From the page: The tire has incredible second lives
Idea 2
Homemade tire composter
Composting is the ancient art of returning organic matter to the soil, done for generations in piles at the foot of trees. The stacked tire creates a dark chamber that holds moisture and heat — the two conditions worms and microorganisms need to transform scraps into compost.
What you need
- 2 or 3 stacked tires
- Fine mesh or mosquito netting to cover the top
- Plant scraps: peels, coffee grounds, dry leaves
- A shovel of soil or finished compost to start
- A small shovel or hoe to turn the pile
How to make it
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1
Choose a shaded corner, directly on bare soil, so worms and microorganisms can naturally climb up into the pile.
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2
Stack the tires and cover the bottom with a layer of dry material, such as leaves and chopped twigs, creating a base that breathes.
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3
Add soil on top to "seed" the microbial life — it is what really makes decomposition happen.
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4
Alternate layers of plant scraps and dry material, always covering the wet scraps with dry ones so you do not attract insects or create bad smells.
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5
Cover the top with mesh to protect it from flies and heavy rain, which would soak the pile and kill the air decomposers need.
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6
Turn the pile every one or two weeks to aerate it; in two to three months the dark, sweet-smelling compost will be ready at the base.
Finishing touches
Harvest the compost by lifting the top tire and using the finished compost at the bottom. Sprinkle lightly with water if the pile dries out — it should stay as damp as a wrung-out sponge.
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