Indoor compost stuff

Wed. Nov. 10, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Indoor compost stuff

Compost happens, even in winter. I was leery about putting a kitchen compost bucket on my countertop.

My stainless steel compost bucket

I thought, it’s gonna stink and attract fruit flies, ugh those things are annoying!  The fact is, they do, BUT there are some things I’ve learned.

For one, clean it every time you empty it. That includes taking the filter out and scrubbing in the nooks and crannies of the lid. I found stuff there I did NOT want to see.

I use those compostable bags and include a folded over paper towel in the bottom because those bags are only so-so.

I probably COULD skip the bags completely and just use the paper towel, which is also compostable and does absorb the liquid making it easier to empty.

I love using it, first to compost and… bonus, not to stink up the normal garbage.

I compost:

  • Vegetable scraps
  • Coffee grounds
  • Eggshells
  • Orange peels
  • Apple scraps
  • Potatoes
  • Houseplant debris

You can also compost small quantities of hair, pet rabbit and hamster droppings, aquarium water and algae too. Don’t forget faded bouquets!

You can speed up the OUTDOOR composting process by layering your greens, the stuff from your kitchen and your browns such as chopped fallen leaves, sawdust and dried dead plants. 

dried dead plants, faded begonias, some fallen leaves, kitchen scraps, compost bag, paper towel… layers and layers… turning the pile also helps it decompose faster.

You can add a little nitrogen and water to the pile to speed up the process. At this time of year, I just let it be.

I had a ceramic indoor compost bucket… cute but not practical. Now it’s decoration.