Comments on: kim b.’s earthday pledge: the joys of composting

By: Yuzuha

Yuzuha — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:54:45 +0000

Martha Stewart two months ago (March issue) had a very nice section about composting and troubleshooting it. Fruit flies means you are not burying the fruit deep enough under the leaves. I think she recommended 2-3 inches.

By: Mary T

Mary T — Tue, 22 May 2007 20:07:49 +0000

I love composting and especially love the aggressive composting in Seattle. We actually live just outside the jurisdiction in King County so our composting may be slightly different, but they even accept pizza boxes. I just like having as little waste as possible. If you do garden, I once did an experiment where I worked compost into the soil around my tomato plants. They did MUCH better than the others.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 22 May 2007 18:08:03 +0000

I started a compost bin in the yard just a month or so ago; so far, it contains yard trimmings from cleaning one of the gardens out and plenty of kitchen refuse. I have a small plastic bowl next to the sink that I fill with coffee grinds, potato and banana peels, whatever, and I toss it in the bin every couple of days. I’m just using a plastic trash bin with lock-on lid, full of holes, for my bin.

By: Terriann

Terriann — Mon, 21 May 2007 21:31:32 +0000

There is no way in hell I could live with a worm composter in my kitchen. Or a slop bucket inside. Ga-ross!

By: alison

alison — Fri, 18 May 2007 23:24:43 +0000

The worms for a food composting bin are not the same worms that are in your yard. I started a worm bin last year, (same style as nita) and it lived happily under the kitchen sink all winter. See if you can get a starter of worms from someone, they are called red wrigglers.

By: kris

kris — Fri, 18 May 2007 17:16:44 +0000

We have green bin service in Seattle that we use for our food waste. It’s great for people who live in apartments, condos and townhouses! Right now, I keep scraps in a plastic bowl until it gets full or stinky before taking it out to the bin. I’m expecting this to arrive any day now: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/pail.html

By: nita

nita — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:29:46 +0000

I have a worm bin in my kitchen. It’s two rubbermaid containers nested together, with drainage and airholes in the top one. I got the worms by mail from a farm in missouri. I add vegetable scraps–usually trimming from food prep–a few times a week. I’ve had it going for a couple of months, and my worms are alive and making steady progress. I’m guessing the castings will be ready to sort out within a month.

By: kickpleat

kickpleat — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:25:05 +0000

for the past few years i’ve been saving my kitchen waste into a compost bucket and taking it to the community gardens compost heap. now, i’ve decided to build a worm composter following the guide in Martha’s March issue of MS Living. My friend has some red wigglers ready to donate and I can’t wait to get started!