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Garden Gate:  Countertop Composting Bins  |
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HollyG
True Blue Farmgirl
214 Posts
Holly
Hamburg
Arkansas
USA
214 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 14 2011 : 09:14:08 AM
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Good Morning Farmgirls!
Got a question for all of your veterans. I am planning a huge garden and of course, compost is needed. I have always had a "scrap" bowl on my counter, the contents of which are fed to the dogs or my hog - depending on what it is. I am feeding a ton of good composting material and want to change my "trash tactics."
Here's the deal. I will separate, but my husband will not. Facts are just facts. I thought about purchasing one of the countertop models to help me remember to separate my peels and shells from everything else...and maybe prod his memory too. I've checked on Amazon (my go-to site) and get mixed reviews. The ceramic stains, the stainless rusts, and all seem to smell, despite the charcoal filters and one review mentioned fruit-flies. No thank you!
Any models you would recommend? Any other, perhaps less expensive, ways to separate? I am vain enough to want something attractive, but I'll take all recommendations. Let me know what works for you!
Thanks in advance for your help,
HollyG
Farmgirl #2513
Be fruitful today! |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2011 : 11:26:41 AM
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I have a scraps bowl on my counter that gets emptied every night into an old cat litter bucket on my front porch. The meat scraps for the dog go in a seperate bowl, usually just something I grabbed from the dirty pile in the sink. I have seen some very pretty heavy crocks for holdin utensils that would make a very nice scraps bowl.
The cat litter bucket has a lid to contain the smell and gets dumped when full in the actual compost pile by the garden. It's a slightly complicated system, but works well for us.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2011 : 12:30:03 PM
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Holly...I am like Angela...I keep a scrap bowl on my counter...just plastic, nothing pretty. When it is full it goes out to a bigger bucket on my Patio...then when that is full it goes into my garden and I cover it with a big plastic tub so it doesn't attract rodents, deer, dogs, cats and what have you. For me this is the easy way to do it...hey, it may not be pretty but its practical. Hubby...you just need to re-train! lol The fruit flies are only a problem outside and inside in HOT Weather...so, I only save my scraps during the late fall and winter months. Hope that helps.
Blessings,
Peggy
Farmgirl #1326
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
http://pegsmiles7.wordpress.com
"I'm only as strong as the caffeine I drink, the hair-spray I use and the Girlfriends that I have." |
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CurlysQuilts
True Blue Farmgirl
569 Posts
Sarah
Northeast Kingdom
VT
USA
569 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2011 : 7:02:17 PM
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I have a plastic container specifically for compost that fits in one corner of the sink. Three sides are straight and then one side is diagonal, and that side has slits for draining of any moisture. It's big enough that you could just makes seperate piles, and the drain keeps things dry and not very smelly at all. When it gets full we toss it in our compost out back. I wish I could tell you where to get one, but mine came from my MIL (she has one too).
Sarah
Curly's Quilts
www.curlysquilts.etsy.com
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” - Micah 6:8
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HollyG
True Blue Farmgirl
214 Posts
Holly
Hamburg
Arkansas
USA
214 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2011 : 1:36:36 PM
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Thank you all! I happened to have an empty kitty litter tub - a great sturdy plastic tub with a bale and snap on lid. I washed it out and have begun adding my kitchen scraps. My utility room is cool enough it shouldn't be a problem to keep inside for a few days or even longer. Thanks for the idea!
HollyG
Farmgirl #2513
www.mydeepwoodslife.com
Be fruitful today! |
Edited by - HollyG on Jan 19 2011 08:37:44 AM |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2011 : 11:39:22 AM
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Hey Holly, looks like you got a lot of good ideas.
I can be a procrastinator and not dump the pail as often as I should....I get lazy and just don't want to go out at 10:00 at night when I remember the compost pail is on the counter.
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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MarciM
Farmgirl in Training
19 Posts
Marci
Moscow
ID
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2011 : 1:25:46 PM
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| I found that an old ice bucket with a tight fitting lid works so well! And then I actually used an old drawer pull and put that through the ice bucket lid because the lid itself has a plastic, low-profile handle that's hard to grab with wet hands. |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2011 : 10:55:08 AM
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I was using an empty Oxyclean bucket. Worked great. I emptyed it every evening and washed it along with supper dishes. I guess my Daughter-in-law thought I needed something fancyer and bought me a stainless steel bucket with charcoal thing in the lid. It's ok and looks nice but kinda expensive for a "slop" bucket. That is what we called them when we had hogs. In the summer when I am canning, I use a big ole 5 gallon bucket.
Have you seen Rachel Ray's garbage bowl? It's like $30. If you want to use a bowl, go to a garage sale for heaven sake.
Belle |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2011 : 6:23:19 PM
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| I use an old 4-qt Pyrex casserole with lid. If it gets late and I don't want to stumble out to the compost bin before bed, I stick the whole thing in the freezer and deal with it in the morning, either by heading for the compost pile or (depending on what's in there) starting a pot of veggie stock to simmer on the stove all day. |
Edited by - Rosemary on Jan 20 2011 6:23:51 PM |
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Penny Wise
True Blue Farmgirl
1903 Posts
Margo
Elyria
OH
USA
1903 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2011 : 03:32:43 AM
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i get very very lazy about dumping mine too- i use an old ice cream bucket on the counter but have looked at the different "bins" for sale with the degradable (corn starch) bags--wondering if they are worth the cost?the concept of them breaking down intrigued me.
anyone?
i live alone so my waste is pretty much egg shells, coffee grounds and banana peels-
Farmgirl # 2139
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
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SusanScarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
317 Posts
317 Posts |
Posted - Jan 22 2011 : 06:10:41 AM
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| I use a plain stainless steel canister with a lid that I bought at Wally World. It works great to control the odor until we take it out to the compost. Also, looks nice on the counter in the kitchen. |
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Garden Gate: Countertop Composting Bins |
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Countertop Composting Bins
