Container Composting
It can be done!
I get a magazine all about homesteading and farming and whatnot and one article described the benefits of composting. After reading what a wonderful thing this was for your garden, I was a bit frustrated that I lived in an apartment and didn't have the room to compost which forced me to purchase bags of compost every year. Of course, this all led to…
The Container Compost Experiment
Supplies:
* 1 5 gallon bucket (no lid) with drainage holes drilled in 3" intervals
around the base
* 1 cheap plastic dish to catch drainage (Home Depot has 'em for $1)
* 1 lb of dried hay, leaves or grass clippings (leaves &smp; clippings are
free)
* 1 small bag of potting soil
* kitchen and garden refuse
* spade
Drill holes around the bottom of the bucket
Process:
Line the bottom of the bucket with dried hay, leaves or clippings to a depth of about 1" (this is your drainage). Next, layer the same depth of soil. As you acquire kitchen or garden refuse, toss it right on top and cover with a thin layer of dried material, then a layer of soil, as if creating a lasagna. Water lightly.
Hay layer provides drainage and organic matter. Leaves provide additional drainage and excellent organic matter.
First 2 layers of hay, then leaves. Leaves were crumbled after the photo was
taken.
When the bucket becomes about half full (about 3-4 weeks) turn ingredients with a spade and mix very well. Notice how the material looks, too wet - add dried material and water less, too dry - cut down on dried material increase soil and/or water. Now you will begin to mix about once per week to keep the microbiotic processes in motion.
Continue layering as before, turn very well about once per month. You'll know that the processes inside are continuing if the side of the bucket feels slightly warm to the touch. If it begins to smell, which it really shouldn't I promise, you are either adding too little dried material or too much water, adjust accordingly.
When the bucket becomes full. Set it aside to steep until the next growing season. Once a month, take a peak and mix the contents, mix well enough to bring the bottom to the top. As the weather cools to winter, you'll need to turn it less and less often.
One year after starting the bin, you will have compost worthy of using in your garden…and it was free!
Completed set up, ready to for compost!
Best Things to Add:
* egg shells (they will act as perilite later and add calcium to the soil,
which peppers love)
* vegetable waste from the kitchen (remove all seeds first)
* cuttings, leaves, etc from healthy garden plants
Do not Add:
* meat products
* dairy products
* spoiled food
* pasta (it doesn't break down well in such a short time…oops) diseased
plant material