Home Composting

                                                    

My first attempt at home Composting!

I have a 3 bin setup (this is turning out small for me - should have gone for a 4 bin for a family of 4 - you need to decide the kit depending upon the amount of veg and fruit waste that gets generated in your home)

Though I faced failures with my first 2 bins,  I was able to taste success with the 3rd one - and couldn't be more happy!! 😀

Things you need to start  - 

• Compost bin (you can start with a plastic dabba with a proper lid - make holes by heating the edge of a knife or a screwdriver  -search for DIY home compost bin) 
• Cocopeat 
• Jaggery 
• Buttermilk 
• A rake 
• Hand gloves
• Sieve

This is the process that I follow:

Day 0

Do the following preparation a day before you decide to start composting.

Take a bin and line it with a single sheet of newspaper at the bottom.

Add 2 inches of cocopeat layer.

Add a fistful of jaggery - spread it on the cocopeat layer.

Sprinkle a cup of buttermilk on this.

Cover with a sheet of newspaper and keep it for a day.

Day 1

Get the vegetable and fruit waste from your kitchen. (Avoid leftover food , non -veg waste initially - also the smaller you cut the peels the faster they compost)

Now take the bin, remove the paper ,add a layer of kitchen waste and a layer of cocopeat.

Once done ,put the newspaper back (the same one) and close the bin

Day 2

Try to do it at the same time everyday. 

Open the bin , wipe out any moisture on the lid with a waste cloth.

Layer it with kitchen waste and cocopeat (If the kitchen waste is more try making multiple layers)

Put back the newspaper and close the bin.

Day 3

Open the bin and wipe out any moisture on the lid.

Now using a rake or using your hand with a proper hand glove on give a good mix to the existing waste.Then follow the same process of adding the waster along with the cocopeat.

Note: Every 3rd day give a good mix all the way from top to bottom.

This process should be followed till the bin is 3/4th full.

Then you can start off with the next bin and follow the same process.

The bin that is 3/4th full needs to be mixed once in 5 days initially (later on once a week or once in 10 days - once you are confident enough) to check the moisture content and also to verify that all is good.

The mixing should be from top to all the way down.

Keep a check on the moisture . It shouldn't be more nor less.

By the 3rd week your first bin should be ready.

You know the compost is ready when you get an earthy smell from it and all the waste is broken down 

Once ready just sieve it and lay it on a newspaper or plastic sheet (you can use an old cut opened rice bag too) . The bigger chunks which have not composted can go back to the new bin.

Let it dry for a day or 2.

Store it in an earthen pot or any container and let it mature.

Use it as a fertilizer for your plants . 

Also for the next cycle you can use the compost that you got from your fist bin instead of cocopeat. (you will notice that using compost instead of cocopeat hastens the process further)

The cycle repeats!

You can have your own vegetable garden with the black gold that gets created !

Note: 

• Always keep a check on the moisture content - too much moisture can get a foul smell, too less will end up slowing the composting process.
• Add less of citrus peels as it slows the decomposition process (you can make bioenzyme out of citrus peels)
• Avoid coconut shells and coconut coir as they take very long to decompose
• Mango seeds can also be avoided (as they will have to run through many cycles to get decomposed)

I hope this article inspires you to take up home composting !!

Do let me know your view and comments in the section below.

Happy composting ! 🌏🌲😇