I am currently working on an ‘experiment’ in what I’d like to call micro-composting. Basically, I’m attempting to create a really tiny compost container for my kitchen that doesn’t stink and doesn’t use worms. I have no idea if this will work. It probably won’t, but the compulsion to do it anyway is strong.
First I took a cardboard box. Being heavy internet shoppers, there is always a plethora of various boxes waiting to go to recycling in the apartment. This one is truly tiny, probably just over half a cubic foot in volume. This is the container for my compost. I hope to be able to seal it up and, instead of turning the compost, I want to shake the box vigorously. Obviously, the box can’t be full as the contents will need room to move around.
Next I took stuff from my paper shredder. While I know office paper is supposedly terrible for composting, it is what I had. Besides, because I shred junk mail with stickers and little plastic labels included, my shredded paper is not suitable for recycling. The only thing to lose is garbage.
This layer was topped by a layer of soil. Ideally, you should use organic soil with manure mixed in. The only manure we have around here is human and that isn’t exactly hygienic to use, so I skipped adding manure.
Then it was time for the food bits, mostly cut up pieces of dried or rotting greens from my fridge, plus a few pieces of orange peel and what I thinned from my two potted plants. It was thinning the plants that started the experiment idea.
Next another layer of soil, and another layer of shredded paper. I sprinkled a touch of water on the mix and set the box on my windowsill.
Cross your fingers, everyone! I will update this post later as the compost situation develops.
REFERENCES:
http://www.urbanorganicgardener.com/2009/04/making-a-small-indoor-composting-bin/
http://www.itsecotime.com/composting
http://www.naturemill.com/
http://kitchencomposter.org/
