Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Composting on a community level

[Kathryn Price Foster (kpricefoster]

We had the same problem when we started with worm composting.  Some good 
suggestions have been given here, though, that would be worth trying (adding 
more paper, etc., shredding organic by-products to pulp size).  
 
But what we did was shift to square stacking bins, which have been wonderful 
for us.  We use this for large amounts of organic kitchen waste as well as a 
large amount of leaf, plant, and grass materials.  I'm not a carpenter, but 
will try to describe it - we build our own stacking bins out of 6" wide boards, 
cut for 3 foot  by 3 foot square stacks.  In the corners of each stack is a 
rectangular "leg" that comes down possibly 1-2", adding air ventilation between 
each level of the stacks.  If built properly, the bins stack easily on top of 
one another - we go up 3-4 feet high on each composter, usually 6-8 stacking 
levels.  I suppose that one could use a sturdy wire mesh instead of boards for 
the siding, which would then not need to be replaced as often (the boards will 
break down over years of the soil and moisture), but we had a lot of scrap, 
leftover boards to use.
 
What makes the stacking bins great for us (other than being able to build them 
yourselves)  is that when our compost team goes to turn the compost each week 
or two, they just move the stacking bin levels over one by one, then use the 
pitchfork to toss over the compost material for each level as you go, adding 
water if needed, chopping up partially broken down potatoes, melon rinds, etc. 
as we go.  So, the top level on one bin then becomes the bottom level on the 
new bin.  You could make as many of these as you want, or have compostable 
material for.  For us, we have three bin areas, one (say area A) for material 
that is nearly done and so we do not add new material.  A second (area B) for 
active material adding, and a third area (area C) that is always empty, for 
turning the next bin into.  So, for instance, bin B is turned over into area C, 
then bin A is turned into area B.  The next time we turn the compost the 
oppositite, with bin B turned into area A, bin C turned into area B,
 etc.
 
I love community composting!  It's a great way for those who would never take 
the time to do it personally to participate.
 
Katie Price Foster
Allelous cohousing
forming Pasadena Area Cohousing www.pasacoho.org 
 

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