Archives:

009: Adventures in Composting

Turn decay into PURE GOLD with compost expert Ginny Black

Listen now | 18 minutes, 2 seconds

Composting - it's not just the stuff rotting in a heap out back, it's the key to tastier vegetables, brighter flower beds, and getting a better handle on a little something called "the cycle of life and death." Listen in as the Eco Chicks talk with Ginny Black, of the U.S. Composting Council, about what to include in your special bin of decay. Hint: toenail clippings good, dog poop bad.

Published on May 28, 2008 at 2:30 p.m., as part of the The Little Green People Show.

Comments (7):

Peter Z. commented, on June 4, 2008 at 9:06 p.m.:

I looked at that list of 163 things I can compost and am so pleased to finally find a place for my granite dust and my molasses residue.

Susan from Indiana commented, on June 5, 2008 at 9:57 p.m.:

I have a straight up and down bin -- just a box, really. I'm new to composting. How do I turn it or mix it up when it's all down at the bottom of this deep box?

laurene commented, on June 8, 2008 at 1:07 p.m.:

Hi Susan - this is really hard to answer without knowing the bin - does it have panels that easily life off - maybe on the side or bottom? You can scoop stuff out from those pitch a pitchfork or shovel and then put it back on top - otherwise you may just have to dig it out, make a pile or put it in a wheel barrow or something and then put it back in. If you come to the nature museum you can see a variety of styles of bins and see if there is a kind that works well for you.

Christie commented, on June 12, 2008 at 1:40 p.m.:

COMPOST BIN SALE!
Come one, come all to to get your discounted compost bin from the City of Chicago.
Where: U.S. Cellular Field, 333 W. 35th St. (at 35th and the Dan Ryan)
When: Saturday, June 21st. 8am-3pm
Rules: Bins are $30, one per Chicago household per year. Payable by check or money order only.
More questions: Call the Chicago Department of Environment at (312) 744-7606.

Stephenie commented, on June 21, 2008 at 2:52 p.m.:

Hi Laurene and Jill! To answer your question about clam shells and can they be composted, the answer is YES! Though, Jill your comment about crushing very true; crushing them will help them breakdown faster. Leaving them whole and in a typical home composter (not a large, very hot industrial composter) it may take years for them to decompose.
Other seashells and cretaceous matter can be composted, too. Mussels, oysters, crab, lobster, and shrimp shells are all allowable in your compost. The links above will provide you listeners with a heap of information!

Jack Shedd commented, on June 21, 2008 at 3:45 p.m.:

I like it!

Lisa commented, on July 16, 2008 at 11:44 p.m.:

Fun show! Thanks.

Food scrap digesters are an easy way for many people to 'compost.' Especially people who don't have a lot of space or are lazy like me! And it's very close to the way ma' nature does it. She just throws stuff around willy nilly and lets it rot! Take a bin or a bucket with a good fitting lid, cut the bottom off, put it on the ground somewhere and dump in your food scraps. The native worms and bacteria and fungus will come and help break down your waste. This works great for pet waste too (you want to locate it away from water sources and probably not use the compost from this on food crops.) If critters are a big problem you might want to weight the top with something heavy. I like to put some spent coffee grounds in first as the worms love these. Wormy bribery. And if your ground is hard like a rock then give it a good soak. Worms can't move through rock.

Lisa C. at http://www.theLisaSolution.com