For fairly high maintenance urban composting, I've found nothing close to
the Biostack sold by Smith & Hawkens. I like it because it comes in
sections, so it's easy to adjust the height and also to turn. However, for
someone starting out, I think it's better to go with one of those cheap
round bins made of recycled plastics. Many local governments subsidize the
price of them so they're less than $10. But the full price should be less
than $20. I also recommend grinding your leaves and saving some in bags
until Spring and Summer when you have grass to add to it.
I don't have a problem with kitchen scraps, but if not cut into small pieces
and if you don't keep your compost pile hot, you may get rats. (for
vegetable materials, kitchen scraps probably cause the most complaints.
They require more than just throwing into a pile and leaving them.)


--
Compostman
Washington, DC
USDA Zone 7
"Paul E. Lehmann" wrote in message
...
I am interested in starting composting.
I would appreciate some advice on what type of bin to purchase and where
to
get them.
There are only two of us in the house so we do not have a lot of kitchen
scraps but do have a LOT of oak leaves in the fall and grass cuttings in
the
warmer months. I have a backyard vineyard which covers about 0.1 acre for
which I need to build up the organics and nutrients in the soil.