Simple, 2 Bin, No Turn Composting Method.

Composting. Simple two bin, no turn method.




The bin should be on the ground and have openings on the bottom (and sides) for drainage and contact with earth.
After saving 'wet' materials for a week, layer them in the bottom of the first bin and cover with a layer of 'dry' materials.
Continue making layers and adding water to keep damp (~ once a week). Layers can be about 1"-4" thick. There should always be a layer of dry materials on top.
The 'pile' needs to be kept damp in order to decompose. It will shrink in size as time passes.
After 3-6 months the first bin will be full. Start the second bin, making sure the first bin also stays damp. After the second bin is full, the first bin of compost should be ready to use. Empty it out, use the compost, restart the first bin.

Wet : Scraps from the kitchen. Collect in a covered container on the counter or in the freezer for a week. Tea bags, napkins, some paper scraps, egg shells, fruit, orange rinds, vegetable scraps (cooked or uncooked) etc. Not too much salty/canned food. If your bin is rat secure, you can also compost grains bread, and pasta. Do not add meat, bones, and cheese. These will compost, but are very attractive to rats, dogs, etc. Optional: Sprinkle wet layer with any type of composted manure.
Dry: Yard waste (twigs, leaves, weeds without seeds, brown or green) and/or, native hardwood mulch
Don’t worry too much about whether a particular item is in the ‘dry’ or ‘wet’ category. Always keep covered with layer of dry (Stops smells, test with nose).
Water: Sprinkle with water after adding the dry layer. Keep the compost damp through entire process. The volume of the pile shrinks dramatically as the composting progresses.

Bugs? OK. Composting is their job. They are also food for birds.
Rats? Don’t add rat food or secure with lid etc. If you see a rat don’t panic, they live all over the city!
Types of Bins: Metal/plastic trash can with lid, holes drilled in bottom and sides. Commercially designed or simple homemade bins.

No need to turn the compost! OK if chunky when done, just shouldn’t smell like rotten garbage!
There are a variety of other approaches, they all work. This is one of the simplest!
You cannot make a mistake! You cannot prevent organic matter from decaying/composting, no matter how you stack it, if you keep it damp!

Organic matter does not help garbage in landfills decompose. It takes up large amounts of space and ultimately produces toxic liquid contamination! Homemade compost is GOLD for your soil!

Stickied

Dig up a few earth worms place them inside compost bin. You must keep the bin moist. I believe worms will enhance the composting process and will increase the nutrients.

Badra

yes, a great way to quick start the process! More worms will automatically be attracted to you compost bin through the ground it is on (if it is open to the ground, best practice). It is amazing that they are so good at sensing where to go!

Chris.

After the bin is built up somewhat or full, adding a shovel full of soil will speed up the decomposition, shortening the composting cycle. Like adding worms to help with composting, the soil adds bugs, insects and micro-organisims, that decompose the plant material. But, as stated in several of the slides -water, water, water. The compost must be kept moist for the "bugs" to do their job.

Wet : Scraps from the kitchen. Collect in a covered container on the counter or in the freezer for a week. Tea bags, napkins, some paper scraps, egg shells, fruit, orange rinds, vegetable scraps (cooked or uncooked) etc. Not too much salty/canned food. Only add grains, bread, pasta meat, bones, and cheese to a rat proof bin.



Optional: Occasionally sprinkle wet layer with any type of composted manure.



Dry: Yard waste (twigs, leaves, weeds without seeds, brown or green) and/or, native hardwood mulch Don’t worry too much about whether a particular item is in the ‘dry’ or ‘wet’ category. Always keep kitchen scraps covered with a layer of dry materials (Stops smells, test with nose).



Water: Sprinkle with water after adding the dry layer. Keep the compost damp through entire process. The volume of the pile shrinks dramatically as the composting progresses.



Other:



• The bin should be on the ground and have small openings on the bottom (and sides) for drainage and contact with earth. Allow microbes, insects, lizards, etc. but not mammals, in.



• Layers can be about 1"-4" thick.



• After 3-6 months the first bin will be full. Start the second bin, making sure the first bin also stays damp.



• After the second bin is full, the first bin of compost should be ready to use. Empty it out (if the compost is too damp when you dump it, just let it sit and dry out a little before you use it), use the compost, restart the first bin.





Bugs? OK. Composting is their job. They are also food for birds.

Rats? Don’t panic, they live ALL over the city! Don’t add rat food or further secure bin.

Types of Bins? Various. Metal trash cans w/holes in the bottom are very secure.