The Impertinent Composter
Written by biscuit on April 12, 2008 – 3:23 pm -I know, I know. Common sense knowledge tells us that composting is an extremely complicated scientific process requiring years of study and precise measurement of carefully segregated organic materials, and failure to acknowledge the necessary expertise or adhere to proper procedure risks not only death and destruction in your own gardens, but possibly chaos, catastrophe and TEOTWAWKI.
Well, I say bollocks!! Nothing could be easier than composting. All that’s needed is a bucket of some sort to carry the goods outside, an aerated container to dump the goods in, and a shovel (preferably a sharp shooter) or pitchfork to turn the stuff every now and again.
All the rest is icing on the cake.
But if you insist on precise directions, there are many, many excellent sources out there. One of the simplest and best I’ve seen is this one from Ohio State University. It even provides a brief rundown of the most common problems we home composters run into, like a sweet smelling heap that won’t heat up — a problem I’m always having, and one that’s easily remedied by adding nitrogen in the form of manure (which I nab from the pastures around me) or even, if you must, commercial fertilizer.
Almost anything can be turned into a suitable container for your compost. You can even compost in black trashbags or large trashcans. Just be sure to provide some aeration so water and air can flow in and out. I purchased mine several years ago from Gardeners.com and, because I got it before the price of oil went through the moon, I was able to get a very, very nice one for a very reasonable price. It’s a gigantic pyramid composter, and it is a champ. It’s discrete and does it job without any fuss or muss, and the critters (namely, frogs and skinks) use it as a convenient home all through the year.
As for what to compost, a better question might be what shouldn’t you compost. I throw everything in except meat, oils and chicken bones. I even go against conventional wisdom and compost dairy. My plants certainly appreciate the calcium, as do the critters living in there — especially the skinks.
Yes, I know — skinks, don’t need calcium. But dairy products attract mice, and skinks love to feast on mice.
I’ve composted everything from student papers, junk mail, outdated vitamins, even dryer lint, and all of it has decomposed into a wonderful black soil. I just cleaned out the refrigerator for the first time in a month and added a quart of yogurt, tons of broccoli, some roasted but unused eggplant and a dozen eggshells. The next step will be to dump it into the composter and let it brew for a month or so.
I turn the pile occasionally — maybe every two-three months — and the only additive I’m thoroughly committed to is Bokashi, which is, in fact, wonderful stuff. I began using it as a soil additive four or five years ago, then as an aid to composting when I got my composter set up. And I discovered how wonderful it is when I went a season without using it as a consequence of my own existential doubts.
What a difference. Yea, yea, the gardens looked fine, but lacked their usual vibrancy. That was proof enough for me that it’s well worth it to find a source for it and include it as part of my regular composting and gardening routines.
I don’t know — I guess I think composting is a lot like cooking — why make it more complicated than it really is, especially if, like me, you have maybe three minutes extra every day. Besides, composting is a fabulous way to reduce the amounts of stuff we throw into landfills and makes a world of difference in the garden.
Posted in Environment, Farming and Homesteading, Gardening, Urban Gardening |
Great stuff! We have one of those bin like composter, and we get the kiddies to drop the buckets into it, it gives them the idea. Besides it’s good for the apple orchard we planted last year.
It’s easy, isn’t it? I truly compost almost everything, except plastics, meats, doggie doo (!) and similarly toxic stuff.
It drives the lab Tommy nuts, sniffing at it all the time, wondering what goodies are tucked away inside!
Thanks for the timely and pragmatic post. I just registered on Politicook today, part of a seemingly organic progression I’ve been undergoing–first de-cluttering my house, then simplifying my shopping, then de-cluttering my diet, all of which has led to my having no bags in the house, and some difficulty about garbage. I’ve been resisting composting the food stuff, though I have a goodish-sized city lot, and your post here has given me courage to take the step.
Everything else in my life is changing…maybe now I can successfully compost. Thanks for the starter!
Oh oh - decluttering. I know that one well! I’ve been decluttering longer than I’ve been composting and, just like composting, it’s a neverending process. But you will see progress!
Composting is so, so easy and, done properly, has virtually no smell, other than an earthiness. The “done properly” part means, more than anything else, it’s in a container that has holes which give it adequate air and moisture.
I just checked mine and it’s full of creepy crawlies busy finishing things off. I’ll have enough in a few days to refill most of my garden beds - then I’ll start it all over again!
Oh, and welcome, Anne! Maybe decluttering should be on our agenda of posts …
I’ve bookmarked your post for reference. I’m going to begin my composting adventure tomorrow!
I left you a link in The Lounge, but wanted to make sure you saw it, so I’m reposting here - be sure to check out http://www.homesteadingtoday.com - I found them back in 2002 and read them religiously (which is quite the pun, given … er, you’ll figure it ut
) for months.
If you’re interested in composting, small or large scale farming, raising goats (or sheep) (or llamas), going off-grid, building a sawdust toilet — *whatever* - it’s there.
Even better, they have archives on this stuff going back into the 1990s.
I’m going to check out Monkeyfister’s friend website today.
I am, too. If they’re not reading Homesteading Today, or one of the spin-off/affiliated sites, they need to be.
farmerchuck is the only other dKossian I know who reads it and finds it valuable … except I seem to recall Kate does, too. Backwoods Today and a few others are also rocking - survivalist, but rockin’!
Welcome Anne. Deconstruction and de-cluttering is an important part of modern life, though most people don’t seem to know or understand. They will though, when the water will be scarce and the food costs improbably high. We’ll have a headstart!
Thanks, AAF. This is a great new resource!
Where I live (in Portland, Oregon) the de-cluttering and re-nourishing trends seem to be spreading virally, and very fast. Conversations about all aspects of simplifying, drawing-in, paring-down, and re-feeding ourselves body and soul are never far to seek.
All of it, including composting, has an almost subversive, revolutionary feel that gives me more hope than I’ve had in a long time.
Who would have thought composting subversive! We’ve come a long way.
I heard quite a bit about Portland, Oregon, but never had the chance to visit it when I lived in California. So many places so little time….
This is an EXCELLENT post. Composting is quite simply one of the most important things that any person can do to improve their soil, and our world!
What a fine Primer, biscuit. Up above, inspired by you, I posted a piece on how to get compostables to come to you!
Thursday was a great evening for me– I made a new friend, and got a huge jump start on my compost pile!
–mf
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