Originally posted 02.10.08

Has anyone heard of a compost fence? I don’t remember where I read it, or maybe I saw it on a home improvement television show, but I do know that I want one. It is a fence that holds yard refuse and grass clippings which eventually composts to exit the bottom of the fence. We do not currently have a fence, but that is one of the promised hard-scaped items for this spring/summer.
My compost fence will be made from hog panels and 4 x 4 fence posts. That will give us an approximate 4 inches in width and reach a height of approximately 8 feet. On our side of the fence, the panel will be about 6 inches above the ground, whereas the opposite side will go completely to the ground. I have a climbing ground cover on the alley side of where this fence is to be located, so it will be allowed to climb the back side as a means to disguise the hog panels from the neighbors’ views. I figure we will start with one set of panels, until the unit is full and then add the second as there becomes a need for more room. The only difficulty with this design is the dilemma of how we will be able to replenish the clippings as the height of the fence raises. I am certain that DH will come up with a solution to the problem, or is that a problem to the solution?