Access Blogs
Green Week: Composting Is Fun!
By Sharon Smith, Access Research Director
Composting is fun! Really! It's simple, efficient and seems almost magical as it turns garbage into nutrient rich soil!
I got hooked about 20 years ago when the city in which I live offered a free Composter to all residents who were willing to take a short composting class.
In honor of NBC Universal's "Green Is Universal" week, I'm sharing some of my tips with you.
Getting Started !
Get a pail with tight lid for your kitchen sink - I like a ceramic pail - it's attractive and won't rust. I like to line my pail with a biodegradable cornstarch bag for ease of transferring the material to the Composter. Put your used coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, potato peelings, veggie scraps, etc. in the pail. Once it's full, transfer the contents to your outdoor compost bin (or compost pile).
Compost Bin or Compost Pile?
I have a 30" square plastic bin with vented sides and a lid, but my mom has a pile in the corner of her yard and it works just as well. Drop your pail contents on the top of the compost heap. Once a week add the lawn clippings and leaves and this helps bury the veggies plus adds heat and moisture to the mix - two important ingredients to speed decomposition. Worms are also vital to the process and will come up through the ground and work on the decaying material at the bottom of the pile. My bin sits directly on the soil, but if your bin has a bottom, you'll need to add worms.
Keep the pile as moist as a damp sponge. My sprinklers hit the bin and this is sufficient. Otherwise, dump a bucket of water or give it a squirt with the hose on occasion. Stir the pile with a shovel every couple of weeks to speed the decaying process. But if you never stir, it will still decompose!In two months time you'll have your first batch of finished compost. It will be a rich, medium brown color - spread it on the lawn, mulch your shrubs and congratulate yourself for helping the environment!
I've always wanted to compost and now I have an idea of how to start . . . now I want to find a nice ceramic crock for my counter!
Thanks!