My goal here at the new place is to live a simpler ,greener more prepared lifestyle. This is my way of getting started on that. I did a little research on the net and I think this is the easiest way (for me anyway) to get composting. I started saving a few of the compostable items from my kitchen this winter. I just got a big bucket with a lid. I used one of the big square buckets that kitty litter comes in. I put all my used coffee grounds and eggshells into it. I wasn't trecking out to some far corner of the yard to dump them every day so the bucket was fine. I didn't realize we drank so much coffee. Its a good thing its decalf or we would be bouncing all over the house here. I also saved newspapers, and cardboard boxes. There were quite a few of them from the unpacking. A couple of weeks ago we had a fabulous sunny weekend. It felt like spring was in the air. Birds were singing. My spirits were high and I got the gardening urge. It was just a false start, but it sure felt good. I explained to my wonderful husband how I had found the trash can composters on pinterest, and gave him the instructions. We had two large black Rubbermaid bins we were no longer using. They were perfect and all it took was a bin, a half hour and a drill. I love it when he gets on board with one of my projects. I guess this one didn't sound as silly as some. He drilled holes into the bottom first, this is important because it allows for drainage. The holes were drilled all around the sides right to the top. Add a few holes in the lid and there should be plenty of ventilation. Lots of air helps the compost process. For a little extra circulation and to help with the "turning" of the compost I decided we should put a piece of fencing rolled into a tube down the center on the inside.
This is my inspiration found here
I had some fun in the afternoon tearing up cardboard and newspaper with my four year old granddaughter Bethie. I explained to her how we were going to put the paper and the kitchen scraps into the bin, and tiny little bugs that were too small to see would eat it all up and turn it into dirt. Her response was "is it magic dirt?" Now my compost bin will forever be known as the magic dirt maker. I love it.
We layered the paper, (brown material) and the coffee grains and eggshells (green material) in the can the way the instructions said. If I had been thinking ahead last fall, I would have saved some bags of the dried leaves hubby raked up in the yard. They are the very best brown material you can use, but unfortunately they are all in a pile under a few feet of snow. I guess they aren't going anywhere.
I am now keeping all my compostable kitchen scraps, the coffee grinds and eggshells along with all those vegie and fruit scraps from prep.
Here is a great list of what and what not to put in your compost bin.
I can't believe some of the things I no loger have to toss.
I love the simplicity of composting like this is. I don't have to go out every couple of weeks and shovel the pile from one bin to another. All I have to do is put a good bungie cord over the lid to make sure its secure, then lay the can on its side and roll it back and forth a few times to mix the material. Keep it slightly moist and nature does all the rest. The trash bin has wheels so in the winter I can move it closer to the house and no trecks through deep snow to the farthest reaches of my "kingdom".... Making your own compost really is magic.I plan on using the other trash bin as well once this one is full and ready to go. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out.
Here is my bin, just waiting for the snow to melt
Have a great day everyone
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