Home Composting

I've received several requests for advice from people interested in learning how to start a compost at home. While I'm by no means an expert on the subject, fortunately it doesn't take one to start your own compost. In fact, it's surprisingly easy. Here's some suggestions and links for how to get started:

The first thing people need to decide is where to place the outdoor aspect of the composting, which is usually some kind of a bin. (I have seen some farmers and people who aren't as concerned with aesthetics just making a pile or heap right in their backyard without a bin. This works great too, but typical homeowners seem to like some kind of a bin or container to put it in). The backyard is usually the best place to put your bin, and it should be in a location that is close to your house and convenient to reach during the winter months since you will be adding to it several times a week even when its freezing out. If you don't have a backyard, then a compost bin in your basement works just fine.

If you choose to use a bin, getting one is the next step. They can be bought online at such sites as http://www.composters.com/?gclid=CMrG_ubw1pQCFSCcnAodEV6QrA or possibly found at a local hardware store. (The CSL is also considering sponsoring a compost bin sale and we'll let you know if we do!) Even better, you can fairly easily build one yourself. Here's an example of one way to build your own that I found from composting101.com:

"Want to build your own? Here's one simple solution: convert old shipping pallets (which you can usually pick up for free) into a compost "repository." Use one for the bottom. Pound in metal support poles and then add pallets by slipping them over the support poles to make your bin's walls and you're all set."

Next, you'll need to need some kind of pail or container to keep in the kitchen. Keeping around old, gallon ice cream pails works great. The important thing is to have a lid to keep away fruit flies and to either line the pail with newspaper (which can be composted) or to wash it between uses to keep it fairly clean.

Here's what you SHOULD and SHOULD NOT compost:
What to compost:
From the Kitchen: fruit and vegetable scraps, plant cuttings, coffee grounds, tea bags, rice, pasta, egg shells, coffee filters, stale bread, paper towels, dryer lint (cool, huh?), hair.
From the yard: flowers, vegetables, hedge clippings, small amounts of grass, leaves, straw, small twigs or woodchips, hay.
Do NOT compost:
Dairy products, Meat, fish or bones, Fats or Oils, Diseased Plants, weeds containing seeds, sauces, ashes, pet waste (although pet hair is okay).

At this point you just need to toss food scraps into your pail (chopping larger items like corn cobs and watermelon rinds up), empty your full pails into your heap or bin, stir your pile with a pitchfork or garden tool, and cover it with some leaves, soil, or other dried yard waste. Stirring is important because it adds oxygen and covering the pile adds carbon and reduces the chance of odors or flies.

Contrary to some rumors, properly running composters should not smell unpleasant, so if this has been stopping you, don't worry. (Just remember to stay away from meat and dairy and to mix and cover your bin after every addition).

Follow these steps and after a few months the earliest additions to your pile will have broken down and will look much like soil. Take out what's ready with a shovel, load it into a wheelbarrow, and spread it wherever (garden, shrubs, trees, lawn, etc.)

That's it. It's really, really easy. And with a small amount of effort you can see garbage reductions of around 25-30% and have valuable home compost to add to your garden. I hope this helps get you started!

For more great links on composting and building your own bin, check out:
How to Start a home compost: http://www.grist.org/advice/how/2008/08/19/?source=daily
http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=441
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/Recycle/Compost/Home4.htm
Composting in small, urban backyards: http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2005/01/06/umbra-compost/index.html