June's Green Challenge: Compost this!
Join the Green Challenge every month and make one small change to help the environment. Check in weekly for updates, tips and to report on your progress.
Last week I revealed my plans to start composting my kitchen scraps. I then spent a lot of time online researching the ins and outs of compost. Because I live in a city with a small lot, I have to contain my pile in a bin and also have to restrict just what scraps I throw in there for fear of attracting rodents. Anything biodegradable is compostable but there are a few items that are best left to rural compost piles or avoided completely. Those include, treated wood, pernicious weeds, diseased plants, pet feces (or at least waste from carnivores), meat, dairy, and foods with a high fat content (including many oils and peanut butter).
I found quite a bit about composting cooked vegetables and why those are often on the "do not" compost list. Apparently, it's because veggies are often cooked with oil which can attract pests or take especially long to breakdown. I am throwing them in as long as they have only been boiled or steamed. I'm crazy like that. Oh, and the other day I threw in some pizza crust with a little bit of cheese on it. Don't tell anyone.
I also learned a lot about "green" and "brown" materials and the need for a proper balance within the compost pile. "Green" materials include fruits, vegetables, and class clippings. These are high in nitrogen. "Brown" items include dead leaves, paper products and dryer lint. These are high in carbon. Some people say that a pile should have a 75% percent carbon ratio by weight and others say that it should be 50%. I'm aiming for 50/50. If there are too many greens the pile will get slimy and I'll adjust accordingly.
One useful tidbit for homes with only one bathroom: Urine is high in nitrates and great for compost. This also works for parties that get out of hand.
Once I gathered the facts about what can go in a bin, I had to SELECT a bin. I'll be going over all of the options in detail next week of what bins are available. I decided to make my own out of an extra trashcan for two reasons: I was able to reuse something I already had and I'm cheap. I've published a picture gallery of the process and you can read more on homemade bins here.
So far my composting is all going very well. I keep a small Tupperware container on my kitchen counter with a lid that I empty daily or sometimes every other day. There are always coffee grounds to dispose of. I also compost the bills that go through the shredder and some cardboard and recycle the rest of my paper waste. I turn the pile fairly regularly with a small pitchfork. So far no stink and no rats. Two things that I was assured of by many websites and comments but it was something that I had to see for myself.
Next week I'll be going over some of the commercial composting products and stay tuned for a fabulous give-away later this month!
Last week I revealed my plans to start composting my kitchen scraps. I then spent a lot of time online researching the ins and outs of compost. Because I live in a city with a small lot, I have to contain my pile in a bin and also have to restrict just what scraps I throw in there for fear of attracting rodents. Anything biodegradable is compostable but there are a few items that are best left to rural compost piles or avoided completely. Those include, treated wood, pernicious weeds, diseased plants, pet feces (or at least waste from carnivores), meat, dairy, and foods with a high fat content (including many oils and peanut butter).
I found quite a bit about composting cooked vegetables and why those are often on the "do not" compost list. Apparently, it's because veggies are often cooked with oil which can attract pests or take especially long to breakdown. I am throwing them in as long as they have only been boiled or steamed. I'm crazy like that. Oh, and the other day I threw in some pizza crust with a little bit of cheese on it. Don't tell anyone.
I also learned a lot about "green" and "brown" materials and the need for a proper balance within the compost pile. "Green" materials include fruits, vegetables, and class clippings. These are high in nitrogen. "Brown" items include dead leaves, paper products and dryer lint. These are high in carbon. Some people say that a pile should have a 75% percent carbon ratio by weight and others say that it should be 50%. I'm aiming for 50/50. If there are too many greens the pile will get slimy and I'll adjust accordingly.
One useful tidbit for homes with only one bathroom: Urine is high in nitrates and great for compost. This also works for parties that get out of hand.
Once I gathered the facts about what can go in a bin, I had to SELECT a bin. I'll be going over all of the options in detail next week of what bins are available. I decided to make my own out of an extra trashcan for two reasons: I was able to reuse something I already had and I'm cheap. I've published a picture gallery of the process and you can read more on homemade bins here.
So far my composting is all going very well. I keep a small Tupperware container on my kitchen counter with a lid that I empty daily or sometimes every other day. There are always coffee grounds to dispose of. I also compost the bills that go through the shredder and some cardboard and recycle the rest of my paper waste. I turn the pile fairly regularly with a small pitchfork. So far no stink and no rats. Two things that I was assured of by many websites and comments but it was something that I had to see for myself.
Next week I'll be going over some of the commercial composting products and stay tuned for a fabulous give-away later this month!
Brad Pitt and George Clooney - doing double duty in Venice
Coca Cola goes green
A complete solar system for $1800?
_thumbnail.jpg "Green superheroes")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-10-2008 @ 9:23AM
Georganne Owens said...
Ok! I'm so proud of you. I want to "throw in" some of my own tips...no citrus and definitely add newspaper and grass clippings! Stop that with the pizza crust!!!! You will have critters AND it really doesn't do your compost any good. Last year my compost bin was "growing" tomatoes and pumpkins because I threw in the seeds! I get so enthusiastic about it that when the bin is full I throw my extra in my neighbors bin!
Reply
6-10-2008 @ 9:28AM
kelly.leahy said...
Ok, no more pizza crust. I thought I remembered something about citrus. It might be a little late on that front, however. I think I threw in an orange peel the other day. Thanks for the tips!
6-10-2008 @ 9:27AM
bkp said...
What a coincidence--we just got a composter, too! (Now I have proof I am turning into my mother.) My husband is very excited about the composter and has been out "stirring" almost every day. We bought one from our town's public works department. They sell rain bins, too, and so that will probably be our next purchase.
My tip for the compost pail comes from the brochure that came with our composter: line your pail with a paper towel or piece of newspaper so that food doesn't stick to the sides. The compost will slide right out of the pail, along with some extra brown material, and your pail will stay "fresher longer."
Reply
6-10-2008 @ 9:32AM
kelly.leahy said...
Oooooh, a rain bin. Maybe that'll be my next project.
I think it's too late for the newspaper tip for me but it's a good one!