5. The Two-Trash-Can Roll Method
This is the no-build, no-tools-required option, and it works surprisingly well. Instead of mounting anything, you use two ordinary lidded trash cans and roll them along the ground like a pair of dice.
What you need:
- Two 32-gallon plastic trash cans with secure lids
- A drill and a 1/4-inch bit
- Two bungee cords
- Optional: a permanent marker for labeling
Time: 15 minutes. Difficulty: absolute beginner.
Drill 15 to 20 holes around the upper half of each can and a few in the lid. Load the cans with alternating layers of greens and browns, snap the lids on, and run a bungee cord over the top to keep everything in place. Now lie each can on its side and roll it back and forth ten times. That rolling motion is your aeration.
Keep both cans in a shaded spot so the plastic does not bake in direct sun, and rotate which one is “active” and which one is “resting.” When the compost is finished, tip the can upright and pour it out. This method is not going to win any design awards, but it produces compost and costs almost nothing, which is what matters.