Converting your Trash Into Eco-friendly Compost
// July 16th, 2007
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I got this brilliant Idea about making your own compost after checking out Gaiam. They had some cool Composting Bins and I thought I would give it a try. You can basically take your Vegetable Scraps, Eggshells, Coffee grounds, and mix it up with some grass clipping and paper and make nutrient rich soil for your garden. What an Eco-friendly and green way to reduce your waste and make something useful for your garden, right?
Well, no, because now I am harboring what must be thousand maggots in my stainless steel trash can because I forgot to add the browns (decaying leaves, grass clippings). Supposedly there’s a science to this and I snoozed on that. I also didn’t aerate it because I didn’t poke any holes in the container. My mistake can be your learning lesson. The trash can has been relegated to my backyard until I can figure out what to do. But here’s some great sites where you can get started.
Savvy Gardener has a great starting point. Here’s All about Composting. The maggots aren’t dangerous per se but it just grosses me out. And I do not want to help breed more flies. They are such a nuisance. Anyways reading this article will show you how to do it right so you won’t have the same dilemma I have at the moment.
I also found that there are other ways you can make your own compost. Something that’s very cool to do and also can be a great science project with your kids is Vermiculture. Vermiculture, or worm composting, allows you to compost all your food waste faster than you ever imagined, while producing the highest quality compost and fertilizing liquid. Best of all, it’s self-contained and nearly odorless!
Wikihow has a very useful article on how to make your own Worm Compost System
SavvyGardener’s simple yet detailed article on how to use worm composing
Great thing about Vermiculture is that you don’t have to have a garden, you can even do it in your apartment if the thought of having worms in your kitchen doesn’t make you squeamish. Bokashi is also another great option if you are an urban dweller. Basically it’s taking your kitchen waste and fermenting it into nutrients for your plants if diluted. It can even clean your drains if used at full strength. No More Drano!
You can get the all three different types of Composting Bins at Gaiam. Click on the link to Shop for Home and Outdoor products at Gaiam.com!
You can also opt to make your own compost bins too.. Well except for the Bokashi one. You would have to purchase that but it should run you about $50-60.
Just a word of caution, should you choose to make your own bin, I would recommend that you stay away from stainless steel.
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July 16th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Great links! One thing to be careful about is thorns from plants like roses. My gran cut herself on some thorns she put in her compost bin. It seems they don’t break down well.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
LOL Sounds like something I would do! I’ve put off creating a composting bin for this very reason. I should look into it again
July 16th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
April, that’s a great tip! Thanks.. Roses are beautiful but must be handled with care
Felicia, lol.. yes, the silver can is sitting in the middle of our backyard.. my boyfriend commented that it looks like bomb… Oh well..
July 16th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
That is funny! I’ve done the same. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. I live in an apartment now. I think the kiddo would be thrilled with the worms! Earthworms are way cooler than maggots…
July 16th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Hey Bloggrrl, I think I am going with the worms too… you can make your own bin.. it’s cheaper that way but you do have to purchase the worms. But if you have plants in the home or into gardening, I think it’s totally worth it.
July 16th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Worm composting is so cool!
Remember to save the fluids that will come from the compost. It’s very nutritious and can be used on your plants.
July 16th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
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July 16th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
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July 16th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Hmmm, I might need to look into this… I haven’t noticed any maggots in the compost pile yet, but lots of nice worms! I try to turn over the dirt to cover the stuff that flies would be attracted to.
July 16th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
Hey Thomas, yes I think worm composting is cool too! I bought some plant food called TerraCycle which uses this same exact method except they have millions of worms!
Neely, I am sure you are doing it correctly and I am glad you have worms in yours! Lucky you.. I did it all wrong.. lol
July 17th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
I’m just setting up my compost now. Just an open one in my back yard.
Did you add meat scraps to the compost - because that’s a big no-no. They don’t break down well, and yeah, maggots *wrinkles nose.* Egg-shells are also a bit of a no-no. Add salts. Just the vege scraps and lawn clippings and leaves works well though. =) Good-luck!
July 4th, 2008 at 4:49 am
[…] my fiasco with composting last year; I have been a bit reluctant to attempt it again. Albeit, I don’t think a stainless […]