Composting: How-to guide

 
By Cherie

A month ago I became a true Oregonian and started composting. I even asked for a composting bin for my birthday! In true form, my husband researched all the options and discovered that Metro was practically giving them and their much-needed accessories away.

We installed it near our back door which is Rule #1, especially if you live somewhere other than Hawaii.

Rule #2 is get the kitchen collector accessory. This one has ventilation incorporated into the lid and it snaps shut to help prevent unpleasant odors as well as gnats. I try to empty it every 2-3 days. 

Rule #3, Experiment. After researching, it turns out there isn't a definitive guide to composting because it depends on so many factors. There are conflicting lists of items that are 'okay' to compost although most seem to agree on what NOT to compost. Here's is a handy guide to post on the inside of a cabinet door. It's on the liberal side so some of the things on the 'okay' sidemight not work for you. 

So what else have I learned?

• Turning the compost manually is not as hard as I expected especially if you get the compost turner accessory
• It doesn't smell. If yours smells then you should reevaluate what you are composting or your compost might be too wet
• You can add pet hair to help keep rodents away
• You can compost paper! Plain paper, newspaper, coffee filters, paper sacks, etc. It should be shredded in order to break down faster
• You can compost egg shells, they should be rinsed and crushed
• Encourage worms, they speed up the composting and apparently they like coffee grounds. If that's the case then we have very happy and caffeinated worms because at our house coffee is the one thing guaranteed to be made daily

After a month in we have about a foot of compost and you can see progress. I read that it can take anywhere from six weeks to six months depending on how "hot" you get your compost. That's another post for another day, but as soon as our compost is ready to harvest you will be the first to know! 

Do you compost? What are your rules?

Comments

[Melody]

I started composting this summer, and I've become a big fan of it. I use a lot of fresh produce, and it is nice that my food waste doesn't feel like waste anymore. I have turned into one of those people that talks to everyone I know about how EASY! and PRACTICAL! and SALUTARY! it is to compost. I'm excited to use the compost next spring, and in the meantime, I get to feel like I'm doing something positive for the environment. Everyone wins!

[natalie]

I'm giving up. The re-occuring maggots have me running scared. With every bit of greens that I put in, I have to have some dried grass lying around to put on top. Otherwise it grows mold or maggots.

[Ali V]

My husband built a compost bin this summer when the city made compostable lawn clipping bags mandatory. They're a great idea in theory (green, etc.) but unfortunately we mow the lawn on the weekend and our trash pickup day is Thursday, and in the humidity that is south Texas, the bag would literally decompose before they could be picked up leaving us with a sodden pile of mess. So we switched to composting, and it's been pretty easy, and weirdly...satisfying? I get some strange sense of accomplishment from filling up my little pail and dumping it on the heap. And I had a nice layer of compost to use for the fall garden, so it's worked out well so far.