing waste, and you save money. 

For this project, I used poplar boards, which were not the best for making moldings for the house. Poplar is not the best wood for this type of project because it will rot quickly. However, I had the material, and it will serve its purpose. To help preserve the wood for more prolonged use, I can use a torch to char the wood to help protect it better and lengthen its longevity. Cedar would be the best material to use as it is naturally rot-resistant. However, if you are going to buy it, it can be really expensive. Hopefully, you have cheap access to cedar boards. 

The first thing I feel you need to know is what type of screws you should use. I would use a Torx head screw or star drive screw because they are easier to remove than your traditional Philips head screws. Believe me, they are well worth it. You may go through a pound of screws, so be prepared for that. I used rough-cut lumber for this project, so two-inch screws were sufficient. If you use finished lumber, remember that dimensional lumber will be thinner. For example, a 2×4 is actually 1 1/2 x 3 inches. So you may need a smaller screw to avoid having the end of the screw exposed, which can lead to snags and other issues if you are not careful. 

Without further ado, here is the process of making your own compost bin from scrap lumber.