Do you have a composting toilet attached to your home? I was reading about a cohousing community in which all?
the units had composting toilets – however, when I’ve used them on hikes they’ve been kind of smelly (though much less than a traditional outhouse!) and not something I would like attached to my house. I also have friends who are reusing their waste by composting it with layers of sawdust. Have you done this?
A correctly installed composting toilet will have no odor, and the compost medium is usually peat moss. After each use the medium is stirred mechanically, mixing the waste, accelerating the compost process. The internal temp is also critical, and must be held at 75 degrees F or higher. In the long run they would save billions of gallons of domestic water usage. Their waste by product is a rich odorless fertilizer with the appearance of common soil. An idea who’s time has come. I have one going in here this summer.
How do I make a homemade composting bin?
I’ve looked at composting bins online and the prices are steep for a a house of college students, ranging from 150-200$. I was wondering if anyone knew how to construct one for a lesser cost.
A slat wood built bin?, Can one just be made out of a large rubbermaid bin? Other ideas?
Good Evening ShyGirl,
I was always to poor to know any other way. I have been gardening for 60 years. I don’t know why people love to spend so much money on gardens. I use nothing but natural ingredients. I use no chemicals or pestcides. I think people forget they eat whatever they put on their plants or in the soil. My garden is 20×20 ft, and I have nine (9) rare fruit trees. You see why I have two 55 gal compost drums.
You sound like you need help on making a good compost bin. Since you are new at compost, it may be easier for you to start with a plastic bin. A 32 gal is just find.
Make sure your bin is away from the house. Compost bins will give off odors. Cut out the bottom and add holes around the sides. You must vent the sides. Place four inch bricks shaped like the letter "I_I" or V" on the ground. Place your bin on the top of the bricks. You can shovel compost out of the open end of the bricks when your compost is ready.
Layer in your soil, your vegetable and grass cuttings, dead plants, egg shells, and coffee grounds. I do not use other materials because they can draw mice, and the smell is bad. Never use meat or cooking oils. I mix my compost with chicken manure. Chicken manure is by far the best. Therefore add chicken manure every (about 2 cups) few inches. Keep the mixture lightly moist. You will never buy soil again. A 1cu. ft. of chicken fertilizer will cost about $4. The plastic can will cost about $20.
Do not use wood of any type. Wood will draw termites in the summer in certain areas of the country. It does not take them to long to find wood and dirt. I hope I helped. Good luck to you and your family, from Los Angeles.
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Where can I get an inexpensive Composting Bin in Bergen County, NJ?
I am interested in doing more for the environment. I want to start using a composting bin to create some "good dirt" for around my yard, but the bins online and in catalogs are a bit pricey for my tight budget.
Having a fence-type compost pile in my yard is not very feasible for my situation.
Where can I get a compost bin in Bergen County, NJ, without spending a lot of money?
Maybe you should try this:
http://www.vermiculture.com/
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/Compost.html
I have one of those expensive compost tumblers and it doesn’t work any better than just dumping stuff on the ground. At least on the ground, earth worms and wood lice get in there and do their part to break down the clippings, leaves and veggies from the kitchen. This year, I bought a cheap blender at walmart and chop up egg shells, peelings, tea from tea bags, and coffee grounds and any other vegetable matter that’s left over in the kitchen and put it in with lawn clippings and leaves. I’ve just left it in and tumble it when I add new stuff and I’ve got some decent looking stuff so far. I just feel earth worms would make this better. I also have two rabbits and I use their manure as well in my garden.
I also add a packet of yeast to the tumbler every now and then to help it out. My problem is trying to get enough moisture in the tumbler as we are in the midst of a terrible drought. You have to add some water to the blender when you’re chopping it up so that helps, but sometimes, I add water to help it rot.
The great thing about having a container is that it keeps it out of site. If you use a bin, get a storage bin that is wide and shallow and drill holes in the sides, top and bottom to allow good air circulation and drainage. You could collect the "tea" that seeps out of the bottom and use it as fertilizer. A healthy compost bin/heap should not smell bad. It should smell earthy.
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What is the best method for composting in a small space shared with pets and kids?
I have a relatively small home with a small yard, two dogs and two small kids. I am VERY interested in composting methods that are pet and kid friendly. Any suggestions?
I actually did an expo on composting. one way you may be able to is an inside worm composting bin. you can put it anywhere and the compostbins have tops so little kids will not really be able to get the tops off. you will need worms to do this though. Good Luck! HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!
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How can I easily & inexpensively get started composting?
I want to start composting, or at least try it out & see if it is something that I can get the other members of my household to participate with. I spoke to someone at a garden center and was recommended a plastic composting bin for $90. Can composting be done, at a very small scale, in a regular plastic container while we try it out to see if composting is for us? Any other advice for a beginner is also welcome. Thanks!
More people should Compost!…..It’s a great way to give back to the earth…..No need for expensive "composters" Just find an out of the way spot in your yard where you wont mind a pile of debris forming. Take all your Raw Kitchen scraps like fruit and Vegetable peelings and leftovers(apple cores, Lettuce + cabbage leaves,banana peels…etc)…NO meats or fats or pasta/rice.or anything cooked pretty much.(tends to attract vermin) … Now take all your "junk Mail" (no plastic)… like credit card offers,flyers,unread newspapers and shred or rip them into small pieces and layer this(it is your carbon source, also called "brown" material) with the food stuff (your Nitrogen source, also called "green" material) and you will have success-full composting going on in no time.Take all you garden debris when put your garden to bed in the fall and add them to the pile also. keep adding shredded papers/cardboard/dried leavesor "browns" etc.. to the pile along with the daily "green" and keep it wet…thats right… water it in the summer(water helps theings decompose) Dont worry about it over the winter… You will see the pile shrink down over time… go out in spring and turn or "fluff up" the pile and use whatever is ready on the bottom of the pile(looks just like dirt) and start watering it again when you notice it is very dry. and turn it now and then…. My compost pile is behind my shed in the corner of the yard. The shed is on an angle just wide enough to get a wheelbarrow through….. Composting is easy…dont be frightend off by all the people with their technical mumbo-jumbo.I have been doing it for over 20 years…. and P.S…. your pile will decompose weather you turn it or not……..Good luck with it!
Just rember, the smaller the pieces you put into it, the faster it will compost (decompose)
What is a quicker way to speed up composting process?
My boyfriend’s mother did an organic "no dig" garden last year and she now has leaves and fruits and vegetable peels on the garden composting creating new soil for the coming season. However, a lot of the compost is still leaves and other bric-a-brac, not decomposed yet. Any way to help and speed up the process?
Incorporate the plant waste into the soil. It will decompose faster then when lying on the surface.A compost pile or bin will also speed up the process but requires more work then on the garden composting.
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Why don’t people use rubbermaid containers for composting?
I want to start composting, but I want my compost container to be outside my house.
I was planning on using a rubbermaid container as my bin. I don’t plan on adding worms to my bin. Only problem is I’ve been looking online and nobody seems to be using a rubbermaid as their bin.
This makes me think rubbermaids shouldnt be used as bins.
Is there something wrong with using rubbermaid containers as composting bins?
What if I leave the bin outside with the lid open?
With a little modification a Rubbermaid or any other plastic container can be used for composting.
To compost successfully you need to be aware that there are a few basic requirements. The material should be moist not soggy. If it is two wet the compost becomes slimy and stinks. Air is another requirement so make sure you regularly turn the material in your bin.
Any plastic container like Rubbermaid is designed to be airtight so to be succesful you need to drill small holes in the bottom and sides.
As to the no worms idea. Best to think again. Fungi and bacteria on the surface of the vegetable material will, in time, break down everything in to acceptable compost. But worms are the industrial powerhouse of composting. A few garden worms or better worms from an existing compost pile will make everything go much faster.
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What are some alternatives to composting for city dwellers?
I know that in other countries such as South Korea, the people are required to separate their food scraps. It is collected separately from the other trash for composting or animal feed (I’m not exactly sure where it ends up). I’d like to be more responsible with my food scraps but I live in an apartment building in the city and realistically composting would not work. How can I be responsible with my food waste while living in an urban environment.
I use a worm bin. It is easy, and if you do it right there is no smell. I’ll put a link for directions. The results is what is called worm castings and it is the best fertilizer for any garden.
