Friday, April 30, 2010

the super simple compost


I started my first compost last fall. It's a super simple way to cut back on your waste and make your own nutrient-rich black gold. Dirt. Yum!

You can start with a plastic tub or a wooden box - I used a cheap ikea plastic bin because I'm not using it for the vegetable garden.

diy super simple compost

Things you will need: Container, organic food scraps, yard waste...

Step 1: Cut some little holes in the bottom (I made mine too big and something kept digging under the bin and up into the composting scraps to have a little snack.) So, I recommend worm size holes, not rat/squirrel sized holes!
Step 2: Dig a hole to submerge your bin in the ground.
Step 3: Fill with vegetable scraps, grass clippings, dry leaves, etc.
Step 4: Cover with a heavy board and top with a couple bricks to deter any animals from getting into it and you've got yourself a compost!

Things you can compost:
Browns (High Carbon)
Wood ashes
Shredded cardboard
Corn stalks
Fruit peels/rinds
Leaves
Shredded newspaper
Peanut shells
Pine needles
Sawdust
Wood Chips

Greens (High Nitrogen)
Coffee grounds
Eggshells (I have read to avoid eggshells in urban areas because they can attract rats)
Vegetable peels/rinds
Garden waste
Grass clippings
Manures
Seaweed
Tea bags
Weeds (that have not gone to seed) 

Things not to compost:
Meat scraps
Fatty food wastes
Milk products
Bones 

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