Compost Bay Design

The next task is creating the three-bay compost system built from recycled wooden pallets, which is a practical, affordable, and sustainable solution for community gardens. This design supports the full composting cycle while keeping materials organized and accessible for gardeners of all experience levels.

The rotation between the 3 bay system improves efficiency, speeds decomposition, and ensures a steady supply of nutrient-rich compost for garden beds. Using reclaimed pallets reduces construction costs, diverts waste from landfill, and aligns perfectly with the values of reuse and environmental stewardship.

Each bay has a purpose:

• the first collects fresh garden waste,

• the second allows materials to actively break down,

• the third holds finished compost ready for use.

Beyond soil health, a shared compost system builds community, encourages participation, education, and collective responsibility for waste reduction and food growing. Gardeners learn what materials can be composted and see firsthand how organic waste becomes a valuable resource.

Designing the bays

• First is fixing the timber palettes together on the inside using screws and leftover pieces of wood.

• Fixing chicken wire to the inside of the bays and then lining the bays with 100% biodegradable hessian roll (which is an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic materials) to keep any waste added from falling out between any cracks, but allow to allow for airflow into the bays.

• Next is laying plain, uncoated cardboard directly on the soil (removed any tape and labels), along with 10–15 cm layer of sticks, prunings, or wood chips on top, which aids with airflow and drainage.

• The front is designed to retain the compost, be easy to use and also look attractive in the space as there is not much option to completely hide the compost area away. This is designed to have to timber battens fixed to either palett which allows timber planks to be easily slotted in and removed when needed.

• The last detail was to add another visually aesthetic element to the compost area, but incorporating a dead hedge around the full exterior of the bays, which helps with concealing the bins even further. This dead hedge also contributes to the garden as wildlife and insect homes and supports the local biodiversity.

• Once complete we can begin to layer greens, browns and waste in the bays.

Layering

Once the compost bays are constructed, we add cardboard and wood at the base of them, various reasons include:

• Drainage: A base layer of small branches, wood chips, rough wood allows excess moisture to drain, preventing soggy, smelly compost.

• Airflow: Woody material creates air pockets, which are essential for aerobic decomposition and faster breakdown.

• Weed suppression: Flattened cardboard blocks weeds from growing up into the pile while still allowing water and organisms to pass through.

• Plastic free: Leaving the bottom open with no plastic, allows worms and microbes move up into the compost, speeding the process.

Next Steps

Composting at a community scale also brings challenges. Clear signage and ongoing education are essential to prevent contamination from non-compostable materials. Regular maintenance, including turning piles and monitoring moisture, requires coordination and volunteer commitment.

When managed well, though, a multi bay compost system becomes the heart of a thriving, sustainable garden and feeds nutrients back into the soil for the plants. Once the bays are complete, we'll work on creating clear signage for this area so it's clear for all users.