Reducing Food Waste Wednesday - Composting

Three bin system Link

This is post 2 in our series on reducing food waste. If you can't reuse its time to recycle. Composting is a great way to make sure your food goes back to its original form. Putting scraps in a heavy duty plasstic trash bag and then tossing it into the landfill doesn't guarantee that it will biodigrate. The plastic bag has to biograte before the contents in side it can reach the soil. 

 

We've been composting for several years now. At first the thought of self-disposal was a little overwhelming. But after diving in head first we quickly found out its really not that hard at all. In fact just the opposite.

 

You of course need a few basic supplies to get started. A composting bin can be made out of anything that can breath a little and contain your food scraps. Here are some examples of DIY compost bins and some of our best tips!!

Garbage can compost bin Link

Spinning Composter - Link

Compost bin from pallets - Link

 We're no expert but here are a few tips we've learned over the years.

• Try not to have the bin too close the the house. Bugs and small animals will be attracted to it.
• If possible have a 2-3 bin system.  This way you can move the compost to different stages.
• Know what you can and can't compost. You'd be surprised the things you can throw in your compost. 99 Things You Probably Didn't Know You Can Compost
  
  

  

  I love this Countertop Compost Crock!

• Have a counter-top bin. We have a small container with a lid that we can throw scraps into as we're prepping meals. Ever other day or so we take it out to the big bin and toss it in there.
• If you want organic compost don't add in grass clippings from a yard treated with chemicals or pesticides - weed and feed, etc.
• Start small.

Below are some really great links to more information on composting. Give it a try, what have you got to loose

Making Compost - Black Gold for Your Organic Garden
Composting 101
Composting Indoors or Out