Composting...Do you do it?

[Rachel Butler]

Visted a friend who does composting and really raves about the benefits. I read this article and got some good ideas. I was just curious how many people out there are doing it? http://www.gardeningblog.net/2009/10/21/san-franciscos-new-composti...

I would be excited to get your thoughts/ideas. - Rache

[Camilo Garcia]

Hi, Rachel,

I am still learning to navigate the website and am a little confused. For example: it took a while to find these posts, and I am thinking that my last comment would have been better appended to this. However, it is not clear exactly how to keep a blog going on one thread -- from the photo page I mean. I clicked "comment" when I saw the photos and I thought it was aimed at the home page. I did want everyone to see it, because of the questions I threw on there, so now I'm going to repost through the blog page. And I'm wondering how many saw these posts here. Meanwhile, I am hoping that you continue to share what you're learning. Great photos and a great energy you bring.

[Rachel Butler]

Camilo! Thanks for the feedback. I am living in an apartment right now, and will be moving into a house in the next week. I really want to start composting mainly because i have been able to get my paper trash down to a small bit, but since i love to cook and eat like 3 bananas a day, I have a ton of food waste. I just hate the idea of all those nutrients going to waste. So I am taking the step to composting from a beginner's view! Excited and a little nervous! :)

[Camilo Garcia]

Hi again, Rachel, and everybody --

I have been composting for years and there is almost no one single thing that is better to do. Actually, that's not possible; it's all good, as they say.

But, you might know that year's ago Austin went from 2 trash pickups a week to one, followed by a pickup only for "yard clippings" -- the story being that green stuff is very bad for a landfill. This is so true. And it removes much-needed nutrients from the landscape. Years and years of bad practices have made it so people think they have to fertilize in order to achieve success in the garden (or the farm).

I know many successful gardeners who compost (can't think of one who doesn't), and I too would be interested in getting feedback from this group. You can even compost bones and proteins, although it might be a little harder to control. So it might be good to start with two compost piles or areas or whatever design you come up with. But, between recycling and composting, the waste stream can be kept to a bare minimum. Once you start on this path, it becomes apparent that all "sustainable"
thinking goes hand in hand with everything else and it really is achievable.

For those in the city, a ComposTumbler might be a good investment, depending on space and time available, but a hole in the ground you cover with straw or a wood box will do just as well (better in my experience). It does compost faster if you turn it over once in a while.

And as with the proteins and bones fallacy, it is also possible to have fly-free compost.

Please send specific questions and we can work 'em out. I can't be the only one out here composting. I forgot to add "community" to the "what are you here for" question, and I hope people do write. See you soon.

Camilo