Composting can feel like cheating it requires so little effort. Composting has many variations depending upon the scale needed and space available. It is a great way to reduce the amount of household waste and to create fertilizer and great additives for your soil. A compost system can be as simple as a pile leaves or can be easily constructed at home. For those of us that would rather purchase a composting setup, here are my recommendations for the following categories:
Countertop Composting Units
There are a few countertop composting units that warrant attention. There are containers with filters that you can use to accumulate organic material before taking it outside. A second option is the fully-automated NatureMill composter, which can handle a wide variety of organic material, including meat. A third indoor, compact, option is to use Bokashi to compost organic scraps, including meat. The bokashi uses its own “composting mix” and the finished product is then buried outside, so this is an appropriate option for customers who have their own yard/gardens to where they bury it.
Apartments with outdoor space
For an apartment with outdoor space, a smaller, rotating composting unit is the best bet. It is easiest to keep the compost contained so that the whole unit can be moved easily. There are some smaller composters, but they seem to tend mostly towards the countertop or back yard sizes. I found this little compost tumbler, with a capacity of 4.7 cubic feet, for those with limited space.
Backyard Composting Units
For those would-be compost mavens with their own backyards, there are several options. Gaiam’s spinning composter is compact, efficient, and constructed of recycled plastic. The liquid from the compost (compost tea) collects in the base of the unit and can be easily drained to use as a liquid fertilizer. Another great buy is the urban compost tumbler, made from re-purposed plastic barrels. The design makes pivoting the compost easy and it holds a large volume of compost. My third recommendation is the garden gourmet composter, constructed of 100% recycled plastic. It can be loaded from the top and the finished compost is then removed from the bottom. It is sturdy, will keep out scavengers and sits on the ground so the earthworms can get in the compost.
Vermicomposting
A final method of composting is the most exciting for me. Vermicomposting is composting with worms. Red worms have incredible appetites and will make short work of vegetable scraps, shredded newsprint and other organic materials in the Worm Factory. Red worms cannot survive when it is really cold, so a basement is the ideal spot for them if you live in a chilly climate. The moisture drips down through the layers and can be drained off through the spigot to be used as an excellent fertilizer.
A few composting tips:
-It is better to compost uncooked fruits and vegetables and associated plant matter that don’t have oils on them. (leftover salads with dressing)
-Animal products are best left to the trash, although they are biodegradable. This can encourage scavengers into the compost and increase odors. There are exceptions if a composter operates at a very high heat such as the NatureMill composter.
-Yard waste can be composted if your city/town does not collect it. It helps to chop all items to be composted into smaller pieces so that they can break down more quickly. I wouldn’t recommend putting solid wood pieces into your compost as they will take a long time to break down.
-If you have diseased plants, you should not compost them as the disease may spread to the soil.
-Turn compost frequently to speed up the decomposition process
Thanks for this informative site. It helps to get some helpful information from an informed person.The seasons are changing and it’s time to do some internal housepkeeping