www.ImproveYourHomeandGarden.com

Short Step from Compost Bin to Backyard Farmer

by Amity Hook-Sopko on February 2, 2010

Millions of people are on the path to a greener lifestyle. It doesn’t matter where you are along your journey; the important thing is to keep taking steps forward… even baby steps count!

What’s a green baby step? Changing out your light bulbs for CFLs, planting a tree, grabbing a sweatshirt instead of cranking up the heat on a cold day – these are great examples of things it doesn’t take much effort to change. And they add up to big results over time.

But what about the bigger steps? Some, like installing a solar panel or geothermal energy system, are intimidating because of the initial investment costs. Others aren’t expensive, but we have the impression that they’ll take too much time or effort. Case in point: Composting.

Attractive Compost Piles Are The Ones You Can’t See: Compost Bins
Jon & Cindy Bake of Bake’s Binster in Portland, OR, say composting gets a bum rap for being messy, smelly, or time consuming. Cindy Bake tells us, “The most common complaint we hear that homeowners don’t like an unsightly heap of compost in the backyard. They want it contained in something that looks good, is easy to use, and gets more air circulation.”

Bake’s Binster has done more than just solve their clients’ compost problem, they’ve taken backyard farming to a whole new level with attractive compost bins, or combination bins and storage shed, chicken coop, rabbit hutch, or pigeon cage. All of Bake’s Binsters are made locally in Portland from high quality, long lasting materials.

How To Compost With a Binster Compost Bin
Rather than composting in a pile, a cedar Binster can be tucked into the corner of your garden. Bake’s Binster designs each custom-size to match your household’s volume of green waste. The roof protects compost from the elements, and the clever design hides compost from view, with slats that are easily removed to make turning your compost a breeze.

The Bakes offer these tips on how to start composting with a Binster:

Start your compost in the first bin on bare ground. Cut, shred or chop debris to increase airflow over the materials. Using the lasagna method, layer brown & green materials to maintain good carbon-to-nitrogen ratios. Top heap with leaves or soil. Monitor heat and moisture levels; add water or dry materials. Remove the front slats; turn the new compost every 4-7 days.
After 3-4 weeks, transfer compost to next bin, folding outside of pile to the middle. Turn periodically until compost becomes dark brown with earthy smell and crumbly texture.
Transfer compost to the final bin until you’re ready to use it.
Use compost as a soil amendment, top dressing or mulch. Make compost tea to give seedlings a boost or rejuvenate ailing plants. Add compost to outdoor pots and houseplants.
Add a Chicken Coop, and You’re an Instant Backyard Farmer
We’re learning more every day about the poor conditions, disease, and — of factory farmed chickens. Keeping hens is an excellent way to protect your family’s health and lessen the demand for factory farms. Your own chicken coop will provide more nutritious eggs, natural fertilizer, compost, and pesticide-free insect control.

Cindy Bake says another problem their customers have is animals getting into chicken coops. That’s not a problem with Bake’s Binster coops. “Our coops are sturdy and we use 14 gauge galvanized wire that keep predators out.”

The Future of Composting
The Bakes say they think as more states and municipalities encourage environmental awareness, the backyard composter will be the natural way to go. They anticipate neighborhoods, schools, and restaurants to start composting.

“We want to help broaden the understanding of compost use and promote grassroots awareness of composting. Educating by promoting the use of renewable resources in landscaping, horticulture and agriculture. Most of all making compost a habit,” that’s the goal at Bake’s Binster.

Worm bins are for composting food waste using red worms. Vegetable and fruit scrapes and shredded paper are added on a regular basis and the worms eat them and it turns into vermi-compost or “castings.”

Place a tray underneath to collect any excess moisture.
Place the lid on the bin to conserve the moisture and provide darkness for the worms and invasion of rodents.

Your worm bin can be placed outdoors, basement, shed or balcony. The ideal inside bin temperature is 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep out of direct sunlight during the summer and if outdoors in the winter move indoors if temperatures drop below freezing.

Generally 1 pound of worms are needed per bin. Red worms “red wigglers” or “manure worms” are recommended because they quickly process food waste in vermi-compost.

Worm Bedding – Good Bedding includes shredded newspaper, cardboard, brown leaves, straw or untreated wood sawdust. Fill the bin 3/4 full with bedding and dampen with water, do no soak. Add a handful or 2 of dirt to provide grit that is necessary for the worms digestion. During the next several months the worms will eat the bedding. Add more bedding as necessary.

Harvesting Your Compost – After several months the mixture will turn dark and crumbly and the compost castings will have collected on the bottom of the bin. This means it’s time to harvest your compost and add new bedding.

Feeding – Feed the worms on only one side of the bin. After a few weeks the worms will migrate to that side, then move the bedding from the whole bin to that side. Remove the finished compost from the other side and use in your houseplants, seedlings or garden.

Add new bedding to empty side of bin and moisten. When you add food place it under the new bedding. The worms will migrate to the new food and bedding to eat. Repeat every several months.

Healthy worm bins are a home to a community of beneficial fungi, insects and other organisms. So if you see sowbugs, beetles and creepy crawlies don’t worry, they are ok.

WORM FOOD DO NOT FEED
~vegetable scrapes ~meat or fish
~coffee & tea grounds & filters ~dairy products
~bread – no butter or mayonnaise ~greasy or oily foods
~fruit peels & pulp ~pet waste