I recently happened upon this jewel and became so excited with the ideas it sparked, I couldn’t wait to share it. It’s a segment entitled “How to Compost in an Apartment” from a show called Chai with Lakshmi. What an inspiration!
I’m stunned I’ve never thought of or run into the concept of container composting! I’ve let my “live garbage” container stay on the counter long enough that I should have gotten the idea with what I eventually tossed in the bin, but alas, I did not.
As a big proponent of composting, I do enjoy my counter compost container. But my compost bin is out in my back yard, which is a bit of a hike in bad weather. When I’m in a hurry, it’s likely not going to happen. Lakshmi and her guest, Vani Madam, demonstrate something I or anyone can manage and need never go far from the front door.
I don’t have the beautiful terra cotta pot system they have in the video, but I can find a few containers to use. Line your container with a few sheets of newspaper to absorb moisture and begin to add your kitchen scraps. Fresh waste gives nitrogen, the dry leaves add carbon and take care of smells, and moisture keeps things going.
Turn and add until the pot is full. Then start another one and let the first container do its thing! When the second one is full, start a third. When that one is full, return to the first and add more—the organic material will have broken down, offering more room for scraps.
Although moisture is needed, cover from lots of rain with a lid or sheet of plastic. You’ll have your own nutrient-rich dirt in 30 to 40 days.
Great Tips from the Video:
- Crush the eggshells to speed break down.
- Add a bit of bio-culture in the form of dung, buttermilk, or already composting material to give the micro-organisms a good start.
- Cover with dry leaves to eliminate odor.
I’ve used my big plastic cat-litter containers as buckets, soil containers, recycling receptacles, and tool bins. I was just about to run out of ideas, but here’s another.
Happy composting, all. And thanks Lakshmi and Vani!