Compost Kitchen Container

Compost 101

Compost is basically just organic materials that have been broken down, or decayed, into a form that is usable to plants. Compost provides vital nutrients to plants as well as containing important microorganisms that keep the soil alive and healthy.

Making compost is simple, but it does take a bit of time. Patience definitely pays off however, with healthy plants that thrive without the need for chemical fertilizers. In order to make compost, you need a few basic things:

• Organic material in the form of kitchen scraps
• Air for the bacteria to break down the scraps
• Water to aid in breaking down scraps
• Compost kitchen container and possibly an outdoor composter, depending on your needs

Compost in general needs green and brown organic material in order to break down properly. Nitrogen is an important nutrient for plants, and it is created when green materials are broken down in compost. Brown materials provide carbon.

Green and brown materials should ideally be combined at a 3:1 ratio, but this really doesn’t need to be exact. For example, in your compost kitchen container you will have fruit peels from breakfast, salad trimmings from lunch and maybe some broccoli stems and potato peels from dinner. This is all green material.

You could throw in some pine needles for the brown material if you like, or wait and add some dry leaves once it is taken outside. There is likely already moisture from the scraps and you provide air when you add to your compost container or when you empty the container into a composter outside. Once outside, your compost should be turned occasionally to further aerate the pile.

Using a Compost Kitchen Container

Some people shy away from using a compost container in the kitchen. They think it will be smelly and dirty and the process sounds like a messy hassle. Really, it isn’t at all if you do it right. Using a compost kitchen container is very easy and becomes second nature after a very short time.

Odor is easily eliminated by simply emptying your container into the compost pile each day and washing it with soapy water. Using a container with a tight fitting lid will also prevent odor and keep fruit flys at a minimum.

Fill your compost container with any sort of organic kitchen scraps, but do not put meat, bones, fats or dairy products into it. These types of material need special composting or they will cause odors as well as attract animals to your outdoor composter. Here are a few examples of things to put in your kitchen composter:

• Coffee grounds (even the paper filter)
• Egg shells
• Fruit and vegetable peels
• Tea bags
• Seeds from fruits and vegetables

Types of Kitchen Composters

You can easily use any container you have to collect kitchen scraps for composting. An empty butter dish or ice cream bucket with a lid works perfectly. If you want something a little more decorative for your kitchen counter, there are many options as well.

• A company called Improvements sells a very attractive compost crock in two sizes: ten and one half inch tall ceramic or 11 inch tall stainless steel. Each comes with a filtered lid to eliminate odors. The downside is that these are a bit heavy and can therefore be difficult to empty into your main compost bin.

• Arbico Organics has a unique compost container that is great for those who don’t have an outdoor compost bin. To use, you must layer kitchen scraps with their compost starter. Microorganisms in the starter will break down food waste into useable compost in just a few weeks.

• Busch Systems provides the best option for those who want to compost their kitchen waste. The KC Kitchen Compost Carrier is perfect for collecting organic kitchen waste easily with its wide mouth and easy one-hand snap on lid. It also has a filter lid, a bracket for hanging on a wall or inside a cabinet and it is dishwasher safe.

Vermicomposting

Another great way to compost your kitchen waste is through vermicomposting. This requires a larger container that is filled with a mixture of peat moss and compost, and red worms.

The mixture of worm bedding needs to be kept moist so the worms can stay healthy. Other than that, the only work is to add your kitchen waste each day. The worms do the rest. A pound of worms can eat their weight in kitchen scraps each day. You can help them by chopping your kitchen waste into smaller pieces

In about six weeks you can remove the castings (also known as worm poop) and replace some of the bedding. Even if you live in an apartment, your houseplants will love to be potted in this nutrient rich material. You will notice an amazing difference.

Busch Systems markets a perfect vermicomposing container in two sizes. It includes a snap on lid and vents to keep your worms safe and happy.

Less Waste

Once you start composting your kitchen scraps you will see how easy it is to reduce waste and add organic fertilizer to your plants for free. Why throw it all away? Your plants--indoors and out—will thank you for it.

You can read more about indoor organic gardening by reading the interview Indoor Gardening the Organic Way on LoveToKnow Organic.