Composting usually starts in the kitchen, it is a very important part of organic farming. It uses organic food and plant wastes to create compost which is very healthy and beneficial for the garden soil. Composting in the kitchen starts with collecting all organic items. These include fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, tea bags and other similar materials. All of these materials are high in nitrogen content. However, while composting in the kitchen one should avoid meat scraps, bones and milk products.
While composting in the kitchen one should pay attention to the size of their kitchen as well. This determines as to what size and kind of compost pail or crock they will use.
The next thing you need for composting in the kitchen is a kitchen compost pail. These pails come in different sizes, colors and materials, each made to suit different needs. These pails cannot only be placed on counter tops, but they can also be placed on the floor. The counter top pails are much more compact and presentable. They are usually made of ceramic or stainless steel. They are attractive looking and come in different colors. By the looks of it, it doesn’t show that these pails actually contain compost. If you have enough space on the counter top, then using these pails will be a good idea. But it should be noted that when filling these pails up, none of the food waste is dropped on the kitchen counter. They are also useful when you don’t have enough floor space. But if your kitchen has enough floor space and the amount of food wastes you collect is large, then using a plastic unit which can be assembled on the floor is a good idea. This way the pail can be kept out of view, stored in a corner. Floor units have a wide mouth, thus collecting material is easy.
One very important aspect to consider for composting in the kitchen is the odor, which results from collecting food and other perishable organic items. This should be noted when choosing a compost pail. It should either be made of plastic or should have carbon filters. These help absorb the odor that results.
Since moisture is an essential for composting, these pails should be kept away from direct sunlight. This helps to avoid the materials from drying out. Compost pails should be kept in places which receive heat and indirect sunlight to avoid temperature fluctuations.
For beginners who have just started composting in the kitchen, they should use pails and other utensils that come with instruction guides. They should use pails which are relatively cheaper, so that is something goes wrong or if the pail smashes, the loss won’t be much. Some of the brands which beginners should use are Pinzon, Norpro, and William-Sonoma. They provide ceramic pails which are low priced and easy to use.
Joann is a student and freelance writer who enjoys traveling. You should also read her other articles on
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