Composting in an apartment?

[MrsM]

I know it's possible, but I'm trying to figure out if it's realistic to compost or not. We're moving soon, and it's possible that we might have some outdoor space, depending on what kind of living arrangements we can find. Right now, we don't have any outdoor space, can't put anything outside our apartment door (even though it's a corner), and don't really have plants to fertilize with compost.

If you compost, how do you do it? Does it make sense for apartment living, especially if we don't have a garden or anything? What do we do with it if we don't have a use for it? What if we don't have space outside?

I hate the thought of just throwing away stuff that could be useful in some way. But I have no idea how that would work for us, KWIM?

[glorified_rice]

Hi MrsM,
I am trying to get the word out on a different kind of composting called Bokashi. You can find lots of good information HERE
and you can order another kind of system HERE.
Bokashi is great for people who live in apartments or small spaces with limited yard space. The only problem with it is that you need a place to put the material after it has fermented. I'm sure if you email Al at the above link, he could help you figure out what to do with it. The benefit to Bokashi is that it takes up very little space, you can put any kind of food into it (including meat, bones, eggs, and oils) and it does not produce odors or bugs. You can actually just store the container in your kitchen. It is wonderful for plants and produces a nutrient rich compost tea that would be great for houseplants. If more people knew about it, they would probably be clamoring to take it off of your hands. I still have a conventional compost pile in our yard and use it for fruit and veggie scraps as well as yard waste and then I use the Bokashi for all of the rest.

[Denvergirlie]

you can vermicompost any place with worms. No smell, I promise

[MrsM]

Thanks! I'll look into both of those options and see what will work for us.

[ErikaLeigh]

We are getting things together for the vermicompost!

[ASusan]

I did vermicomposting in 4 apts I lived in.

Used a plastic tote bin, with the cover underneath as a drip catcher. I put several holes in the bottom for drainage, although I'm not entirely sure this was necessary or successful. (I think the holes got filled with soil easily.)

Put layers of shredded/crumbled newspaper or paper bags alternately with "green" things from your kitchen. Crush the eggshells, or you will contine to see them whole.

Cover with a square of an old sheet. Use a large rubber band or elastic around the entire top, so the worms don't crawl out, and you don't get friut flies. The fabric over the top allows for air to circulate and keeps anaerobic (smelly) activity to a minimum.

I would put food scraps into a corner and cover the corner. By the time I got back to that corner (rotating the corners I used), most of the food would have been composted.

I used the compost in houseplants. We also had enough worms at one point to give them away to other composters. I harvested compost only once a year or so (when it was only myself contributing).


ETA: The worms will crawl out if it's too wet, or they don't have enough food.

In the various apartments, I kept the bin:

1. under the kitchen sink. (used a bucket that was ~2-3 gallons)
2. In the kitchen, in front of the door to the basement. If we got fruit flies, put the worm bin in the basement for a week or 2.
3. Behind the sofa, under the sofa table.
4. In the entry-way with the cat box and dehumidifier. (basement apartment - never again!)

[SusannahM]

The vermicomposting sounds neat!

Here's a recipe for bokoshi composting material:
http://www.cityfarmer.org/bokashi.html

You all have inspired me! I hate throwing away scraps, too. Now, to find a place to put something like that...

[Alcyone]

Hello, I am trying to decide what the best way is here. Bokashi can apparently handle meat, which vermicomposting cannot, right? Can either/both handle paper, cloth, and other non-food items? Just trying to weigh the strengths of both methods. Thanks!