Composting your own home can be a convenient way to dispose of kitchen waste in a sustainable way. In addition, this also enables environmentally friendly and free production of organic fertilizer for garden soil or house plants. Accordingly, you reduce the environmental impact and obtain valuable nutrients for your home or garden plants. Although this may seem challenging at first, there are some simple steps you can follow to make your own compost. Below is a guide that can help you accomplish this DIY project.
Before you consider composting in the home
Many city dwellers are hesitant to start composting because they are concerned about the repercussions of putting food scraps in a container and letting them decompose for several months. Logically, the question also arises as to whether composting between four walls will actually attract vermin. Also, you may be wondering if the...resulting odors in your living spaceswill overwhelm.
The truth is that with proper setup, it is entirely possible to compost in an apartment. You don't have to sacrifice too much space, cause an insect invasion or expose yourself and your guests to unpleasant smells. However, to be successful, you should first understand what compost is, what you can compost in an apartment, and how to create your own compost bins that are suitable for indoor use.
Which waste you can compost at home
As mentioned above, home composting is a great way to turn leftover food and some household waste into black gold. This can be a useful addition to your outdoor garden or indoor houseplants. However, again, it is important to know which waste is compostable to avoid odors, mold, and waste failure. Here are some of the most common materials that work for this:
Vegetable scraps, human hair, nail clippings, coffee grounds and paper coffee filters, vegetable and fruit peels, stale bread, grass clippings, fresh or dried leaves, shredded newspaper, corn cobs, torn cardboard boxes, cooked pasta or rice, and eggshells.
You've probably noticed that meat, bones, dairy, and fats are missing from the list of compostable items. It is generally not recommended to add this food waste to a composter.
The use of animal products in such a composting facility can cause bad odors and attract insects and rodents. However, there are new methods for composting in the home with suchComposters, like the Bokashi bucket.
Use suitable containers as composters
There are a number of options including using a worm bin, bokashi bucket or electronic composter. However, many people will find that a simple plastic bin compost bin is the easiest and cheapest way to get started.
In addition, home composting does not require a special plastic container. However, this should have a lid. For the method described in this article, you will also need two containers of the same size. Choose the size of the containers based on the space you have available. Also remember that you should store such a composting system in a dark area at room temperature. A popular place for this is the area under a sink, but a linen or utility closet could work just as well.
This is how composting works in the apartment
After you have decided to have a composter in your home, you will need some materials and tools to make the whole thing. This includes a drill, two plastic buckets or containers with tight-fitting lids, sawdust and potting soil. Follow the steps described below to realize the project.
Step-by-step instructions
- First, drill several holes around the top of one of the plastic containers on each side. The exact size of the hole is not important, but each hole should be about 1 to 3 inches apart. These holes allow airflow, which is essential to the decomposition process.
- Next, drill holes on the bottom of the container as well. The number of holes depends on its size, but aim for an even distribution across the entire floor. These holes allow liquid to drain into the second plastic container. Also known as compost tea, you can discard the liquid or use it to fertilize plants.
- Then fill the container with soil.
- First, place the plastic container with holes in the second plastic container.
- Fill the top container with a few inches of soil, then add dry, absorbent material such as shredded newspaper or sawdust.
- Add soil to the plastic container for composting and top with absorbent material.
Your composter is now ready for use. Place organic waste in the top bin of your composter. Be sure to add newspaper or sawdust to absorb excess moisture and prevent mold or odors. After adding material, cover your composter with the lid. Regularly clean newspaper strips that you have placed on food scraps in the compost bin. Empty and clean the second liquid container to prevent mold or odors.
The composter needs at least a few months to completely break down the waste. Depending on the amount of waste you have added to the composter, you may need to have a second set of containers ready to hold compostable waste while the waste in the first set is still being processed.
What you can use your compost for
Compost is very useful as a soil amendment for your garden or for potted plants. Studies show this can improve drainage, promote beneficial bacteria and attract earthworms. Once your compost is ready, you can add it directly to your garden soil or store it in a container and add it to your houseplants as needed. In addition, the liquid created during composting in the home is full of nutrients. Many people use these to fertilize houseplants or garden plants.
