I'd like to start composting. Any tips on an inexpensive way to get started?

Jump to Last Post 1-5 of 5 discussions (5 posts)
  1. ggenda profile image59
    ggendaposted 13 years ago

    I'd like to start composting. Any tips on an inexpensive way to get started?

  2. TealGreen profile image59
    TealGreenposted 13 years ago

    Firstly you need somewhere to put your kitchen scraps that's convenient.  I use a 2.5 gallon square bin with a carbon filter and a handle and I keep it under my sink (Amazon has them: http://www.amazon.com/Large-Kitchen-Com … B0009LD3Y0

    I then have an Earth Machine outside the back door of my house (again, Amazon has them: http://www.amazon.com/Orbis-Earth-Machi … amp;sr=1-1) that I empty the kitchen scraps into every day or so.  In the summer, I empty it every day, without fail to stop getting lots of may flies in the kitchen.

    The key to successful composting is no meat or bones.  That way your compost won't smell.  Turn it occasionally with a pitch fork or garden fork.  You can also add grass clippings to moisten it or leaves if it seems to wet.  If it's too dry, it won't turn to soil.  If it's too wet, it will rot and be yucky.

    The two links to Amazon aren't endorsements of buying them from there.  I'd shop around.  I got the kitchen container and earth machine through my town environmental group at a greatly discounted rate due to a grant they got from the state to supply these to the community.

  3. Doc Snow profile image88
    Doc Snowposted 13 years ago

    I use a bin in the kitchen that's similar to (though smaller than) the one that TealGreen described.  We bought it at an "organizer store" (I forget the name of the place.)  I like the smaller size because it encourages me to take compost out more frequently!

    As to the actual composter, I built dry-laid brick and block walls in the back yard to contain compost heaps.  (The brick and block were 'leftovers,' so the compost heaps were more or less free.)  There are two, probably about four feet by four feet.

    Our volume of compost ingredients isn't enough to generate the high temperatures that true composters strive for, so it's really more of a worm bed, I suppose.  That's one reason that we have two heaps:  one's active, and the other one is 'aged' and can be drawn upon for planting soil.

    As TealGreen says, avoid meat scraps and the like.  We also avoid citrus peels, as we're advised that they don't break down well.  Corn cobs do, eventually, but take quite a while.  Eggshells are OK, though, once again, slower to break down than most.

    We're pretty satisfied with our little system.  Little fuss or muss, and it turns out beautiful black, rich soil (and lots of earthworms!)

  4. ggenda profile image59
    ggendaposted 13 years ago

    Awesome! Thank you for the tips. My aunt composts, and has inspired me to think about ways to live a greener lifestyle. I have looked around Amazon for composting bins and ways to compost, but there seem to be a lot of options.

    Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

  5. Beth-Woodard profile image68
    Beth-Woodardposted 11 years ago

    Sounds okay what you are doing already, and any waste household leftovers are good to use, for more info on composting, go to



    http://beth-woodard.hubpages.com/hub/Th … composting

 
working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)