Making compost on a patio or balcony was out of the question, I thought. But then I finally figured out a way and have now harvested numerous tubs of beautiful crumbly rich brown sweet smelling compost.
Choosing a Compost Bin For Your Patio
Take a big empty plastic tub of washing detergent, the 32lb size is perfect. Give it a good wash out, then drill about six holes in the base, about 1cm in diameter. Don't make them too small – it’s important that the waste matter can drain easily. Put a 5cm layer of soil on the bottom then start to add your waste. Keep the lid on at all times.
What to Put in the Compost Bin
Green waste rots quickly and provides nitrogen and moisture: vegetable peelings, fruit skins and cores, vacuum cleaner dust, broken up egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, cut flowers, but not hard woody stems. Keep a small lidded container on the counter top to collect kitchen waste to save numerous trips to the compost bin.
Brown waste from torn up egg cartons, small amounts of shredded newspaper, lint from the tumble dryer, and plant prunings rot more slowly and provide fibre and carbon, leaving air pockets to help the compost to decompose. Don't add anything that has been cooked, or any meat and dairy products.
When you've got a layer about 8cm deep, add a sprinkling of soil and repeat until you reach the top of the bin. Mark the bin as number one, then start another! To speed things up, add a couple of handfuls of Garotta Compost Maker on each layer.
How Long Before the Waste Composts?
It’s important to allow excess water to drain from the bin. Stand it on a couple of pieces of wood about 5 cm thick to enable the contents to drain out. If it becomes waterlogged the compost will take years to mature. Put it in a sunny spot and it will decompose more quickly. In the average climate you should have nice crumbly compost in about nine months. In colder climates it will take longer.
From time to time, give the contents of the bin a good stirring up. Also it’s a good idea to tip it out, then mix it up and put it back so it’s thoroughly broken down.
I had a lemon tree which I had just about given up on. No fruit, even no leaves, it was destined to be thrown out. Then I tried it with a thick layer of compost. Bingo, it is now covered with leaves and loving its second life.
Valery Garrett - I was born in England but I’ve lived in Hong Kong for over thirty years. At first I worked as a fashion designer for some large ...
