Compost Bin "No Odor" Recipe
Must HAVE Yard
THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ADD … REMEMBER WHAT GOES IN, WILL BE IN WHAT COMES OUT
GREENS (nitrogen items)
•Any vegetable, fruit, plant (stem, skin, seed)
•Any yard scrap still green (fresh cut grass, fresh/still green leaf)
•Any nitrogen (used coffee grounds, chicken poop, manure)
•DO NOT ADD any meat, dairy, oil, sauces (A dab of butter/oil drizzle on any veggie is OK, rinsed with water is better)
•DO NOT ADD succulents, pine needles, palm fronds
•DO NOT ADD pet waste (ie, dog, cat)
BROWNS (carbon)
•Any starch (rice, dough, pasta), staple (flour, spices), shells, seeds
*** Dab of butter or oil drizzled rice, dough, pasta is OK, rinsed with water is better
•Any yard scrap dried, yellowed or browned, straw
•Compostable plates, napkins, cups, skewers (preferably shredded, minimized)
•Newspaper (preferably print that is soy ink based like San Diego Union Tribune)
•Egg crates, brown paper, cardboard (torn up, shredded, minimized)
•DO NOT ADD plastic (though you’ll find plenty ties, clips & random tidbits)
•DO NOT ADD paper with pen ink (especially if you plan to use compost for edible gardening)
STARTING NEW COMPOST BIN?
•Amass enough Greens & Browns to start bin, enough to fill 3 feet length x 3 feet wide x 2 feet high space
•Only ADD and TURN for first 6 to 9 months
•Expect your first HARVEST based on regular ADD and TURN in 6 to 9 months
•Thereafter, HARVEST up to once a quarter or time it with each planting season
TOOLS
• Compost Bin
*** 3 foot space on all sides between bin + adjacent 6 square foot space to TURN bin regularly
•Pitch Fork, Shovel, or Tractor with scoop for windrow
***Metal Corkscrew for aerating compost bin pile is an option
•Sifter (to separate organic soil and items that need more stewing & returned to bin)
*** DIY: Nail together 2x6's into rectangle, attach ¼’’ hardware cloth (chicken wire) to bottom
•Outdoor storage pails/bins w/ sealable lids
•Indoor counter top pail w/ lid or bowl/bag for diverting daily food scrap
HOW TO___________________________________________________DIRECTIONS
ADD
•ADD as early as every 4 days, typical is 7-10 days, BUT at least once a month
•When puffs of smoke emit from your pile when you TURN or HARVEST, that is good
1.When opening lid, pile should have visibly reduced in size since last ADD
2.Layer greens on top of existing pile then layer browns on top of greens, mix some
3.Spray or pour water on browns until thoroughly damp/wet but without puddles
4.Allow airflow (keep enough distance from side slots of bin and the wall or fence)
5.Replace lid on bin and leave closed until next ADD or TURN
TURN
•Mix/aerate bin that assists in speeding up the natural decomposition process
•TURN as early as every 2 weeks, typically each quarter, BUT at least once in 6 months
1.Use pitch fork to TURN pile from one 3x3 space to another 3x3 space beside it
2.Making top of original pile the bottom of the new pile and sides to middle
3.ADD every time you TURN or HARVEST
HARVEST
•Collect organic earth – as early as quarterly, typically twice a year… seasonally
1.Use sifter to collect ripe compost (aka organic earth) and keep large items in pile to stew
2.Let organic compost soil rest a day or two before use
3.Use for any organic garden, plant, tree, yard or indoor potted plants
TIPS
1.The smaller the items you put in, the faster you will organically generate earth
2.ADD more browns than greens if pile is too wet or smelling acidic
3.Creepy crawlers (bugs) in your bin are part of the decomposition process, let them work
4.No matter how neglected the bin is, it’s nature and still working, just slower, so TURN it and get back to it
5.Managing your compost bin is unique to your household + season, you will learn it
6.Outside Storage Pail/Bins
*** Keep at least ~20 feet away from kitchen door in low-use shaded area
*** Keep bins covered
*** Store food scraps in bins safely until ADD (storing greens will get odorous the longer it is stored)
ESTIMATED TIME
20 minutes to ADD & Clean Up
45 minutes to HARVEST, ADD & Clean Up
THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ADD … REMEMBER WHAT GOES IN, WILL BE IN WHAT COMES OUT