Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Can’t Keep Up? 3 Ways to Simplify Composting


Sometimes life can be a little overwhelming. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves but composting does not need to add to your stress. Here are three tips to simplify composting and one big secret that will put your mind at ease.

  1. Keep a collector in your kitchen. This will make composting as easy as throwing food scraps in the trash. Sure, you’ll have the “chore” of taking out the compost but I see this as a little break. A chance to stroll through my backyard while still being “productive.” 
  2. Turn the pile less frequently. Yes, you read that correctly. Once a month, every other month, or even less and you will still have a great compost pile. Just accept the fact that your finished compost will come more slowly. AND THAT IS OKAY. Really.
  3. Harvest once per year. If you’re turning the pile infrequently, it will compost more slowly which means that you will only need to harvest once per year. Harvesting less often also means you get more finished compost at once, which is of course, very satisfying.
You cannot oversimplify composting. You want to know why? Here’s the big secret:

Your pile will compost without you.

Maybe a little slower (okay, a lot slower), but don’t you have enough to worry about? That’s the beauty of composting, you can do it at your own pace. You can compost quickly with a little more work or you can sit back and let nature take its course.

How do you simplify composting?




9 comments:

  1. I remind myself that I'm saving a lot of time and money by having less garbage bags and recycling bins to take out because so much goes in my kitchen pail. A compost bin is the best Housekeeper and a lazy lady's best friend!

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    1. "A lazy lady's best friend" - I love that! Maybe that's why I'm so fond of mine!!!

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  2. Michelle, I love all your compost articles, but this is by far my favorite!! Every year in the spring, I dig out the bottom of my pile where all the great compost is while the top of the pile collapses down into the empty space and then I spend the next 12 months throwing stuff on top of the pile waiting for next spring. I do have to have 2 piles because the composting is slow and I have lots of kitchen scraps, but it works great!

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    1. Hey, nothing wrong with having two piles if its working for you. I say, the easier, the better!

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  3. Just found your blog -.great material for me since I've just started composting again. Thank you!

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  4. How would one can implement inside collection like containers, plastic bags in going the way of restaurant composting grand rapids mi?

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    1. There are many compostable bags on the market, just check with the compost facility to make sure the bags are approved. You can also not use the bags and rinse the container out after each use. Lining the bottom with old newspapers would make this method easier.

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  5. Hi michelle
    I was just curious I've read that if a compost pile goes anerobic it can be toxic to your plants. Is this true?

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    1. No, compost made from an anaerobic pile is fine it just takes longer to make than aerobic compost. It can also produce smells.

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