In the garden classes that I teach , I apprize meeter that a great veggie garden start in the kitchen : You ’ll best tend to foods you most require to falsify and eat . I could say the same for a great composting set up . You ’ll best tend a hassle - free kitchen - scrap collection system of rules . A miserable arrangement that becomes stinky , foul or clip - consume will be neglected . Then yourcompost binwill go athirst , your garden soil will get lean , and your victual wo n’t be competitive with sess , insubordinate to disease or as nutritious for your family line .
Fortunately , a few rules of thumb will keep your compost pipeline to the garden flowing smoothly .
1. Avoid Plastic
Do n’t use flimsy charge plate container because charge plate has tiny pores that seizure smells . Also , old yogurt container or even fund - grease one’s palms charge card compost containers are only unattractive .
Metal containers on the other hand have smooth surfaces that retard sense , and they do n’t have to be expensive . I ’ve used a untarnished brand ice bucket and a white enameled pot with red trim , both with match lids to keep fruit flies at alcove and purchased used for a vaulting horse or two .
After my wife and I added chickens to our homestead , we keep a freestanding metal container forfood scraps the flock like best : shell shell , cucurbit and bell shape white pepper source , fleck of greens , etc . Anything they wo n’t eat — citrus peels , newspaper towel , coffee grounds , etc.—goes into the enameled kitty on their way to the compost bank identification number .
2. Don’t Put Faith In Charcoal Filters
If you do have a store - bought credit card container , do n’t put your faith in charcoal filters as a remedy for smells ; they overpromise and underdeliver . Companies that sell compost container with replaceable charcoal grey filter are like razor vane companies . The grip come tatty because they make their giving money on the replaceable blades . Truthfully , the charcoal filter do n’t work that well , they do n’t last that long and you’re able to spend your money on expert things . Two good solutions to curb the smell of kitchen scraps are to :
3. Keep Your Containers Clean
Most times , our metal container get clean with just a rinse in the swallow hole . We keep things from sticking inside by putting a composition towel on the bottom . Even when wet , the paper towel and all the scraps separate easy with a pat on the compost bin .
4. Resist Using Biodegradable Bags
We tried using biodegradable bags in our flake containers with subpar results . Yes , they do break down in the compost bin , but it takes about two years . Big remnants will end up in your garden , and they front like unsightly plastic bags . Plus , they did n’t really hold open us any metre in scavenge out the container . Anytime they necessitate more than a rinsing , we drop them into the dishwasher .
5. Site Your Compost Bin Close
Do n’t put your compost ABA transit number at the farthest remove from your kitchen . In spoiled weather condition , your scraps will throng up and become a pain . Instead , find a home where you could reach it handily .
This clause originally appeared in the July / August 2015 egress ofHobby Farms .
