0 Shares. I have no back yard, no balcony for a compost pile or worm bin, no garden to even use the finished compost on. 2. Explore. You can also check your compost temperature with a compost thermometer. Adding compost to your apartment or balcony garden will not only fertilise, it actually feeds your soil with a diversity of nutrients and microorganisms that will improve plant growth. There are plenty of ways to compost in an apartment, and I’ve got all the details for a variety of ways to compost in an apartment or condominium. Composting in a flat sure is an art and unless you have heaps of space, it’s likely you need a multi-pronged approach, especially if you don’t have a balcony. Any area is acceptable. The lids may help with the stink, but in my experience, if you want to stay friends with the guys next door, I would advise against it. How to Compost In an Apartment In 6 Different Ways. If in your apartment complex there are grounds where you could simply bury the waste, this could also be an option. Assuming your apartment lifestyle allows you at most a small balcony garden, you’ll need to figure out where to give away the bulk of your Bokashi bin contents. But it can be done without any stink or a lot of trouble. The average US household produces 650 lbs of organic trash a year, but most of that is landfilled. His was motivated to install a composter on his balcony by “seeing that food waste ends up in the bin, when it would be useful back in the soil.” How to Compost in an Apartment. For the non-video people, I wanted to show you an updated picture of how it's going. Use a private collection service . And you can buy a composter or build your own. Pin. If so, this shows the start to the decomposition process. Recently I posted a video on how to get started balcony composting in 15 minutes or less, and the response to the video has been great so far. Chemical fertilisers, on the other hand, provide a quick burst of a limited number of … How to Compost in an Apartment - even when you don't have a balcony! Johan, Jean-Baptiste and Marie-Pierre share their views on the subject of composting in an apartment. In this post I’ll be sharing how to compost when you live in an apartment and everything you need to know to get started. Johan : composting with a vermicomposter. You can either buy a fancy compost bin or you can DIY one out of a plastic tub. By Tyler Weaver. All of the methods assume you don’t have yard space, and some of them don’t even require a scrap of balcony, deck, or basement space. You can keep piling scraps and paper in your compost bin. Balcony composting is a great way to compost in small spaces if you're not the worm composting type. If it has a cool feel, start mixing it. If you want to keep the compost close by, use your balcony (just make sure you check with apartment management first). Share. Tweet. For balcony container gardeners who live in a city or have limited space, look no further than the balcony to begin processing food scraps into compost for the container plants in the garden. You think it would break down since it’s dumped into a giant hole in Repeat. Here’s a quick and easy guide that will have you saving the Earth in no time. It really doesn’t take much to start composting. 1. Bokashi is not quite compost, even after fermentation. compost organic waste in your apartment or on your balcony Image by Urbalive If there are no viable community composting programs and you’ve used as much of your organic material as possible (or found someone who can), or you just simply want to DIY, then actual apartment composting is for you. If you have a small patio, porch, or balcony where you can grow plants, it might actually make sense for you to make your own compost rather than bringing your food scraps elsewhere. I composted in a couple of 10 gallon buckets last year, and my neighbors were not fans. Growing your own food is important to your overall health, as well as the planet’s. August 5, 2019 Many of us don’t have the luxury of having access to a big yard, or lots of spare outdoor space where we can place a hefty compost bin. Here’s a quick and easy guide that will have you saving the Earth in no time. If you live in an apartment, the first question is: what will you do with all the soil your composting creates? Focus on appropriate food scraps and some paper products around your home. Composting in an apartment doesn't need to be complicated. This keeps the compost pile actively working throughout the cold season. Instead of investing in a large bag of compost from the store, you can use your own balcony compost and watch life appear from your waste! Whether you live in a house or an apartment, the inside bin can look the same: a plastic or stainless steel (recommended) collection pail designated for composting. The Bokashi bucket can weigh 16kg when full, however it is quite portable, meaning emptying the waste in a friend’s or family member’s garden or compost bin, or even community gardens, are good alternatives. Hi there. Balcony compost with stir stick Another small potted plant is placed on the lid to hide the compost and make the most of vertical space. And since I live in an apartment with a tiny balcony, I wanted to put this to the test. Another benefit of using a worm bin is that you can keep adding kitchen scraps to your compost, which means you’re using even more waste. If you do have a little space outdoors or a balcony, you can do these two methods, and you can also use a porch compost tumbler. In three days’ time, place your hand over the top of the heap to feel if it’s hot. Whether you’re trying to simply reduce food waste or you want to enrich the soil in your container garden, composting is easier than it seems. Here is more on it. Apartment composting is a little more complicated than composting in a house. I have a 2nd floor apartment balcony as well. 4. The Top 3 Balcony Composting Methods. That means you still need a place to store your compost until you’re ready to take it outside. You barely have enough room to grow anything, much less to have some sort of compost … Traditional composter: We’re really getting into balcony gardening so we plan to experiment with a traditional composter so we can keep some of that compost goodness for our own garden. These compost tumblers are completely sealed to help trap in the heat that is produced by the compost. Also, ask apartment management if you can start a … Meanwhile, many greens and some herbs need much less sun to survive and thrive. It reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions, all while providing an organic alternative to chemical fertilizers.. Backyard composting might conjure up images of a vast, smelly pile surrounded by flies. In fact 60% of our landfills are full of organic matter. If you stay in a block of flat or building with an accessible rooftop or balcony, you can keep a compost tumbler for your personal use. Compost tea is great for an urban gardener who wants to compost, but has nowhere to put their waste products. If you, too, live in an apartment and have wondered if composting might fit into your home and routines, here is a run-down on the small-space solutions out there. A few weeks ago, I offered a few suggestions about growing a balcony garden. Keep Your Compost On Your Counter. Use a Compost Tumbler Compost tumblers are another good choice for apartment composting. When the container is full, take the contents to an outdoor or contained storage area. I attempted to make compost and will document everyday or at the very least, every couple of days on the status of what it looks like, what it smells like and hopefully by the end of 45 – 60 days, I have some home made elixir for the indoor and balcony plants. Normally, a backyard compost pile, measuring a minimum of 3 feet by 3 feet (1 m. x 1 m.), will generate sufficient heat during the winter to prevent the contents from freezing. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you make a purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you. You might keep some of the final output, but more likely you’ll be creating more soil enriching awesomeness than you can use. Okay, let’s say you’ve got an apartment but you don’t have a balcony, and neither do you feel like keeping worms in your apartment. While compost tumblers are quick and efficient, they are too big to use indoors. Giphy. Compost tumblers are larger than worm composters. Compost Tumblers: If you have a great-sized balcony or you get the permission to use the common passage or rooftop area of your apartment building, then you will be blessed with another composting option and that is compost tumblers. You want to do as much as you can, but you live in an apartment or condo with rules about what you can and cannot do on your balcony or patio. The benefits of composting are endless. He has been composting for three years. With a few simple materials and tools, you can build your own compost bin in an afternoon. Balcony composting also requires a bit more attention during freezing temperatures. So long as your apartment balcony garden gets 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day, you can grow many vegetables, too. Oct 7, 2014 - Have you been wondering how to compost in your apartment? Even if you don’t have the space for a large backyard composter, you can still compost your vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and more. Please read the full disclosure here. How do I build a compost pile? BUT, it turns out I can still compost! Then, add them to a portable, easy-to-use compost bin, tumbler, or worm composter. This is easy to find in almost any home supply store. Visit the compost heap after one week, and repeat the same procedure. One thing is for sure: getting your small apartment indoor compost set up is way easier than getting your couch through the front door. Sep 7, 2020 - Composting For Beginners, beginners guide on how to compost in an apartment balcony without worms. Choosing the Right Composting Bin Depending on your living situation, there are many ways you can start composting in your apartment. Challenges with Apartment Composting. Think of composting in two parts: the collection point (inside) and the dumping point (outside). This attractive worm farm (yep, you read that right) can live on your countertop and process about two pounds of food waste every week. After stirring, cover the decomposing food with a little soil to keep bugs and odors to a minimum. How to Compost in an Apartment. If you have a patio or balcony area, you may have enough room to have a small compost bin. Making your own indoor compost bin is a cheap and flexible way for people to compost in small spaces. In an apartment or other small living area, the average compost pail can turn ripe quickly and start to smell, unless you’re emptying it … Oct 7, 2014 - Have you been wondering how to compost in your apartment? You can still compost when you have little or no outdoor space. Try compost tea. You can rest easy knowing you're doing your part to help the environment. You can use a cupboard or under the sink, to place an indoor composting bin or a worm farm. Compost Bin. 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