Last week, I learned that our family has been putting about 10 pounds of table scraps (perfectly biodegradable compost materials) in the trash each week. That’s 520 pounds annually — about the cubic equivalent of the average-sized bathroom. Yikes!
Composting would seem the plain and simple solution. And yet, last summer we experimented doing just this with a composter we constructed at home. Unfortunately, our composting pile quickly turned into the take-out counter for our local raccoon — and the experiment came to an abrupt close. So the question for us was, how to we compost without becoming the neighborhood buffet line for vermin and flies?
After emailing more than 40 friends (mostly other green-eyed moms), I quickly discovered that I was not alone in my quest for information — and solutions.
Hopefully, these tips will prove helpful in determining what kind of composting solution will work best for you:
1) Assess Your Needs
If you generate minimal compost materials, a worm bin will likely be sufficient. A more serious gardener will ideally have a larger compost space. For us, a family of four (which also has the output that comes from an organic garden) - a mid-sized enclosed bin would seem to fit the bill.
2) Location
Consider both inside and outside options. We found an ideal location right off our back deck. It’s close to the kitchen so that it’s convenient to dump the compost in the bin on a daily basis. Because it’s also next to our organic vegetable garden, transporting the compost soil to its intended destination, will be equally convenient.
If an outside location is not an option due to apartment or HOA issues, consider a Worm Chalet, a three-tiered worm-based composter that can be kept in the kitchen –regular compost is produced from its spigot ($159).
3) Critters
If your composting space is close to your home, you will want to make sure that your composter is sturdy and fully enclosed to keep animals out.
4) Climate
A composter will work in the sun or shade, but a sunny spot will help prevent compost from becoming too wet. If you are in a cooler area, consider insulating your composter.
5) Make it Fun!
Worm bins are a great way to get kids involved in the composting process. Have kids shred newspapers, add in their banana peels or lettuce, etc., sprinkle water on it all - and watch what happens! Think about checking out a book at your local library to make it an educational experience for the whole family.
Also remember that if you are going to compost outside, you’ll need to designate a small space under the sink for your materials that are en route to the bin. I have repurposed an old diaper wipes plastic box because it’s easy to open and close. I’ve also heard that the Kitchen Compost Crock ($24) is a good option — especially if your compost will be sitting under the sink for a few days.
So which composter did we decide on? Unbeknownest to me, while I was soliciting input from my green inner circle, my husband had taken it upon himself to do his own research. (Most likely, he became concerned about the overflowing bowl of compost sitting under the sink.) As it turned out, I received The Outside Gourmet as a Mother’s Day gift ($130). The ComposTumbler also comes highly recommended from those in-the-know ($329).
Other Options:
If you are inspired to make your own compost bin, check out the EcoMom Alliance compost video. If only I had watched this video last summer, I would have likely had greater success at my first composting attempt.
Or see if you can find a used composter on Freecycle or Oodle. Incidentally, during my search via Oodle, I found a few wonderful composting classes such as Turning Green Waste to Compost Gold in Richmond, CA on June 16.
If composting is simply not an option, some cities, such as Oakland, CA, allow you to put your compost materials in the green bin. Call your local refuse service to learn if this is an option.
As a final note, friend and author of a soon-to-be released book EcoActs for Mommies shares a thought from her personal experience: “Start small - get comfortable with it - then take on a little more the next year. If you go to big too fast, you can get really overwhelmed by the maintenance.”
Next week, check-in for some basic rules of composting.
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great information, kirsten! thanks for sharing and making it a little easier to be green. look forward to future posts.
amy