How to Compost Kitchen Scraps The Easiest Way

Here's a straightforward, simple way to compost kitchen scraps that costs next to nothing and won't create a big ugly pile that has your neighbors complaining. It's not even a pile, and it does not have to get "hot." It does not attract flies if done correctly. It does not smell. It makes fabulous compost.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An area of bare dirt about 2'x2' or 3'x3'
• Garden shovel
• Garden rake (optional)
• Kitchen scraps
• Covered container (for the scraps)
• Small plastic garden trowel or sandbox shovel

1. Choose an area for your "bin." You just need a flat area of ground that's not covered with grass. A shady area is nice because it's protected from the drying sun and it's easier to hide from the neighbors.

2. Using the shovel, cultivate the area as deeply as is practical, two to six inches. Remove any big sticks or rocks.

3. Start collecting kitchen scraps: anything from a plant, such as banana peelings, apple cores, leftover broccoli, stale bread. You can also compost coffee grounds, including the filter paper, and egg shells. Do not collect anything with meat or milk. Do not include hard items like peach pits because they decompose too slowly.

4. Keep your composting materials in a covered container in a convenient place in your kitchen. It will keep for a few days. (Though it's okay if it rots a little, but don't leave it too long or it will become gross and you'll cultivate fruit flies.)

5. When you have some kitchen scraps collected, go out to your prepared compost area. Mentally divide the area into four sections, and dig a small hole in one section with your plastic garden trowel.

6. Dump your collected scraps into the hole and cover it with dirt from the section to the left of this hole. Stick your plastic shovel into the top of this fresh material, to mark your place.

7. Keep collecting scraps. Make each new hole in the next section, working clockwise around your compost area. Put new scraps into a new hole and cover the scraps completely with dirt from the next hole. Mark your place with the plastic trowel. When you get back to your first, already-filled hole, stir the old scraps thoroughly into the dirt, dig, and add your new scraps.

8. Occasionally go back and mix up your old holes to allow air to enter the mixture. You can do this at any time, especially after a big rain, which tends to compact the materials.
   
   If the area becomes dry, water it lightly to keep it damp.

9. Soon, you will see the old kitchen scraps disappearing. Worms will start to grow. In a few months the scraps will be gone or almost gone and the dirt will be transformed into crumbly, delicious new soil. At this point you can scoop out the finished compost and use it to top-dress your garden plants, vegetable garden, or in potted plants. You can also put it on your lawn for a nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer.

10. After you remove completed compost, you can add more plain dirt from another area of your yard, or just keep adding to the existing bin. Always leave some of the active compost in the bin to mix with the new dirt because it contains lots of healthy microbes that eat up the scraps quickly and efficiently.

Tips & Warnings

• When you feel like it, pick out any sticks or large items that fall into the bin.
• Keep all the kitchen scraps completely covered with dirt to keep out fruit flies and other flying bugs. Crawling bugs and worms are okay.
• If animals are attacking and taking your materials (this has not happened to me, but it could), cover the area with chicken wire.
• This bin attracts lots of big worms. It's a great place to grow worms for fishing.

[soanyway]

on 10/25/2009 I like that "easier to hide from the neighbors" LOL