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Been composting: composting bin
Yesterday's blog entry was originally about my composting project. I've been wanting to do some composting for years now, but I've always taken it for granted that my neighbors/landlords wouldn't appreciate an open compost heap and I've not wanted to invest in a pricey composter. Neither of those things has changed here in Indiana, but I've found a compromise: directions on the internet for making my own compost bin. I got a black 32-gallon trash can at the local hardware store (where, every time I go there, the old guy there complains about how nothing is made in America) for $15. I drilled quite a few small holes all the way around and up and down the can to allow for airflow. I also bought a rake and raked up the dried leaves to put in the bottom of the can: not ideal, because they really should be shredded, but I used what I had.
I am--perhaps foolishly--composting not only vegetative kitchen waste but also animal wastes--the carcass from the chicken I cooked and Beaker's poo. I've read warnings all over the internet about not composting either of these things, but I've also read what seem to be credible sources that urge caution but not avoidance: as long as there's enough "brown" material in the mix and as long as the composting achieves certain temperatures, it should be perfectly safe. These sources also recommend composting for a longer period of time to be safe. I'll absolutely be careful about these factors, and if there's any reason for concern, I won't use the compost on veggies. Here's hoping though that in a few months we'll have some good rich compost, and we'll have kept quite a bit of our wastes out of the local landfill. Win-win!