I am continuing to set some gardening goals/resolutions for 2013 and next up is composting.
We ordered and assembled a tumbling composter several years ago, which is similar to this one from Amazon.
For the most part, we were good about keep it going and making compost. Then, Tomato arrived and it fell out of our routine as we became busy new parents. Currently, ours resides behind several trash cans and has not been tumbled in over a year. I need to empty it, start a new bag of topsoil in there and begin to find our brown and green balance again. I’ll also need to make it a part of our morning routine to head out and give it a spin. With a toddler to remind me, perhaps I’ll get this back in gear again.
Similarly, our little stainless steel kitchen compost pail, like the one below, has sat dormant. I’ll begin efforts to make sure that we are putting our food scraps in, taking it out each day, emptying it and giving it a good scrub before popping it back on the counter.
I think it’s a good practice for us to restart, especially as it can show Tomato that we would like to waste less and reuse our food scraps as food for the garden.
So, what are some more of your “going greener” resolutions or goals for 2013? What have you been up to in the past week that has you living green or maintaining your garden?
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My resolution for my compost pile is to get our shredder fixed so we can finally shred the big stuff in the pile and help everything break down faster.
Love the countertop compost bin. We’re using a plastic bin I found at Walmart a few years ago. Yours looks much nicer!
The stainless steel cleans out easily and doesn’t stink either.
We don’t have a compost pile yet, but it is something that I have started researching and is one of my goals for 2013. Thanks for this post to get me started again!
My pleasure, Lauryn! I like the tumblign bin because then I can skip moving it around with a rake.
I want to actually plant a garden this year, with two kids under the age of four I have not planted a garden in 4 years. This year I hope to do so again. I kept composting the last 4 years so I should have good soil for it!
Now I need to start planning what I will grow!
See what the kids would like to grow. We start with that and then throw in what we like so that they can help out with all the steps in the garden.
Great ideas Becky! We use both products and love them! My husband Franz wrote a series of posts on composting that you might find interesting:
http://livinginthegreenblog.com/selecting-a-composter/
http://livinginthegreenblog.com/selecting-a-kitchen-compost-pail/
http://livinginthegreenblog.com/what-to-compost-or-not-to-compost/
http://livinginthegreenblog.com/caring-for-your-compost/
http://livinginthegreenblog.com/accessing-and-applying-your-compost/
Love your blog!
Thanks for the links, Emily. They will be super helpful for us!
We want to start composting – but we have been a little slow with it…
My best advice is to figure out where you can fit it in to the day’s routine and start small with just coffee grinds or veggie scraps to get into the rhythm.
My worm collection is now about 15 years old, and still going! I haul the bin inside for the winter to keep them warm, so I don’t have to go traipsing out. They devour our peels etc. in just a week (traceless in two) and my plants have loved the “worm tea”. But I’d like to find a solution for the citrus, cabbage-family and onion/garlic peels that don’t agree with the worms.
15 years! I am impressed! Maybe some of Emily’s links above have some tips for the citrus, cabbage-family and onion/garlic peels.
I love to read about composting but I have never been much of a gardener. I usually do potted tomatoes. Maybe this year.
Tomatoes love compost. It’s a good place to start.
When we moved to our new place DH built a compost container out of old pallets and some chicken wire. It was free and so far it works great.
Well done! Do you have to turn it daily, Shannon?
We use a tabletop compost bin too and love it . Here’s our post on it. http://www.greenlifestylechanges.com/tip-reducing-the-ick-factor-in-composting-with-a-countertop-compost-bin/
We have only evergreens on our property, so this fall, to get the green/brown balance better in our 3 outdoor compost bins, we had to import a bag of leaves from our neighbors to add with the fresh veggie scraps from the kitchen. It is helping.
Borrowing leaves from the neighbors is a great idea!
I have been a big fan of using the Biobag biodegradable food waste bags for our kitchen compost bin. Then I don’t have to scrub out our bin after each empty. I can throw the whole things (bag and all) in my outside compost. 🙂
Good call, Tamara!
I am addicted to composting! I mean addicted! I can’t stop! 🙂
That’s part of why you get such a nice small bag of trash! Here’s hoping we can get back into the routine of it.
I actually feel guilty I haven’t been composting. Especially when I throw away any fish byproduct. I’ve kept a garden but with little ones ages 8, 5 & 2 its hard to do everything I plan to do. Composting is one of my goals for 2013. Thanks for stopping by Love, Live and Garden to invite me to Tuesdays Greens! Hopefully I can link up next week 🙂
Would the 8 year old be able to take on the chore to help out? I look forward to having you swing by and link up next week!
I have a compost barrel in the yard. We were able to empty it into the garden last spring before we planted and the tomatoes while late were overwhelming in supply.
Great to hear, Melinda! That is my hope for this year.
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