Composting somehow seems to evoke nasty piles of garbage that encourage rodents, insects and all sorts of smells. This could not be any further from the truth. All of the above means that the process is not being done correctly and forming dirt to be re-used to grow your vegetable is a miraculous effort.
Now, I won't lie to you, the first composting effort will be an experiment - as are most things...
The method I chose to do, and liked, was minimalist and can be used if you have a backyard, small or large, it doesn't matter. My aim is always to purchase as few products for a project and purchasing a big ol' fancy plastic, tumbling composter on a metal stand just did not seem like the thing to do. Plus I like being tactile with food and dirt.
First Compost Stage really begins in the kitchen. I keep a bucket, with a lid, by the garbage can (This is step 1 of experimenting, as the amount of items going into the garbage can is greatly reduced). I line that bucket with hay/newspaper clippings/lawn clippings - that is your 'brown' waste. I do that to help absorb moisture from what will be tossed in the compost bucket. I toss vegetable scraps in the kitchen bucket, chopped up for the most part to make the final composting product finer and easier to toss and spread.
Second Compost Stage is taking that full bucket to the larger bin outside, also started with a layer of dry, brown waste. I place my bin in the sunniest spot of the yard. To be honest, I have not done any formal research of composting at this stage - I figured that compost needed to 'cook' to break down and that was what the sun was for! After I transfer the bucket contents to the big compost bin, I place another layer of 'brown' waste on top, a layer of dirt, lightly water and cover with the snug fitting lid. We have reached the 'braising' phase. I may add kitchen bucket contents and layer again, but I do not agitate the compost for about a week!
First Week - open that lid and it should feel steamy and humid. There should be no gross insects like cockroaches (so gross) or any pests. If you do, you did something wrong, or someone in your household, grrr, like adding dairy, animal products, fats or bones. Nor should there really be any smell if you do it right. Now is the time for your muscles to have a workout, as you are going to aerate the compost whilst its in the bin, with the garden fork! (Listen, this is my method and it worked for me. I also did not fill the bin past halfway to make it more manageable for tossing and rotating). After a good sweaty aerating session, that compost is hot!, I layer with dirt and leave it for another week. I add and layer and aerate for about three weeks in total and leave a full week of not adding to the compost bin from the kitchen bucket. This is panic week as I hope I don't have too many scraps before I am ready to begin another compost.
I have a 3x3' section in the far corner of the yard cordoned off for my Third Compost Stage that allows for open air exposure and easier weekly aeration. You may choose having a secondary garbage bin if conditions do not allow. I now empty all of the garbage bin contents into my small semi-enclosure. Again, the smell should be nothing but dark, dirt scent, if so much and the bottom will probably be wet from watering but not soggy. Rinse out the compost bin to start the process all over again. Toss compost to mix evenly - there may still be sightings of that one banana peel or other identifiable vegetable. Toss on a weekly basis until you are satisfied it is ready to be tilled back into the garden.
Composting is addictive. There is a tactile connectivity with fresh, delicious, beautiful produce that rotted and cooked away to form another organic product that can once again be used to grow more of that fresh, delicious, beautiful produce you love and crave.
My equipment consisted of:
1 5 gal bucket, lined with shredded newspaper, hay or grass clippings and kept in the kitchen
1 large garbage bin with a snug lid. (Exact size? I don't know. I do know that I could almost reach the bottom inside. I am five feet. Maybe it wasn't a large bin. Focus on the snug lid)
1 garden fork, for rotating compost
1 hose, attached to water supply. You can also use a watering can if that is handier.
1 large bag of organic soil (not that miracle gro nonsense! You can procure soil at your local garden centre or nearby farmer).
1 Hay Bale (optional). I lived near farm country and hay was readily available. You may use lawn clippings, leaves, shredded newspaper.
Comments