Bokashi System
An urban compost making system is not only for people who have limitied space, it can also be used to extend your compost making system into the colder months. A well thought out system will allow you to continue to compost your kitchen refuse well into the Winter season, and beyond, depending on how much space you have.
There are a variety of compost containers you can keep in your kitchen to begin the collection of your daily refuse.
Many people are switching to the bokashi system of kitchen composting because it's faster and odor free. This system was developed by Professor Terou Higa from the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa in 1982. Using two alternating air tight buckets, you layer your refuse with microorganisms that are inoculated into a medium, such as wheat bran. The microorganisms actually pickle your kitchen refuse, by fermentation, instead of decomposing it. When the first bucket is full, you set it aside for 10 days to two weeks and begin using the second bucket.
When the two weeks has passed, the materials in the bucket should be "pickled." At this point, if you are in an urban setting with limited space, or if it is Winter outdoors and your compost making system is shut down for the season, you can put the pickled matter into a back yard compost tumbler. I will explain more about them in a minute.
There are a variety of compost containers you can keep in your kitchen to begin the collection of your daily refuse.
Many people are switching to the bokashi system of kitchen composting because it's faster and odor free. This system was developed by Professor Terou Higa from the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa in 1982. Using two alternating air tight buckets, you layer your refuse with microorganisms that are inoculated into a medium, such as wheat bran. The microorganisms actually pickle your kitchen refuse, by fermentation, instead of decomposing it. When the first bucket is full, you set it aside for 10 days to two weeks and begin using the second bucket.
When the two weeks has passed, the materials in the bucket should be "pickled." At this point, if you are in an urban setting with limited space, or if it is Winter outdoors and your compost making system is shut down for the season, you can put the pickled matter into a back yard compost tumbler. I will explain more about them in a minute.
Compost Crock
Another kitchen container that many people use is a kitchen crock. The most popular ones come in red or white ceramic and actually resemble a cookie jar sitting on your counter. One very attractive compost crock is sculpted to look like lettuce. There are also compost crocks hand-painted with different themes to match your kitchen decor, such as farm scenes or Tuscany themes with an Italian look. The main thing to make sure of is that the container is air-tight and comes with a filtering system for odor control.
Different Styles of Compost Crocks
Compost Pail
The third choice is a compost pail. They can be made from stainless steel or black or white stoneware. There is even a very nice model made from bamboo with a plastic insert that can be put in the dishwasher. If you click on the link above to look at my online store, you will find many pictures of the different kinds of kitchen containers for compost making.
Back Porch Urban Compost Tumbler
Once you have your kitchen compost making system in place, what do you do next? The best alternative for limited space or out-of-season compost making is the Back Porch Compost Tumbler sold by Amazon. It weighs 40 pounds, is on 6" wheels for easy portability, measures 37" high x 31" wide x 26" deep. It can easily be kept on a back porch, laundry room, patio, or balcony.
When your kitchen garbage is ready, you place it in the tumbler and tumble it once or twice a week. When the compost is finished, you can place it in your garden or, if it's still Winter, you can put it in black garbage bags until Spring.
Make sure your back yard compost tumbler already has some 'normal' compost in the works so it can be tumbled with the garbage from your kitchen compost crock or pail or bokashi bucket. Some green and brown organic matter already mixed with a little soil would be a good blend to help your kitchen scraps finish the composting process.
Whichever kitchen compost making system you chose, you will be reducing the amount of refuse that has to go to a landfill and enriching your garden with high nutrient soil. Well done. . .!
When your kitchen garbage is ready, you place it in the tumbler and tumble it once or twice a week. When the compost is finished, you can place it in your garden or, if it's still Winter, you can put it in black garbage bags until Spring.
Make sure your back yard compost tumbler already has some 'normal' compost in the works so it can be tumbled with the garbage from your kitchen compost crock or pail or bokashi bucket. Some green and brown organic matter already mixed with a little soil would be a good blend to help your kitchen scraps finish the composting process.
Whichever kitchen compost making system you chose, you will be reducing the amount of refuse that has to go to a landfill and enriching your garden with high nutrient soil. Well done. . .!
