TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham is joined by gardening expert Mike Hibbard, who shares ideas for indoor composting.
Indoor Garage Bin
This method of indoor composting requires a bit of space in a garage or basement and a large garbage bin, either plastic or metal.
Steps:
- The first step in starting an indoor compost operation is to punch holes in the top and the sides of the garbage bin. This allows oxygen to reach the compost ingredients.
- Add a layer of brown materials. This is an extremely important step because the brown ingredients will control odor. Brown materials include peat moss, shredded fall leaves, sawdust or shredded newspaper.
- Large plastic ice-cream containers make good storage bins for collecting the green materials for making compost. Green materials include kitchen waste such as leftover food scraps, vegetable peelings and trimmings and eggshells. Keep the container underneath the kitchen sink for easy access when throwing out leftover vegetables and food scraps.
- When the kitchen container is full, add it to the compost, then top with a layer of brown material. If possible, toss in a few handfuls of topsoil. It is important to keep the compost mixture moist--about as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Add water if necessary and be sure to stir the mixture.
- If there's not enough space in the house or garage for a large garbage bin, try composting anaerobically (without oxygen). This process takes significantly longer than other methods--anywhere from six months to a year--but it requires little storage space and is an ideal way to compost during the winter months.
- Once again, collect kitchen scraps in a plastic container. When full, toss a layer of brown material on top and transfer it into a large plastic zipper bag. Fill it only halfway. Add a little bit of water, just enough to moisten the entire mixture. Double the plastic bag if necessary. Store in a closet or on a sunny porch when the weather turns warmer. Take caution not to open the bag prematurely, or the smell will be intense. Store multiple bags in a plastic bin, and date them so they are used in order.
How to tell when it's ready
- It's not difficult to tell when the compost is ready--just make sure that all the organic materials are broken down.
- Nothing in the compost should be recognizable, give or take a few pieces of hard-to-decompose material such as straw.
- It should no longer have any sort of decomposing smell to it. It should look and smell like soil.
- Similarly, anaerobic compost should no longer smell like decomposed materials once it has been opened and all the air has retreated.
Another Idea
To make a quick and ready-to-use indoor compost for a garden or plants, grind leftover vegetables, onion skins and eggshells in a blender, then sprinkle around the garden and on top of plants. Coffee grounds work, too.
Guests Mike Hibbard
Professional Gardener, Bachman's Garden Center
6010 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55419
Phone: 612-861-7311 or 612-861-7676
Toll-free: 866-222-4626
Website:
www.bachmans.com
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