I’m way too excited about this CAL.

I was afraid nobody would show up, but a bunch of you did and I can’t tell you how tickled it makes me.

I’m also excited to have a big pile of delicious compost a few weeks from now.

This first week is important, but not very physically taxing.  We’re just going to have to put our thinking caps on and make a couple of decisions.

First, we have to pick the sort of pile we are going to have.  There are so many types of compost bins and set-ups, it can get overwhelming.  And, as Anne-Marie pointed out yesterday, some of us live in places where HOA’s regulate and monitor what we do and don’t do, so that can be an additional challenge.  Other people have physical restrictions, or space restrictions, or time and resource restrictions, so those things must be addressed as well.

This first week is the time to look at all the options and individual needs we have and decide what kind of pile works best for each of us.  It can absolutely be as simple as a pile on the ground.  It can also be a garbage can like Marianne mentioned.  For HOA people whose regulations bar “compost piles,” barrel-style compost tumblers which are technically not compost “piles” can be an option. It may also be possible (and cheaper) to use a decent-looking garbage can in a color that blends into the environment.  There are of course commercially manufactured ones that look very nice and can be put in an out-of-the-way corner and are rodent-proof.

I like simple best, especially for beginners. I also like cheap. I’m very partial to the pile on the ground.  The pallet-bins also fit the cheap bill, as do wire-fencing bins that are just a length of welded wire fencing (like horse fencing wire) formed in a circle and secured with zip ties or more wire. I’ve even seen neat-o straw bale compost bins that look like a whole lotta compost going on.  Eventually the “bin” itself can be incorporated into the compost.

I encourage you to do an image search on “compost bins” and look at all the options.  Once you’ve narrowed it down to the type you think will work best in your situation, narrow that search to that particular type.

Once you’ve picked out your bin or pile style, the next thing to think about is how you are going to get your greens and browns.  My neighborhood makes that fairly easy because every week on a certain day, I know everyone’s leaves and grass clippings are going to be on the curb in clear plastic bags.  I don’t have a truck, but I can fit a few bags in my station wagon. If they are on the curb waiting for pickup, they’re fair game.  I know now not to pick up more that I can easily carry, and to pass by the thin, heavy, hot bags. I also know to carry a broom and a dust pan with me just in case.

Don’t forget your own kitchen veg and fruit trimmings.  Here’s the list of what to put in and what to leave out, according to the EPA:

IN:

  • Herbivorous animal manure
  • Cardboard rolls
  • Clean paper
  • Coffee grounds and filters
  • Cotton rags
  • Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
  • Eggshells
  • Fireplace ashes
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Grass clippings
  • Hair and fur
  • Hay and straw
  • Houseplants
  • Leaves
  • Nut shells
  • Sawdust
  • Shredded newspaper
  • Tea bags
  • Wood chips
  • Wool rags
  • Yard trimmings

Leave Out/Reason Why

  • Black walnut tree leaves or twigs
    • Releases substances that might be harmful to plants
  • Coal or charcoal ash
    • Might contain substances harmful to plants
  • Dairy products (e.g., butter, milk, sour cream, yogurt) and eggs*
    • Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
  • Diseased or insect-ridden plants
    • Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants
  • Fats, grease, lard, or oils*
    • Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
  • Meat or fish bones and scraps*
    • Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
  • Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter)*
    • Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans
  • Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides
    • Might kill beneficial composting organisms

To recap, for Week 1 choose your type of pile and figure out how you are going to get the materials to fill it.

If you need help and suggestions, ask in comments and we’ll all try to help each other.  If you have general suggestions about things that have worked for you and cool ways to score great compost materials, please share.

If you haven’t already, it’s not too late to join in our CAL (Compost-Along)!

Extra Credit: For extra credit, feel free to get/build/locate the pile or bin and start gathering compost materials.