Composting

With all the environmental benefits for composting aside, I find it very interesting to hear different gardeners or homesteaders opinions on composting. The opinions are usually not about if we (as a community) should compost, but rather how to compost.

Just in case you are new to composting or you are researching information to try to decide which type of composting will work for you- here are the basics.

Two main types of composting, within each are different methods and composting "containers".

1. Indoor Composting

Composting indoors- gross right? Not really. Now I am not saying to build a three bin composter that is in the middle of your living room. Husbands, kids and house guests tend to frown on that.

Small kitchen pail composter-However you can compost in the kitchen with either a store bought kitchen compost pail or one that you make yourself. We have tried several commercial composters and so far have had the most success with the ceramic one that has the filter inside the lid. Its not obvious what it is on the counter (looks like a crock) and because of the filter there is not smell. I would love to try the newer electric indoor composter that fits under your kitchen sink, but the $200 price tag is just a bit too much for me. If you have one and liked or disliked it, please email me would love to know from a real person not salesperson if they work. Think we bought ours at Target for about $25, but have seen them for even less now in the grocery store. You can toss in vegetable scraps, egg shells, bread, etc. Would stay away from any meat or cheese as they do not compost well. When our little kitchen bin is full, it gets dumped into the big one in the yard where the real magic happens.

Plastic bag or small glad ware type bowl- This is what we did before the ceramic composter and still use now that we have chickens who can eat a lot of the table scraps. Why not let them have the quality scraps and let the other food scraps be compost. I learned this from my father in law. He keeps a plastic bag either to the side of the sink or inside the second sink and as he does food prep scrapes into the bag. Then after we finish the meal he scrapes the plates into the bags before washing the dishes. (Not that there is much food to scrape off- he is an incredible cook!)

Worm bin-Another option that we also use to compost kitchen scraps and also Harvey's poop (bunny) is to feed it too the worms. The worms are not tricky, but not quite as quick and easy as tossing it into the bucket or bin and forgetting about it. The worms are alive so they need a bit of care, but not much. When you feed the scraps to them, switch sides each time and place the food under the bedding to reduce the fruit flies, smell and to regulate the temperature in bin (food all over makes it too hot). Also, you want to give them time to eat and break down the food, so unless you have a huge bin with lots of food, you probably will not be able to put all of your vegetable scraps in every day. More like every 3-4 days. Worm bins are available in stores and online and vary in prices from about $50.00 to $200 depending on size and levels in the bins. We made our worm bin for less then $20.00 and it works great.

This is how we made our Rubbermaid worm bin.

2. Outdoor Composting

The traditional form of composting that can be done in a bin, tumbler, or even a pile. Outdoor composting can be as simple as piling up the materials in a corner in your yard, turning with a pitch fork and waiting for the magic to happen. Depending on your yard size, neighborhood regulations, and what works best for you- you have lots of options. Everything from buying composters to making one from chicken wire or scrap wood.

Compost tumbler reviews

Making compost from kitchen wastes is made easier by using a compact compost tumbler. A compost tumbler is the newest type of container made only for composting matter. What is unique about a compost tumbler that makes them easier to use than the old fashioned composters are that these composters are set on stands letting you turn them around which moves the compost matter and actually hastens the composting action. This ability to spin the compost cylinder on its base is why the newest composter is called a compost tumbler. The ease of spinning the compost tumbler to move the material in the cylinder is really what makes the compost tumbler better than the old fashioned compositors that require manual stirring of the material being composted. And, since the user can spin the compost tumbler as often as he wishes, he can have compost quicker in less than two weeks or slightly longer.

Most people who have already made their own compost bin might think twice about paying for a compost tumbler depending on where you buy them the price can range from about $50.00 to $200.00. But, if what you are looking for is compost made without needing manual stirring, quick composting, and sanitary convenience, the compost tumbler might be something to consider. You can buy them online on amazon, ebay, overstock for discount prices (watch the shipping charges) or locally in Home Depot or Lowes.

There are more than one type of compost tumbler. A cheap version of the compost tumbler is meant to be set in the backyard and is made from recycled plastic. Since the compost tumbler is already an example of using waste to keep the environment clean, it has many advocates from green re cyclists in the country.

The plastic compost tumbler is relatively smaller than most composter bins which makes it easy to operate. The plastic compost tumbler also has a pitcher located in the base where the compost tumbler is attached to that gathers the liquid that drains from composting matter. The liquid can be used as fertilizer as it is full of nutrients.

A more expensive type of compost tumbler runs on electricity. The electrical compost tumbler has mixing handles inside the compost tumbler that mixes the material put on top. The machine actually separates the compost and the compost that can be used is dropped into a convenient tray. The electrical compost tumbler is free of odor and can be set right in the kitchen.

In between the plastic compost tumbler that should be set in the backyard and the electrical compost tumbler that can be set in the kitchen, there is another compost tumbler that is not as expensive as the electrical compost tumbler. This compost tumbler actually lets you store compost while making more compost. The part of this compost tumbler that needs to be seriously considered is the size and the fact that it needs to be put together by the buyer. Also, this large compost tumbler with storage needs two people to turn the cylinder.
Before deciding on a compost tumbler, a potential buyer should look at the various options available and decide which model would work best for him before spending any money.