http://www.creatingasimplerlife.com
We compost here every single day. Well, the scraps go on the counter every day, not necessarily out to the bin. But the point is that we compost and we reap the rewards every spring when we use that wonderfully rich, dark, material in our gardens! We currently have an inexpensive four sided recycled plastic compost bin. It came with a removable lid on top and a front sliding door that could be opened to pull out the material. We modified it over the years by removing the top and the front door so it is always open to the elements (and because the were annoying and unnecessary). Now it is much easier to maintain but when we move to our New Future Homestead we will simply build a three sided bin from cement blocks or wood (see pictures below) that will be much easier to access and turn regularly. No matter how big or small a bin you choose or use, the reward of beautifully rich compost is well worth the effort!
Choose a question below to learn more:
What is compost?
Compost is a homemade organic material that can be added to your garden soil to help plants grow. It is a combination of three basic ingredients
Why should you compost?
How can you get started?
What can be composted?
You won't believe this list of things you can compost!
What should not be composted?
Anything that could be harmful if it gets into your food. For example, if your yard waste or grass was treated with herbicides and or pesticides then you do not want them in your compost pile. If you added processed charcoal to your fire, then do not put the ash into the compost, again, due to the harmful chemicals.
It is also said to avoid adding bones and uncooked meat from animals and fish because they attract animals (including flying buggies) and can smell over time. This is definitely good advice for small yards. However, if you have a large property then you can choose to add it anyway, or you can take it out far from your house and leave it out for the animals. I know what you might be thinking (gross), but if you are a hunter then you know this is not a big deal. If it doesn't get eaten (which it will), it will still decompose! Lastly, you should never add any prepared or cooked foods, again, for the same reasons as above. However, some of these leftovers can be saved in the freezer to add to soups and or stews or fed to your own chickens, goats, and or pigs! So basically, be smart! And when in doubt, well, just keep it out! Of the compost pile, that is :-)
You can easily purchase a bin (see some at the bottom of this page),
but DIY is even better if you can! Here are two of my favorites! Note: pictures are links to plans (actual links at the bottom of this page)
A few simple tips to help make composting simpler:
If all goes well, your compost can be usable anywhere from two (2) months to two (2) years. Ours is used once a year when we plant our garden in the spring and it is awesome!
Thanks for visiting!
Please follow us social medial and check out our other ways to Minimize Household Waste and Zero Waste Home! Sincerely,
Sources:
www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home www.birdsandblooms.com/backyard-projects/diy-garden-projects/diy-compost-bin/ www.allanblock.com/courtyard/compost-bin.aspx
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Hi there! I'm Kathie, the author behind Creating A Simpler Life blog. I'm excited to share our longterm projects (and planning) toward building our future retirement homestead in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. In the meantime I will be sharing all the other little things we do that are part of creating our simpler life!
Categories
All
Archives
July 2020
|