I have a special treat for all of you would-be composters out there. You know who you are: you want to compost, but you need to have some type of bin first. You keep seeing bins constructed of wood or concrete block, and you swear that, eventually, when you get the time, you'll make one so you can start composting.

I have just the project for all of you time-challenged (or construction-challenged) gardeners. You can make a simple, efficient compost bin out of nothing more than wire fencing, which you can purchase in any home center, and some twine or zip ties. Even better, this project will take you less than fifteen minutes.

I use these bins in my garden, usually when I have an overflow of materials to compost and I've run out of room in my main bins. They are also perfect for holding all of those wonderful fall leaves. You can store them to add to your main compost pile as you need them, or you can chop them finely and let them sit. You'll end up with leaf mold, which is one of my favorite substances on the planet.

I hope you try this, and, if you do, I hope you'll drop by and share your experiences, either in the comments or in the forum.