Week 9 - COMPOSTING

I have been recycling for about 9 weeks now and it has greatly reduced our amount of garbage. So given that summer is almost here, I thought I would move on to the next step and begin composting. I don't even have to be doing it yet to know we will see another big drop in our amount of trash. I know this because we eat a ton of fruits and vegetables.

Now, this is not my first attempt at composting. Several years ago I went to a mini seminar at our local cooperative extension and received a free composter made of recycled plastic (you can find your local office at csrees.usda.gov and click on local extension office on the right; they seem to have these seminars annually). I started composting in earnest and then... I don't know what happened, I just stopped. So this week my plan is to remove all the weeds around my composter so I have easy access, "turn" what's still in there and start adding to it again.

Some people may not have the space or the desire to compost at their home. That's okay. In many areas you can still compost by collecting your trimmings and leaving them by the curb to be picked up (many urban areas have added this service in conjunction with their recycling programs), or like in our area you can drop your organic matter off at the town composting site.

But for those that are interested, here is a quick how-to from www.montgomerycountymd.gov.

Slow and Easy Composting

1. Build your compost pile anytime of year.
2. Create a simple, freestanding pile no more than 5 feet high (preferably 3 feet long on each side), or build or buy an inexpensive bin to keep your pile tidy.
3. Locate on level, well-drained ground in either sun or shade -- stay away from wooden fences and buildings, and avoid placing on your neighbor's property line. Don't set up over shallow tree roots.
4. Build a six inch base of branches, twigs or brush for drainage and aeration (old wooden pallets work extremely well).
5. Use leaves by themselves -- or mix in grass and other "green" garden trimmings for quicker compost. When adding new materials to an existing pile, be sure to mix them in thoroughly -- especially green materials like grass. Don't create layers.
6. Don't build your pile with grass alone -- mix in dry leaves, straw or wood chips to avoid odors. 7. Moisten materials as you add them and leave a concave depression at the top of the pile to capture rainwater.
8. Keep materials moist throughout the year -- but not wet. It is often best not to cover your pile to let water in. A dry pile will not compost.
9. Never add meat, bones, fat, oils, dairy products or processed foods to avoid odors and pests. Never add diseased plants, weeds with seeds, or cat or dog wastes.
10. Try to turn, fluff, or aerate on occasion -- whether every week, every month or just once or twice a year.
11. Wait a while (6-12 months) and get ready to use your compost as a top-dressing for your lawn, a mulch for trees and shrubs, or a side-dressing for annuals, herbs, and vegetables.
12. Compost is ready to use when it is dark brown-black, crumbly, and sweet-smelling. Enjoy!

Now here's my two cents:

1. I prefer a bin since it hides the waste not only from view, but also from animals.
   
2. What can be composted? Anything except meat and dairy. This includes coffee (with paper filter), tea bags, veggie/fruit trimmings, straw, grass/yard clippings, weeds (before they've gone to seed), shredded newspaper, manure, etc. Speaking of shredding, cutting the waste into smaller pieces helps it break down faster. You don't have to do it, it just speeds things along. When you add veggie/fruit waste, bury it in your bin instead of just placing it on top. This will prevent fruit flies, gnats and other things you don't want.


3. There are a number of containers available to collect your waste in. If you want to keep your container on the counter (and more accessible I might add), you probably want something attractive. If you are keeping your container under the sink it doesn't matter so much. You can purchase containers with filters that reduce odor. Consider how often you will be emptying the container and that will help you determine what you need. I happen to be "nose sensitive". I don't want to gag every time I open the container, so I will need some kind of odor control. But if that sort of thing doesn't bother you, a simple plastic container with a tight fitting lid should do the trick. I have found some reasonably priced plastic compost pails at www.leevalley.com which can be attached to a cabinet door.

If you would like more in-depth information, there are a ton of websites and you can check out "The Rodale Book of Composting" which is a comprehensive guide.

I am interested to see how well I do with this. Although it says "slow and easy composting" it seems really involved. But I'm willing to give it a try. I'll let you know how it all turns out.