I need to start strategizing on how I’m going to add the new layer of my worm bin. You may remember from my Simple Worm Bin Composter instructions page that after you get your worm bin compost level to a certain height you add the second level and the worms migrate to the top.

But how do I know what’s a good height to add the next layer? How do I keep it raised without squashing everything under it? Well…those are really good questions. Still figuring those out. I think about now is a good time to add a layer just because, but I’ll measure the inches and get back to you. And as far as the height…well I’m gonna balance the second bin on something stiff and steady, so perhaps the height of that object will be a good starting place. Maybe a 12oz can height? I’ll figure it out.

We’ve all seem them by now. Those neat plastic-ware items like Corn Cups that say biodegradable on the bottom. Uber chic at any outdoor event I assure you. But before becoming comfortable plopping them in the ‘ol worm bin I had to do my due diligence of a compost professional. My report to you:

May it be known to all that composting of these biodegradable cups (and other plastic-ware) is indeed safe for your home composting setup, and depending on the item and method will take anywhere from 3-12 months. Earthworms will (more…)

Been doing a lot of coding and brainstorming on the site recently. All great things I assure you. The biggest project of course has been the “What to compost” page, and then setting up a little link on the front page with a random item and whether it’s green brown or neutral.

Future plans for this little database application is to have the C:N ratios listed on each one and let people be able to select a few items with a certain percentage and see if their mix is too much carbon based or nitrogen based. An interesting factoid I recently read is that your C:N is supposed to average out to about 25:1 to 30:1, so it shouldn’t be too tough to code in. I’m such a geek it’d actually be fun.

In other news I was stirring my worm bin up today, and found out that I don’t do it enough! The great worm castings was just sticking to the bottom in heaviness, I also noticed my worms like to hang out in the same area. Probably getting it on. Did you know it takes two worms to procreate? I’m going to write a post on worm procreation really soon, I find it uber interesante.

I just finished my first custom application for BalconyCompost! So exciting. There are a lot of sites that just list a bunch of things to compost. Which is a great start! But sometimes it’s important to have some more information, specifically the green and brown category, and equally important, extra info for vermicomposting!

Well wait no longer:

Check out our What Can You Compost? Page (more…)

So my latest and greatest goal for this site is to design and manufacture my own composting tools/bins etc… So right now I’m designing a composter to help along the Simple Style Composter by easily making it into a tumbler where two buckets would be attached and there would be legs to spin it and perhaps a base to catch the tea.

So I’ll be potentially working with Meridian Internation of local Centennial, CO on the design/patenting/manufacturing of the composters. I’ve already got my non-disclosure, now I’ve just got to get them an impressive/cost-efficient design.

In other news I’ve made some cool strides with the commercial compost at Cherokee Row. I talked with Mr. Parsley-Jason and it seems he is working on a project with the local high school ‘West’ on a greenhouse and vegetable garden setup. And there is an opportunity for me to jump in on the compost end of it and organize them to make sure they compost in the most efficient way possible. Tres chic!

As far as what we’d do in the back of the Cherokee Row I believe a big tumbler is going to be best suited. And I’m still slightly worried on where we’re going to come up with carbon materials although Jason seems to have an over-abundance of cardboard boxes. Did you know recycling is a mess in Denver? It’s true.

So I’m still experimenting on types of aeration to use for my worm bin. As we all know aeration is an important factor in any type of composting, so with worm bins we need to keep in mind aeration through the bottom holes of the bin as well stirring around the compost every once in awhile.

I originally tried to use wine bottles on the bottom, but as you can imagine it just wouldn’t stay in place. I managed to stabilize one side of it with a folded in beer can where it stayed in place til just a couple of days ago. After one of those ‘aha’ moments with the folded in beer can I decided upon another clever plan for my bin.

Yes that’s right. I just took a can opener to a can of beer and tada! A great method to lift & aerate your bin!

But wait, there’s more! Not only does it allow for better aeration but any excess moisture from the compost gets collected inside! It captures a great “just add water” compost tea to fertilize your plants with! Not to mention there is a lot of hear-say on whether or not beer is a good fertilizer, whether it does, the small amount left in the cans certainly won’t hurt.

Oh you read me correctly. I use a water gun. Whenever I empty out my kitchen compost pail into one of my balcony composters I clean the sides with a water gun. The original idea came from when I emptied the pail at my parents house I took a hose to it afterward. Well, I don’t have a hose, but I do have a water gun:

So I figure why not use it? Add some spice to the composting mix, in fact whatevers left from the pail I transfer to a watering vase to give those nutrients directly to my plants! I also do that on flips from my Simple Style Composter. It’s basically just a weak form of compost tea! Ah the wonders of water guns…

Who ever said you needed finish compost to do your gardening with? Surely not us here at Balconycompost.com! In fact we’d go as far as to say that concept is blasphemy. That’s right! Blasphemy. The most brilliant part about compost is that if it’s not done yet it will just keep on composting! Oh the wonders of nature.

So what are we getting at? If you’re still in your first few months of composting and perhaps don’t have any technically finished compost, aka humus, you can still do your gardening/re-potting/whatever. Of course it only makes sense (especially in potted plants) to use your most composted compost for it’s nutrients will be most readily available for your plants to dig their roots into.

Since we’re specializing in balconies and urban areas we are more concerned with how we utilize our compost in potted plants. To explain this in the best manner would be to utilize a drawing, (more…)

This article is from the “Balcony Compost Newsletter (Compost This!)” Please use the form on the right to sign up for the semi-monthly newsletter if you thought this information was helpful

Ah yes, summertime flies…sure does go fast. No silly, I’m talking about those little annoying flying things that always seem to be inside my kitchen scrap bin that I take out to the compost bin once a week. What can we do about them?

1. Have a kitchen bin big enough to fill with carbon layers. I use a 3 gallon rubber container with a lid. 4 bucks at Big Lots.
2. I suggest starting with plenty of shredded newspaper at the bottom and mix in your kitchen scraps when you get them. Keep adding more carbon if things get infected. It dries out your scraps and masks that succulent fruit smell those flies love so so much.

If you do have a lot of fruit flies, keep the lid on and take it outside before opening it and then let those suckers buzz away. Keep it outside and open a few hours during the day to dry out the materials inside. During fruit fly season you may want to plan on taking your compost to the outside bin more frequently.

I haven’t yet found the perfect solution, but having an air tight lid and a pet spider in the vicinity seem like a good idea.

This article is from the “Balcony Compost Newsletter (Compost This!)” Please use the form on the right to sign up for the semi-monthly newsletter if you thought this information was helpful

Paper as we all may know is carbon based. So it’s great to compost, right? Yes! BUT! There are lots of different types of paper out there and some are more compostable than others.

The best paper to use for composting is newspaper. This is because the great majority of newspapers use safe vegetable based dye for ink. The inserts, though, are no bueno. That’s because they aren’t made by the newspaper company and often are glossy and printed with inks with high metallic content.

The only reason you need to care about this though is if the compost is going to be used for edibles (like your tomatoes). Otherwise no biggy.

Normal office paper can also be composted. The reason pages are white is because they are bleached. Worms hate bleach. Bleach is a toxin so we can’t blame them. This also shouldn’t be composted for edibles.

Glossy paper is bad.

Make sure to shred your paper! The more surface area the better. For both the worms and the microbes.