How to Save the World or Repurposing Your Kitchen Waste
The World Saved!
Kitchen Waste
You know, it’s all the stuff you refuse to eat and usually throw in the trash (or grind into oblivion with your garbage disposal). Such is the normal life of kitchen waste. But STOP! Can we possible raise this lowly cast off to a place of honor? YES, of course you can!
This simple practice will confirm beyond all doubt your eco-warrior status so act NOW. Here’s how I do it:
Collect Your Waste
Instead of trashing your waste (or wasting your trash) just put it into a closed container under your sink. Depending on how you prepare your vegetables it might actually be easier since you won’t have to clean it out of your sink. I even put coffee grounds, filter and all, into the container. I put everything organic except meat (beef, pork, poultry, etc). Seafood is OK if it’s not a lot. Shrimp peelings and egg shells? Sure.
Our Stainless Steel Under-sink Container
Consolidate Your Waste
You will need to transfer the waste under your sink to an outside container. I’ve never had a problem with odors but you might not want it under your bedroom window.
Our Repurposed “Sweetlick” Containers
If you happen to have a friend that runs cows they probably can give you some large plastic containers but I’m guessing most of you don’t have any cowboy friends. In that case a 25-30 gallon plastic garbage can WITH lid will work just fine.
Prepare the Outside Container
You need to have holes in the bottom of this container. The holes let fluids out; worms and other creatures in. The simplest way to do that is to drill 1/4” - 3/8” holes in the bottom. Drill a LOT of holes. Space them about 1/2” apart and cover the bottom with holes. Depending on the thickness of the plastic container adjust the width so that you don’t compromise the bottom too much. I put plastic screen in mine but holes might have been better.
Holes in Outside Container
Position your Container
As the kitchen waste decomposes it will leak out nutrients into the ground under it. Position it so that it will fertilize a plant. Mine is by the banana trees, which look really poor because of the freeze we got down here.
Wait Patiently
This step is mostly self explanatory. I fill one outside container and then switch to a second outside container. By the time I finish filling the second container the first container is ready to use. Yes, I know exactly what it looks like. In fact the two processes are very similar utilizing bacteria, fungi, and critters to do the work.
The Result of Waste and Patience
Utilize Your Results
The finished product is nearly 100% organic matter with no sand, rocks, dirt, etc. In fact it is surprisingly light because it has no sand or rocks which usually make up 45% of soil. This is NOT what you want to plant in, so if you use it for potting you must mix it with some top soil.
Alternatively you can just put it around your outside plants like mulch or fertilizer.
Our Happy Fig Tree (It’s been a hard winter for it)
Other Posts in this Series
Soil vs Dirt and Why It Matters
How We Kill Our Soil
Pretend you're a Worm or How to Love Your Soil
PS - If I don't cite a source for a photograph then it's one I took myself.
Ooo, I really like this idea. I thought about getting a compost barrel that you spin, but this seems so much more simple.
Things need to be simple or we won't incorporate them into ours lives. The spinning compost barrels are in my opinion just a marketing gimmick that really don't work that well.
I often look to nature for insight. If I can't find a corollary existing in nature/creation then it's probably not a good or viable idea. I mean, when was the last time you saw a spinning barrel growing in the woods? ;-)
Other than fill and empty them I do nothing to my containers except wait with patience.
Haha so true! I can handle filling and emptying. Plus, I love that worms can get in there.
What a great explanation and picture tutorial of saving waste and how to reuse it. GREAT for the garden!
I have yet to do a compost bucket or anything... yet.
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Thank you both. I've been working hard to get my recent posts out of the dirt but I seem to be stuck here for a while ;-)
You have received an upvote from @livesustainably. I promote and curate content that encourages and educates others in living sustainably. You can support the live sustainably cause on Steemit by upvoting, resteeming and creating content under the tag #livesustainably.
Thank you
Wow, I really like the idea of letting it drain directly onto the ground to be used by the plants. I bet this would also help in a green house to produce a little heat
I'm not sure how much heat it produces as it's a slower process than what most folks think of as "composting." I know it doesn't get hot enough to kill seeds which will volunteer later when you use the compost. ;-) I often have squash growing at the base of my fruit trees, but that's OK with me. One less planting I have to do.
I love volunteers! This is a great idea. We cleared some dish water outside once and grew a bunch of tomatoes outside our front door!
i just remembered that i saw some 5 lb buckets with holes already in them - i'd love to give this a go THIS WEEKEND. i know there's mesh or wire hidden somewhere in the shop.
Five gallon buckets could work but you'll need several of them because the process will take a while. After you fill the bucket you have to just let it sit until it turns to black, nasty stuff.
I wouldn't use any metal screen or mesh.
cool - i've got nothing but time on my hands to let it all break down!
I found you through my buddy whatamidoing 's deadpost initiative and checked out your profile. As I see you post about homesteading and I seriously consider to move to Portugal to live a completely different kind of life (am kind of in a transition phase right now, thanks to Steemit and the blockchain), I will definitely keep an eye on your blog. I feel I can definitely learn from you.
Saludos,
Vincent
@whatamidoing Deadpost Initiative is a great idea and effort.
I've not been to Portugal yet, but all reports I've heard is it's a hidden gem in Europe. Surf's great and land is cheap. And well, the porto is very good!
Off the grid "homesteading" isn't easy and there's a LOT to learn if you don't want to die but it's fun. It's also something you can learn slowly, step by step wherever you are, even in your back yard in the village or city.
Best of luck in your transition and let us know how it's going.