Small Space Composting - Just because you live in an apartment or have a small yard doesn’t mean you can’t reap the benefits of composting. Compost is healthy for container plants as well as those planted in the ground. It is easy to make a small scale compost pile that will fit your needs.
If you have a small yard, you can begin composting using a traditional compost pile in your yard. Just make it smaller than you would in a larger yard. Start off by sectioning off an area that you want to use for your composting efforts and maybe put a small fence around it. You can also use a small commercial compost bin. These bins will help you contain the organic material in one place, which is a great option if you are restricted on space!
If you live in an apartment building, you can still have a composting project using a traditional hot compost pile on a patio or balcony. However, you will need to make sure you turn it often so it stays well mixed. Otherwise you might have odor problems, and neighbors don’t like that! You can get a small commercial container for your compost, or make your own using a large plastic container with holes drilled in it for air circulation. A garbage can with a lid is a great choice.
If possible, check with your landlord and see if you can create a community composting project for your entire building. Make sure everyone knows exactly what can and can’t go in it. All the residents can use the finished product for container gardens or even houseplants.
Starting Your Small Space Composting Project
To collect the waste for your compost, keep a small container in your kitchen. Make sure it has a lid so it doesn’t get smelly. Add all the organic waste from your home, vegetable and fruit peelings, egg shells, newspaper, etc. Don’t add anything containing milk products or fats. This will cause your pile to smell and attract rodents.
Keep your pile moist, like a wrung out sponge. Make sure you turn it regularly for the quickest results and to help make sure it doesn’t smell. Soon you will notice that your waste is turning into rich, dark organic material.
Filter the compost through a screen to keep the large, unfinished chunks out. Then mix the healthy compost into the soil you plant in whether it is in the garden or a container.
Making your own compost is a rewarding activity. Just because you live in a small space or don’t have a yard doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy composting. Become creative and make your own small space compost pile!
More Information on Composting:
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Organic Gardener's Composting |
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Let it Rot!: The Gardener's Guide to Composting (Third Edition) (Storey's Down-To-Earth Guides) |
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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Composting |
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Organic Gardener's Composting |
pictures of composting pile