As of 24 Jan 2020, it has been roughly 9 months that I have not sent any raw vegetable waste go to the municipal bin. I have been experimenting with varied success.
I harvested a batch of compost that I could incorporate in planting on 17 Jan 2020.
I harvested a batch of compost that I could incorporate in planting on 17 Jan 2020.
My criterion for success are the following:
- Should be well 'digested' and soil-like [Not a wet lump of still rotting mass]
- Should be odour free
- Should crumble slightly if rubbed using two fingers
- Should not kill plants but rather make the grow better (i.e. more robust, better foliage, bushier etc.)
Here is my journey in reverse chronological order (includes success and failures):
2020 Feb 06
Summary:
- Bag 01 burst. Contents transferred to new bag.
- Rats attacked and made a hole in Bag 02. Contents transferred to new bag.
- Bag 03 started for fresh compost.
Bag 02 with Rat attacked Hole
Bag 01A(4.5 kg)
This is the existing compost from the older Bag 01 that split. Names 01A to retain continuity:
- No evidence of earthworms. Assume they did not survive :(
- Compost a little too wet at the bottom (leachate accumulated)
- Added Crumbled brown leaves and turned the compost over
- Bokashi bran added
- Evidence of small white worms or larvae
- Compost temperature 33.7 deg c
Bag 02A(1.5 kg)
This is the existing compost from the older Bag 02 that the rats had a go at. Named 02A to retain continuity:
- No evidence of earthworms. Assume they did not survive :(
- Compost a little too wet at the bottom (leachate accumulated)
- Added Crumbled brown leaves and turned the compost over
- Bokashi bran added
- Evidence of small white worms or larvae
- Compost temperature 33.7 deg c
Note:
- My hand is included to give a sense of scale
Bag 03(not weighed)
New compost bag started to accommodate fresh material since Bag 01 & Bag 02A are full:
- Freshly chopped vegetable waste from kitchen added.
- Added a little bit of old coffee grinds remaining
- Added tea leaves from green tea + chamomile tea bags and coffee grinds from brewing
- Added crumbled brown leaves
- Added Bokshi bran + sprayed water & mixed
2020 Jan 23
Added earthworms to 2 bags:
Bag 01(4.5 kg)
This contained:
- Crumbled brown leaves
- Compost from successful bokashi bran batch
- Fresh vegetable waste (chopped orange peels, broccoli stems, coffee grinds)
- Bokashi bran
About 4 earthworms with medium released. 1 large, 2 tiny, 1 wriggling segment.
Included
Bag 02(1 kg approx.)
This contained:
- Crumbled brown leaves
- Rotting un-successful batch (large clump, with quite bit of odour)
- Fresh vegetable waste (chopped orange peels, broccoli stems, coffee grinds, bean pods)
- Bokashi bran
About 2 earthworms with medium released. 2 tiny
2020 Jan 17
Harvest of 'good' useable compost
