AN ORGANIC GARBAGE DISPOSAL UNIT

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Now, pick a well-drained spot for your composter and dig a hole that's a few inches larger than you think is necessary, since a big clay tile that "surprises" you by getting stuck half in and half out of the earth can be very difficult to handle. Next, lay the "groundwork", which can be constructed of brick, cement, or steel (my base is made from the top of an old 55-gallon drum), making sure that it's level. And whatever material you use, do provide for drainage, but keep the openings small ... bearing in mind that a rat can get through a half-inch crack. When that's accomplished, slide the tile into place and backfill around it with dirt.

The disposal's top can be made from scrap lumber cut to form two circles (see the accompanying diagram), which will create a lid that fits snugly and won't blow away in gusty winds. (It's best, however, not to make it so weighty that taking out the garbage becomes a heavy chore!) If you don't have a drawing compass capable of making the big circles, find the center of a large-enough board . . . tap a nail partway into the wood at that point . . . attach a string to it . . . tie a pencil to the string's other end at the proper distance (one-half the diameter of the circle being drawn), scribe the shape . .. then use a saber saw or a band saw to cut it out. Finally, center the smaller disk upon the larger one . . . nail them together . . . paint the cover . . . mount a screen-door handle on the lid . . . and the job's done.

We've used our pair of units for three years now and are quite pleased with them. The finished compost is dry, crumbly, and odorless (it resembles peat mixed with eggshells), and our plants just love it! What more could we ask from a couple of holes in the ground?

EDITOR'S NOTE.' In China, household garbage is used to produce methane gas . Check out the following article for a report on the Oriental fuel-makers' methods.

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