DIY Composting

How to make your own compost bin:

MATERIALS:

• Need to prepare a bin or gardening pots Holes will need to be drilled on the side and bottom of the bin.

• Collection of vegetable and fruit peels and dried leaves

• Plastic Gloves

• Compost Starter - recycled coffee grounds

• Scissors

• Compost Stick

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1

Get a gardening pot/black bin with drilled holes. Gardening pots usually come with drainage holes at the bottom which is perfect for a compost bin.

Air can flow through the bin, improving aeration in your compost pile and quickening the composting process.

Prop it off your ground. This allows excess liquids to drain off through the bottom of the bin, preventing water logging. If you’re living on the ground floor/have access to a backyard or garden, you may set it on the grass.

Step 2

BROWNS: Dried/Brown leaves, twigs, newspaper

GREENS: Discarded raw fruit, vegetables, eggshells (they are rich in calcium and good for adding minerals to your compost; they break down extremely slowly, so remember to rinse and crush them into small pieces before adding)

50/50 mix of ‘greens’ & ‘browns’.

An overly wet compost pile will lead to unpleasant smells.

‘Browns’ soak up and balance moisture in your compost pile.

Note: Do not add any cooked food into your bin. These give off bad smells and attract pests. Avoid metal, plastic and glass as these materials does not break down.

Step 3

Fill the bottom of your compost bin with a thick layer (about 5 inches) of ‘browns‘. These help to soak up excess moisture and improve aeration in your bin.

Add your prepared ‘greens‘ and shredded ‘browns‘ to your bin—you should aim to add about the same amount of ‘browns‘ as ‘greens‘.

Now mix it using a garden spade with a few handfuls of compost starters such as: used coffee grounds or soil. This soil is available at supermarkets meanwhile recycled coffee grounds may be obtained from restaurants, drink shop at the foodcourt, offices etc. This makes a layer, you may repeat this process with more greens and browns by adding a new layer or mixing it with the existing one.

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/FA96Nx7onb8

Step 4

Teeny weeny living microscopic organisms break down trash by feeding on them. In order for them to live and do their job, they need 4 essentials —food, air, moisture and warmth. As such, avoid mixing or turning over your compost pile too often, because doing so would dissipate heat from your pile.

Do not cover the bin. You may also retain warmth by covering the top of your compost pile with a flattened cardboard box or layers of newspaper. This introduces air spaces into your compost pile, ensuring an aerobic (oxygenated) and effective composting process. It also prevents your compost pile from smells and pests.

Placing your compost bin in partial sun will also ensure plenty of warmth. Take care not to place your bin under direct sunlight as overheating may kill the beneficial microorganisms.

Step 5

It will take 10 to 12 weeks for your compost to be ready during prolonged cool weather seasons (i.e. monsoon rains).

The compost is ready to use once it has turned into a crumbly, dark material that looks like thick, moist soil. It also gives off an earthy, fresh aroma.

Some uses of compost are:

1. If you own potted plants or a garden, layer about an inch of compost onto the soil—as if covering the soil with a thick blanket.

2. You could mix the compost directly into soil, giving it a nutrient boost.

3. Use it as a compost starter for your new batch of wastes.