Source: Flickr
Image: Bruce McAdam
Organic farms have been composting for years, but these days so do many families in an effort to reduce their carbon footprints. No doubt many more would adopt the practice if they knew just how simple it really is. Soil building sounds like an awful lot of work, but in truth, a compost pile takes care of itself.
Compost is merely a combination of brown and green organic matter. Brown matter is a nice mixture of things like sawdust, straw, shredded newspaper, dry leaves and wood chips. The green portion is made up of kitchen waste, like fruits, vegetables, tea bags, pulp left over from juicing, coffee grounds and egg shells combined with grass or lawn clippings.
Source: Flickr
Image: Steven Depolo
You can begin with a little composting pot in your kitchen. To avoid odors and fruit flies, keep your scraps covered with dry materials, such as shredded newspaper or ideally, sawdust.
Source: Flickr
Image: The Greenery Nursery and Garden Shop
These are some prettier composting pots that will do the trick without calling too much attention to what's inside.
Source: Google Images
This one is nice with its simplicity and clarity regarding what should go inside until it becomes second nature for everyone in the household.
Source: Flickr
Image: Mike Lieberman
If you wish to take the indoor process a bit further, you can create an indoor composting bin easily enough on a small rubber mat by drilling holes in the bottom of a 10-gallon garbage can (for aeration), placing it on some blocks or old furniture legs, and layering kitchen waste, shredded newspapers, potting mix and composted manure. For more on this great idea, visit Mike Lieberman's Urban Organic Farmer site at: http://www.urbanorganicgardener.com/2009/04/how-to-make-an-indoor-compost-bin/.
Source: Flickr
Image: Tobin
There are basically two types of composting bins, stationary and rotating. Pictured above is the clever and resourceful use of pallets in constructing stationary bins. Both stationary and rotating bins must have their contents routinely turned to allow proper oxygenation and combining of elements. You want both to retain heat and moisture. This will happen more quickly in sunshine, but you can also achieve the same results in the shade. It just takes a little longer. For those of you who are in more of a hurry to use your compost, a rotating bin is your best bet.
Source: Flickr
Image: Doug Beckers
If building a compost bin is outside your real of talents, or maybe you only need a small bin, this is a great little commercially sold rotating bin by Tumbleweed. But if you're feeling ambitious...
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Image: Beth Wagar
No need to over think it, is there? This simple design is quite effective and cost efficient enough there's no reason not to have several working in various stages of decomposition.
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Image: Jay@MorphoLA
There are more clever designs out there than you can imagine. This one features wire mesh and removable slats for combining compost at various stages of decomposition.
Source: Flickr
Image: Jamie Mcaffrey
Some neighbors may find your composting more attractive than others, but it's nothing a cinder block and bungee cords can't solve. Loop the bungee cords through the block once you've place it on the lid and either hook them to the handles or the bottom of the bin. Avoid composting meat, bones, dairy, fats and animal waste. Not all pests are unwelcome, of course. Centipedes, spiders, earthworms, beetles and slugs are a vital part of the composting process.
Source: Flickr
Image: Sunny by John Markos O'Neill
See? It isn't such a grueling endeavor. In fact, it looks a bit fun, but there are some things you'll want to remember:
1. Always place a layer of brown, such as leaves or paper, in the bottom of your bin for ideal drainage
2. Cover fresh scraps with browns. They absorb odors and assist micro-organisms.
3. Don't let your pile get too dry. Aerate it regularly with a pitchfork.
4. Don't let finished compost sit too long. Harvest it before pests decide it would make a good nest.
5. A well-drained area is best for placement with at least partial sunshine.
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