Now that I have been on The Farm for just over two weeks, I’m beginning to fall into the rhythm of life the way it presents itself here. The original idea I had for a compost bin location would have been ideal but there was another place that seemed perfectly suited as well. Because the secondary location presented obstacles for things like mowing, it won out in the end.
Starting a compost bin does not have to be a difficult undertaking. In fact, most people seem to make composting far more difficult than it needs to be. I can’t tell you how many times people tell me that they “never knew you could compost that!â€
This is my new compost area on Day 1. The only thing added in this photo is a layer of freshly cut grass clippings. As you can see, there are weeds poking through the clippings. The wire fencing you see to the rear is actually the fence surrounding the yard and the 4×4 post in the center is a stabilizer that will remain in place.
It should be noted that technically mine is not a compost bin because it is not enclosed. There, it is so noted.
One of the most controversial things I add to my compost is wood ash. There are people who swear by it and others who say that it is the worst. thing. ever. The simple truth is that wood ash contains carbon and tons of good stuff. It is also really alkaline so you need to balance it out with acidic stuff like coffee grounds – which I happen to have lots of. I don’t add a lot of wood ash at once to any compost pile and you shouldn’t either.
When I came to The Farm I left my fancy schmancy bamboo kitchen compost bucket so I needed a suitable replacement. I found just the thing in a $2 plastic bin with a snap-on lid. Here is the contents from the bin that I’d been storing for a couple of days until the new composting area was ready.
Most people see a bunch of trash. I see food for worms that will turn into rich, dark compost! Coffee grounds, egg shells, onion skins, leftover brown rice, bits of celery and grape stems should never go into the trash! Neither should dryer lint or hair!
