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F360K – Back to Garden
Recipe: No Odor Compost Bin
Ingredients
GREENS
Kitchen yield ~20 lbs to 100+ lbs of food scraps or nitrogen per week
•
Any vegetable, fruit, plant (stem, skin, seed)
Any vegetable, fruit, plant (stem, skin, seed)•Any yard scrap still green (fresh cut grass, leaf still green)
Any yard scrap still green (fresh cut grass, leaf still green)•Any nitrogen (coffee grounds, manure)
Any nitrogen (coffee grounds, manure) •DO NOT ADD any meat, dairy, oil, sauces (A dab of butter or oil drizzle on any veggie is OK)
DO NOT ADD any meat, dairy, oil, sauces (A dab of butter or oil drizzle on any veggie is OK)•DO NOT ADD succulents, pine needles, palm fronds
DO NOT ADD succulents, pine needles, palm frondsBROWNS
Equivalent volume of dried/browned yard scraps, used paper/tree based products (BROWNS) for every ADD
•Any starch (rice, dough, pasta), staple (flour, spices), shells, seeds (A dab of butter or oil drizzle on rice, dough, pasta is OK)
Any starch (rice, dough, pasta), staple (flour, spices), shells, seeds (A dab of butter or oil drizzle on rice, dough, pasta is OK)•Any yard scrap dried, yellowed/browned, straw
Any yard scrap dried, yellowed/browned, straw•Compostable plates, napkins, cups, skewers
Compostable plates, napkins, cups, skewers•Egg crates, brown paper, cardboard, SD Union Tribune newspaper (soy ink based)
Egg crates, brown paper, cardboard, SD Union Tribune newspaper (soy ink based)•DO NOT ADD plastic, though you’ll find plenty, rise above plastic
DO NOT ADD plastic, though you’ll find plenty, rise above plastic•DO NOT ADD paper with ink, especially if you plan for gardening
DO NOT ADD paper with ink, especially if you plan for gardeningWATER + AIRFLOW
EFFORT
Household Commitment and Effort for great rewards
Tools
Compost Bin (3 foot space on all sides between bin and fence, wall for air flow + adjacent 6 square foot space to TURN bin to)
Pitch Fork & Shovel
Sifter (to separate organic soil and items that need to stew longer)
Outdoor storage pails/bins w/ lids
Indoor counter top pail w/ lid (optional)
Recipe
ADD ingredients to your bin every – as early as 4 days, typically 7-10 days, up to 2 weeks – for an active bin
1.Remove lid of bin, pile should have visibly reduced in size since last ADD
Remove lid of bin, pile should have visibly reduced in size since last ADD 2.Layer greens on top of pile
Layer greens on top of pile3.Layer browns on top of greens
Layer browns on top of greens4.Spray water on browns until thoroughly damp/wet but without puddles
Spray water on browns until thoroughly damp/wet but without puddles5.Replace lid on bin and leave closed until next ADD or TURN
Replace lid on bin and leave closed until next ADD or TURNTURN pile every – as early as 2 weeks, typically 1 ½ - 2 months, up to 6 months – to mix/aerate, speed up decomposition
1.Use pitch fork to further mix as you TURN pile
Use pitch fork to further mix as you TURN pile2.Visibly see steam as you TURN pile
Visibly see steam as you TURN pile3.ADD every time, HARVEST when ready
ADD every time, HARVEST when readyHARVEST pile every – as early as quarterly, typically semi-annually or never – It’s nature and will enrich earth around it
1.Use Sifter to allow items that need to stew, remain in pile
Use Sifter to allow items that need to stew, remain in pile2.Let organic compost soil rest a day or two before use
Let organic compost soil rest a day or two before use3.Appropriate to use for any plant, tree, yard, organic garden
Appropriate to use for any plant, tree, yard, organic gardenTips
1.The smaller the items you put in, the faster you will organically generate earth
The smaller the items you put in, the faster you will organically generate earth2.Before adding item, consider what is in it versus the reuse plans for the earth you’re making
Before adding item, consider what is in it versus the reuse plans for the earth you’re making3.Creepy crawlers in your bin are part of the decomposition process, let them do the work they do
Creepy crawlers in your bin are part of the decomposition process, let them do the work they do4.No matter how neglected the bin is, it’s nature and still working, just slower, so TURN it and continue
No matter how neglected the bin is, it’s nature and still working, just slower, so TURN it and continue5.Managing your compost bin is unique to your household and season
Managing your compost bin is unique to your household and season 6.Starting New Bin?
Starting New Bin?- Amass enough greens & browns to start your bin at least 3’length x 3’width x 2’ height in 1 day
- Only ADD and TURN for first 6 to 9 months
- Expect first HARVEST based on pace, 6 to 9 months for an active bin
7.Outside Storage Pail/Bins
Outside Storage Pail/Bins- Keep at least ~20 feet away from kitchen door in low-use shaded area
- Keep bins covered to reduce gnats (weigh down lids to prohibit pet/pest intrusion)
- Store food scraps in bins safely until ADD (staging bin greens will get odorous over time)
8.Compost Bins I currently use both Earth Saver & Bio-Stack
Compost Bins I currently use both Earth Saver & Bio-Stack