I lived in Yosemite National Park for over eight years. I climbed a lot, backpacked a lot, but I was also able to pursue many projects that I thought up.

One of these ideas was a bear-proof composter for myself and other residents. I didn't have much support from NPS or the concessionaire, the company that runs the lodging and dining in the park, so I had to be creative. I couldn't find mention of a composter like this having been made before, so I didn't have much of a reference. I looked over the web and talked to a bunch of people, but nothing really materialized until I went to the dump one day. A bunch of old bear proof trash can pieces were being thrown away. My solution began to solidify.