So you want to start composting from home but you don't know where to start, well look no further! Before jumping right into how to compost at home, I should introduce the basics of composting first. When filling your compost bin it's important to have proportional parts of carbon, nitrogen, and air. It's especially important to have a ratio of 3:1, or 3 parts of carbon for each part of nitrogen. Giving your compost bin air is straight forward, you just turn the compost mixture around a couple times a week. Now you may be wondering what is considered carbon and what is considered nitrogen, it's easy once you know the explanation. Carbon can be things like cardboard, black & white newspaper, saw dust, dry leaves, or even straw, while nitrogen can be found in your food scraps and fresh yard waste (ex. grass clippings). If you want more information on compost ratios, check out this resource from Cornell University here. Another thing to keep in mind when adding these components into your bin, is the moisture levels and the temperature. When feeling your compost, it should not be soaking wet nor should it too dry, it should feel similar to a damp sponge. If your compost is too wet, add more things with carbon to make it more dry; if you have compost that is too dry add water in small increments until it feels more moisturized. For the temperature of your compost, make sure to not leave it outside on freezing nights, as low temperature can mess with your compost. You don't have to worry about the temperature too much if you have indoor composting bins, as they would be sitting in a room temperature environment. Now that the basics have been covered, I can explain the different ways to compost from the comfort of your own home. The first thing you want to do before you start composting at home is researching which type of compost bin will work best based on your living situation. Worm bins are probably the most accessible for people for several reasons, the first being the cost. If you want to make a worm bin, you won't have to spend more than 30 dollars as it only requires two bins to make (for full instructions on how to make a worm bin click here) as well as other items like organic material, a tool to make holes in the bins, and worms of course. Using a worm bin to compost can also be more convenient to those living in small houses or apartments, as they are odor-free and don't take up much space; however, you must feed the worms once a week using food scraps.
Another form of composting at home can be done on the spot, which is easier for people living in houses with yards or gardens. This is the simplest form of composting, all you need is a brown paper bag to store your compostable food scraps in. Once this bag is full, simply dig a hole in the ground and bury the bag there. If you are currently living near HSU, CCAT will take your compost bag, just make sure to follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask! The last way you can compost from home is by using compost tumblers, however these cannot be stored inside your home mainly because of its size and would best fit on a medium to large balcony. Compost tumblers also have handles installed so turning the compost is made easier. Compost tumblers can be completely closed, so you wouldn't have to worry about pest possibly breaking into your compost. One thing to note about compost tumblers is the price, as the prices ranges from $60 to $100+.
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AuthorThe blog is provided by students right here in Cal Poly Humboldt. The team of students in charge of the blog are Max Cunningham, Kristina Fiebig, and Daniel Chaidez. Archives
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