Talking Trash Day 9: Composting

Photo Courtesy of Kessner Photography

Have you ever heard of the book Worms Eat My Garbage? Written by Mary Applehof, Worms Eat My Garbage: How to Set Up and Maintain a Worm Composting System is the book for you if you are a) interested in recycling your food scraps, and b) live in a moderate climate with a year round annual temperature between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you haven’t yet and are committed to leading a green lifestyle that includes monitoring your trash, then check out Worms Eat My Garbage and begin your very own adventure with worms and composting.

My own journey as a composter and worm lover began several summers ago when another green mommy suggested I check out Applehof’s book. A few hours (and chapters) later, I sat down to a romantic dinner with my husband to talk worms. Not always the great enthusiast for some of my ideas (he’ll never go for living without toilet paper), he dismissed my first idea and said that a compost would stink up our apartment. Friends, who I invited into our discussion, sided with my husband saying that food scraps could more efficiently be managed with the garbage disposal.

A year passed. Everyday I was growing greener and greener, swapping out household goods to organic and homemade items and often choosing not to make a purchase at all (now I think the greenest thing we can do for our planet is to not buy anything). Then we moved to our townhouse where, though we do not own much land, there is enough land to support a small vegetable garden and a flower garden. My wheels started turning yet again when our new neighbors told us about their multiple compost systems (not only did they have worms but they had a big rotting pile of compost in 2 of their gardens). One afternoon I paid a visit to our neighbors to see and smell the worms for myself. Let me tell you. These worms smelled delicious (not to eat of course! I am vegetarian afterall). There was no odor, and I even awed over them because little baby worms were wriggling all over the place. Oh, and Annabelle thought the worms were fantastic.

Finally, around the time I turned 27, I told my husband that I wanted to get the worms for my birthday. After a little bit of web browsing, I located a worm dealer and compost container who not only got me started by giving me a good price but who called me to guide me through the process of creating a worm bed.

The day the worms arrived my husband and I went out to the backyard, gathered some dirt and leaves and got started brewing up our compost. An hour or so later, our little wriggling guys were squirming all over the place in our very own compost. And, I’ll say it again, the worms didn’t stink one bit. Not at all.

Over the summer, we collected food scraps, learned that chopping the scraps into small pieces helps the worms more easily digest, and sort of stepped back and let the worms do their thing. Oh boy do those little hermaphrodites like to make worm castings (or awesome worm poop that is super yummy for our plants)! Some weeks I would forget to visit my wormy friends, but they usually do fine, so long as we feed them well (and watch that we don’t overfeed them–that creates a stink).

So, if you’re interested in starting your own worm compost (or any compost at all), there are a few ways to get started (although I totally recommend Worms Eat My Garbage for a more precise way for getting started).

1. Decide what kind of compost bin you want. The size of your home and yard may factor into your decision unless you keep your compost at a community garden or a neighbor’s house.

2. Learn what is good for your compost and your worms. Worms love fruit and veggie scraps (although we avoid adding citrus), newspaper, egg shells, egg cartons, and bread. We avoid adding bones, meat (from my husband’s diet), and any trash that is not biodegradable (but you can read my earlier posts about fun ways to use or recycle non-biodegradable trash).

3. Keep a trash inventory. Note the number of bags of trash your family produces each week and also what kinds of trash you produce.

4. Order your worms. Your worms will likely arrive with instructions on how to prepare their bed. Read these carefully. Make their bed.

5. Start composting. Pay attention to the mixture of scraps and trash, keeping it oxygenated and damp.

The advantages of creating and maintaining a composting system are abundant so far as our planet is concerned. Not only are you making something from otherwise unusable food scraps (that would otherwise rot in a landfill) but your compost will become a nourishing meal for your yard and garden. Free food!

What are your thoughts on composting? Do you keep a compost? Would you like to? If you compost, what tips do you have for those of us who are new to it? Thanks again for sharing!