Recommendations for INEXPENSIVE composter and rain barrel?

[Mizelenius]

My village is reimbursing us partly for rain barrels and composters : so DH is OK with getting some now!

We can get 2 rain barrels, but just one composter.

Ideas for good but not expensive ones? We get up to $80 back per item. We can pay the difference, but I don't want that difference to be too great.

As for the composter, one of the things I keep hearing from people is how it can take at least a year before you see the results, so most people get two (one to keep adding to). Are there any that give you FAST results?

To be reimbursed, they have to be closed off so no animals can get into them.

TIA!

[limette]

For the composter try and find some old pallet, just wire them together. We just got rid of our city sold compost bin. It was a pain in the butt. Too small, hard to turn the compost and get it out. Plus you had to water regularly because it wasn't open to the rain.

Really you don't need anything to compost, just a hole, or leave it in a pile on the ground.

If you want to get really fancy you can make this one.

[annekevdbroek]

I just got a rain barrell at Home Depot for $100 - which is about the best price I've seen anywhere. I also like it because it is a speckled tan color rather than bright green plastic. I feel it blends in better with the house/garden. Its not quite so obviously a giant plastic thing, KIWM? It was easy to install and has a closed top, which I also like as it reduces the chance of mosquitos using it for a breeding place.

[canadiyank]

I've had really good luck with black plastic cube-style composters. I bought my last one for $35 from Fred Meyer but I usually see them around $80-100. I just keep adding stuff to the top and harvest the compost out the bottom when I need it. One thing you might look for is that there are "trap doors" on all four sides at the bottom. I have one like that and then one with only two of the sides open and it's way harder to get out when there's only two doors.

[Close2Me]

Read this members blog showing you step by step an easy compost bin http://sailingthehudson.blogspot.com/

[AlwaysByMySide]

I recently saw rain barrels with a spigot on the bottom for about $85 (I think) at either Home Depot or Lowes. I know they can be made for much less than that, though, if you're at all mechanically inclined.