Composting for All

I can see why the idea of composting could be intimidating.  Especially when you have small kids, no time, a tight budget, little or no yard...the excuses could go on and on.  Does knowing that food scraps and yard trimmings make up about 1/6th of what the average household throws in the garbage make you think again??  If so, read on...composting might not be as hard as you imagine.

Truth is, there are many ways to "do" compost.  Big space or small, permanent bin or a big old heap...if there's a will there's a way to make it happen.  Heck, you can even make compost completely indoors out of kitchen scraps alone!

If you have:

No outdoor space:  Try a kitchen composter like this one.  It uses a product called Bokashi that activates anaerobic fermentation.  You sprinkle the Bokashi in with your food scraps and they basically ferment in the bucket - no leaves or grass clippings needed!  Put it under your sink or even out on the back porch.  Whatever works for you.  At about $70 this isn't a huge investment.

A little outdoor space:  Try a completely contained unit like this compost tumbler.  Use kitchen scraps and lawn & garden clippings to produce compost in as little as 3 weeks!  Tumblers come in different shapes and sizes and seem to range in price from $140 on up.  A Google search will bring you lots of choices.

Or try a worm factory.  Worms do the work for you by digesting your scraps and leaving nutrient rich castings behind.  They also produce liquid waste that makes an excellent fertilizer.  I'm on the fence about this one...I don't mind finding worms in the garden, but the idea of a whole box full of them gives me the eeby jeebies.   

A moderate amount of space:  Try making your own compost bin.  You can use something as simple as chicken wire or create a wooden bin from old scrap wood.  Nothing fancy - it's just for dirt, right? 

If you'd rather just buy a bin there are many options, ranging from this inexpensive black hoop bin made from recycled plastic ($24.95) to a natural cedar bin for just over $150. 

A large amount of space:  You could go for a really nice looking cedar double bin, but it will set you back over $300. 

Or, if you're like us and you have a big old tree in the back corner of your yard, you can start a big old compost heap behind it, with no enclosure whatsoever!  It's mostly out of sight, accommodates a huge amount of compost and is very low maintenance.

The basic 'recipe' for compost is simple and very flexible:

3 parts Browns (or dry ingredients)  Examples are:  dried leaves, twigs, dried grass, straw, shredded newspaper.  These carbon rich ingredients provide energy for the microbes, which move around in the pile and decompose the materials.

1 - 2 parts Greens (or wet/fresh ingredients)  Examples are:  fruit & vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, fresh grass clippings, plant clippings, egg shells, tea bags.  These nitrogen rich ingredients provide protein for the microbes.

Water - make sure your compost stays moist so the microbes can grow and do their stuff.

Air - turning the pile helps with decomposition and controls the odors.  Who wants a stinky compost heap?

For more info, check out the Compost Guide website or this article called How to Compost, by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (click on by composting on the left hand side of the page to get to the article.)

Do you compost or would you like to start?  What method do you use?  How does it work for you?  Any helpful hints or tips?

Comments

[Steph]

I got two compost bins from my city for free. They're made out of recycled garbage bins. I started filling them last fall and it looks like I might have some usable compost pretty soon :) I love having a place to put kitchen scraps and teaching my daughter about composting. I would love to try worm composting someday.

[Cathy]

My husband built the double bin model--it works pretty well. We really need because the dirt in our yard is mostly clay.

[Laurie]

We were lucky and the people who used to live in our house left one. We just started using it and I love it, I feel so much better putting our scraps to good use.

[happyathome]

This past year I started composting and never realized how much food scraps I use to throw away! We have an open area instead of a bin, works just as well.

[allison]

Hi, how are you? I just came across your blog on delightful blogs {and it is delightful!} and thought I'd share mine with you: Petit Elefant. I'd love to have you stop by and say hello.
Thanks,
Allison

[Anna]

I have a composter from Gardener's Supply which you just pile things in. I also have a kitchen crock which I pile food in to take outside. My biggest problem is keeping the compost wet enough and turning it. I love to put coffee grounds in it because it attracts worms. I have been composting for a year, but do not have compost yet. I need to be more diligent.

If I find a worm in the garden, I like to put in my composter. I am not sure if the worm is as happy with this choice as I am! Anna www.green-talk.com

[Annie]

I started composting about 5 months ago when we moved into our new house. I live in Las Vegas and I am surprised to find that not many people here compost. It is a struggle to keep it moist, I keep mine in the shade to prevent over-drying, but it is worth it. It gives you such a great feeling to see that you can make a huge difference with such a small effort. It doesn't take much time (I am a mother to a busy toddler) and it really does not stink (I promise!!!). Thanks for this post, and I love your blog!

[Annie]

I started composting about 5 months ago when we moved into our new house. I live in Las Vegas and I am surprised to find that not many people here compost. It is a struggle to keep it moist, I keep mine in the shade to prevent over-drying, but it is worth it. It gives you such a great feeling to see that you can make a huge difference with such a small effort. It doesn't take much time (I am a mother to a busy toddler) and it really does not stink (I promise!!!). Thanks for this post, and I love your blog!

[Annie]

I started composting about 5 months ago when we moved into our new house. I live in Las Vegas and I am surprised to find that not many people here compost. It is a struggle to keep it moist, I keep mine in the shade to prevent over-drying, but it is worth it. It gives you such a great feeling to see that you can make a huge difference with such a small effort. It doesn't take much time (I am a mother to a busy toddler) and it really does not stink (I promise!!!). Thanks for this post, and I love your blog!

[Annie]

I started composting about 5 months ago when we moved into our new house. I live in Las Vegas and I am surprised to find that not many people here compost. It is a struggle to keep it moist, I keep mine in the shade to prevent over-drying, but it is worth it. It gives you such a great feeling to see that you can make a huge difference with such a small effort. It doesn't take much time (I am a mother to a busy toddler) and it really does not stink (I promise!!!). Thanks for this post, and I love your blog!

[Annie]

I started composting about 5 months ago when we moved into our new house. I live in Las Vegas and I am surprised to find that not many people here compost. It is a struggle to keep it moist, I keep mine in the shade to prevent over-drying, but it is worth it. It gives you such a great feeling to see that you can make a huge difference with such a small effort. It doesn't take much time (I am a mother to a busy toddler) and it really does not stink (I promise!!!). Thanks for this post, and I love your blog!

[Annie]

I started composting about 5 months ago when we moved into our new house. I live in Las Vegas and I am surprised to find that not many people here compost. It is a struggle to keep it moist, I keep mine in the shade to prevent over-drying, but it is worth it. It gives you such a great feeling to see that you can make a huge difference with such a small effort. It doesn't take much time (I am a mother to a busy toddler) and it really does not stink (I promise!!!). Thanks for this post, and I love your blog!

[Laura]

I love this post. Thanks for all the great information!!

[Teresa]

Thank you for all of the great info. We have friends who recently started composting, and they said it is very simple. I would love to start a compost pile as well!

[Brandon]

earthworms produce content that are full of nutrients that plants can most easily use like nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and potassium the same nutrients found in bagged fertilizer and best of all its all natural and helps your soil.

http://www.blogdivvy.com/growing-vegetables/earthworms-nature%e2%80%99s-composting-machines.htm

[ecofriendly]

I would like to suggest an easy solution that satisfies your composting needs! 100% biodegradable, 100% compostable and GMO free, BioBag® waste bags offer kitchen, lawn & leaf and pet waste bags!

BioBags are shelf stable, just like paper plates or paper towels and “breathe,” allowing heat and moisture to escape; reducing bacterial build-up of collected waste, thus reducing odor! Visit www.biobagusa.com for more information or contact [email protected]

[Compost Cutie]

I see that you mention 3 parts brown to 1 part green. I've always thought that the composting process goes a little faster if you do just 2 parts brown to 1 part green. Of course, if your ratio gets to where you have too many greens, the compost will begin to smell. But on the other hand, if it gets too dry, it won't compost as quickly.

[Composting]

I`m just starting my composting system this spring and now I`m just researching anything I can to make this work. Found your tips to be helpful.thnx. I`ll be starting off small, naturally. Just hoping I`ll be able to pull this off...