So far the process is going fine but there have been a few things that I have learned:
- Composting is going to take a lot longer than I had originally thought it would.
- A filled composter is VERY heavy and takes a lot of work to roll and rotate
- This composter holds A LOT of material
- I am surprised at just how much composting material we had
Between composting, recycling, and upcycling, my family of 4 has been consistently generating only 1 kitchen size bag of garbage a week. Not too shabby.
I had mentioned that I thought my kids would have fun rolling this around the yard….NOT! I can't beleive how heavy this thing is. I rolled it up and down the yard a couple of times and I definitley counted that as my daily work out!
I have also been reading and learning about composting;
EPA has a very informative site:
What to Compost - The IN List
- Animal manure
- Cardboard rolls
- Clean paper
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Cotton rags
- Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
- Eggshells
- Fireplace ashes
- Fruits and vegetables
- Grass clippings
- Hair and fur
- Hay and straw
- Houseplants
- Leaves
- Nut shells
- Sawdust
- Shredded newspaper
- Tea bags
- Wood chips
- Wool rags
- Yard trimmings
What Not to Compost - The OUT List
Leave Out/Reason Why
- Black walnut tree leaves or twigs: Releases substances that might be harmful to plants
- Coal or charcoal ash: Might contain substances harmful to plants
- Dairy products (e.g., butter, egg yolks, milk, sour cream, yogurt): Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
- Diseased or insect-ridden plants: Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants
- Fats, grease, lard, or oils: Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
- Meat or fish bones and scraps: Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
- Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter): Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans
- Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides: Might kill beneficial composting organisms
Treehugger.com also has some great articles, helpful tips, and suggestions for how to make bins.
Hopefully the next pictures I post will be of our compost dirt!
2 comments:
Hi, I'm moving now and will lose my beloved compost hole that I have here on my property. I'm looking at options for what to do since I'll be living in Antigua, which is a city. This definitely looks like something that might work once I get there!
I will tell you that it takes a long time to assemble but so far I love it! You may also look into one of the under the sink worm composters.
Good Luck with your move!
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