Wednesday, October 1, 2008

help: compost.

help me. we have tons of kitchen waste that's going straight into the trash these days, and i'd like to compost. but i'm a city girl, meaning, i get grossed out by creepy-crawlies. i have considered worm composting, but never for more than a few minutes at a time. go ahead and tell me it's not gross. it's probably not. but it's not happening in my house.

also, i live in an apartment, so i'd need to have something contained that won't attract pests. we have some room outside for something that could get rained on.

has anyone used the envirocycle? it seems like something that would be
a) easy to use, and
b) low on the gross-out factor for my dainty sensibilities.

any opinions?


The Portland Pickle said...

You're right. This composter looks very user friendly. I feel guilty out here in ultra green Portland, Oregon. I do have composting ambitions, once we actually own property to use it on.

kelley said...

i'm glad i'm not the only one who's balking at it. anytime the possibility of vermin comes into the coversation, i run the opposite direction.

Emma the Eco-Princess! said...

Wow that looks like a really good composter! I haven't seen one like that before here in the UK. I have a composter, but it's just one of those big bin type things. To be honest, I was a bit worried about creepy crawlies too, but I haven't really noticed that many. The only thing with mine is, when I take the lid off, there are usually quite a few little flies come flying out, but you can just step out of the way of them for a couple of minutes until they fly away! I love my composter, I couldn't be without it now. I've honestly noticed a big reduction in the amount of our weekly trash thanks to it. I think it's coz I eat so many veggies though, and their peelings were bulking it out, hehe!

Oops, sorry for the mini essay! lol just one last thing, if you do decide to get one, I found this website invaluable: http:///

Emma the Eco-Princess! said...

Plus, if you only compost things like fruit, vegetables, paper, etc (all the things listed on that website) then you won't attract vermin either!

Chocolate Cardamom Cappuccino said...

Worm composting is fine as it uses old leaves and also all you have to do is get a wheelbarrow, drill holes in the bottom, line it with newspaper so it does not get too cold. Then add autumn leaves, tip in worms bought from the fishing tackle shop, cover with leaves, water, stick an old mat or carpet on top(to stop the leaves blowing away) and your away.

eileen said...

No need to buy a product. Just reuse a large container from something you bought in bulk- I use a large plastic container that originally held plain yogurt. Look up urban gardens or co-ops in your area and you'll find a place to drop it off. Just take a nice walk there once a week and you'll be good. It's not gross. Just keep the lid on, dump it when you get there, rinse out the container, and you're golden!

kelley said...

thanks, everyone! eileen, i think you might be on to something. i used to have a community garden plot, and didn't mind taking my compost there twice a week or so. they do have composting here in portland. need to look into it.