Lazy Composting

I'm always on the hunt for easy ways to help the environment. A few years ago we got notice in the mail we could participate in composting for free but we'd have to drop it off Wednesday night or Saturday morning. I had two littles at the time and knew that would never happen. However it sparked my interest. After doing some research and learning at home composting is one of the best things you can do to reduce waste and minimize methane gas from the landfill I got started on my own!

I am by no means a pro but I've learned some things I'd love to share. This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the link at no cost to you.

The first thing you need is a space for composting. You can do it for free/little to no cost or invest in a barrel like this one. I had a barrel that I drilled holes in for drainage and aeration or you can use chicken wire to create an area.

Now the fun part! I use a glass bowl to set aside any fruit/vegetable scraps. I keep it in the fridge until it's full. Alternatively, you can purchase a fancy bucket like this one. You can add any moldy produce you didn't get to right away. Used coffee grounds are a great addition. I don't include the filter every time and I only put in plain black coffee grounds. You need to balance out these items considered 'green' with some 'brown' such as dead leaves/plants, small sticks, paper, newspaper, even cardboard boxes and my favorite: toilet paper rolls! In our area these can't be recycled so it feels like another small victory every time I put one in. We always throw our pumpkins and grass clippings in there too. 

It helps to cut or shred things up a bit. Being a lazy composter means your balance isn't always perfect but honestly I've found it will all eventually break down, it just might take longer. We like to hunt for worms after a rain storm and stick them in our bin.

I have my special compost rake that I use to mix things around. I feel like a witch and secretly love doing this even though the neighbors probably think I'm a crazy lunatic. It has less prongs than a normal rake so material doesn't get stuck in it and it's adjustable which helps when I want to churn way down at the bottom of the barrel. It's important to turn your compost pile as it increases oxygen flow and helps to speed up decomposition. 

A few other things to know... I water ours sometimes in the summer. Egg shells can go in but they need to be washed well so I gave up on that for now.  Any citrus peels like lemon, oranges and lime can go in but only in moderation. Things you shouldn't add to the compost? Meat, bones, anything that will attract animals or breed maggots (not my idea of fun!). Potatoes, I'm sure some people put them in but I've read they spread disease more easily so I avoid. Also, some packaging says compostable. I haven't personally tried it but I read that these take a longgg time to break down in a regular compost and are meant for composting facilities. Don't let me stop you from trying though, you never know, and you can always take it out if it isn't breaking down.

If you live in the Midwest like me, or anywhere that goes below freezing, there is a period of time where your compost will stop decomposing. I don't add anything or much at all during this time. Once we have a few days above freezing I start back up again. I have used a little soil from the bottom in our garden but have never emptied our barrel because you need to stop adding for several months for it to fully break down and I am not that patient. It rarely smells, I've noticed it a time or two and all it needs is a good mix up and it should go away. I once tried to make compost tea and all I got was mosquitos so you'll have to find a different blog if you want more info on that😆

I get a weird joy from composting. It's a fun, free, no pressure hobby and the benefits to the environment are worth it. Watching watermelon peels (these are the best to compost and save so much space in the garbage), apple cores, old grapes we forgot and a pile of leaves along with that Amazon box ripped apart disappear into actual soil is pretty cool for me and the kids. If you're on the fence about starting a compost just do it and see where it takes you. Leave any questions or comments. I'd love to hear from you!