When most of us think of compost bins we don’t think of life changing composting ideas for our outdoor vegetable or flower gardens.
Life Changing Composting Ideas
But composting has evolved and is not just for the outdoors anymore.
Indoor composting is an option even for those without a garden.
A worm composting bin or bokashi bucket can help reduce the strain on our landfills and provide you with a source of rich nutrients for your houseplants or garden.
They also make it possible to compost year-round even when our outdoor compost bins are shut down because of cold weather.
Why Buy Compost Bins?
You could build an open compost pile or basic open bin yourself, assuming you have the room but these have many disadvantages.
First, they are slow at making compost. Rodents and other undesirable animals could pose a problem.
Your neighbors may complain about the smell. Finally, there is the chore of turning them with a garden fork which can be strenuous.
You can find plans for your own worm composter or bokashi bucket for sure but they will likely not work as well as an engineered product and in some cases may not work at all.
It is often cheaper, faster, and easier, in the long run, to buy compost bins since they are available in a variety of styles, sizes, and designs. a
They will outperform an open compost heap or pile or bin.
In the case of indoor composting, you will want something designed to be odor-free.
Finally, not everyone is handy or has the time for a DIY project.
You will find a much greater selection of products online than you could ever find at your local Lowes or Home Depot.
Millions of Americans have discovered online shopping provides greater selection, lower prices, saves time and gas, and offers the added convenience of door-to-door delivery.
Find The Best Compost Bins For Indoors
More people view composting and recycling as a way of life now. So it should come as no surprise composting has become an indoor activity too.
With the pandemic, people are staying home more than ever and are finding new interests and looking for new projects.
Here are some kitchen and indoor composting ideas you may want to consider.
Bokashi Composters
Bokashi composting is a totally natural and revolutionary way to deal with your kitchen waste.
It is an anaerobic process that uses bacteria, yeast, and other microbes to break food down without odor.
Developed in Japan, the word bokashi means fermented organic matter. The finished product has a sweet pickled smell to it and the process is similar to making what farmers call silage
It is fast and unlike worm composting it can handle meat and dairy products which is a great benefit.
Compost Tumblers
Rolling compost tumblers are simply rolled to aerate the compost every few days.
This speeds up the composting process and eliminates the need for an aerator or garden fork.
They keep the elements and animals out, provide odor control and other than giving them an occasional roll in the yard are low maintenance.
The main disadvantage is they can get heavy and hard to roll as they fill.
Compost tumblers on the other hand are designed to turn easily.
Because they don’t need to be rolled around they use less space.
Because of their design and ease of use they can handle and process larger amounts of compost.
This makes them a popular choice among gardeners. The only disadvantage is because they are more sophisticated in design they are more expensive.
Check out compost tumblers on Amazon here
Composting Bins
Enclosed composting bins offer some advantages over an open bin. They are not unsightly like an open bin or pile.
They are enclosed which helps keep animals out and provides some protection from the elements and some odor control.
They are compact which makes them a good choice where space is limited. They offer the advantage of limited maintenance.
Their main disadvantage is they are relatively slow unless aeration is provided.
Composting Books
There are many books on composting ranging from very basic to books for those who want something more scientific in nature.
Maybe you fancy yourself becoming a worm farmer or have acreage and want to ramp your composting up on a larger scale. You can find the information you need in books.
Composting Toilets
Got a vacation home? Maybe you need another toilet at home but have a problem hooking to a septic tank or sewer line.
Composting toilets can be a real problem solver and take many forms.
Some use no water at all while some use small amounts.
They are mini on-site waste treatment plants that produce pathogen-free compost.
These are not like your average porta potty by any means. They actually can give off less odor than a conventional toilet.
That is because they provide an enclosed environment where aerobic composting can occur.
All composting toilets inject air to speed the composting process up. Some have mixers and heaters to optimize decomposition.
Many use worms or other micro and macro-organisms.
Some composting toilets are self-contained units while others empty into a remote holding tank located in the basement or even outside.
They can run on as little as 12 volts or regular household current.
Composting Tools
There are a variety of specialized composting tools and composting aids available to you.
This includes thermometers, aerators and compost additives like starters and accelerators.
Composting Worms
If you want to speed up your compost pile red worms can help.
If you want a worm composting bin you will need a starter batch of red worms.
Don’t try to save money by getting worms from a bait shop.
There are many species of worms and not all make compost.
Get your worms from a worm farm that specializes in raising disease free worms for composting
Kitchen Composters
Kitchen composters are made in a variety of styles and for a variety of uses.
Some are simple plastic buckets designed to temporarily hold scraps until they go in a compost bin.
Others are more decorative and designed not to look like they hold kitchen scraps.
Some more sophisticated kitchen composters are designed to completely process kitchen waste indoors and many have features to help them remain odor free.
Rain Barrels
Rain barrels are a great way to save and conserve rainwater for your garden.
You might be amazed at just how much water comes off your roof when it rains.
Some rain barrels are designed to simply store water and come with a simple spigot.
Some rain barrels are hybrids that are a combination rain barrel and compost tumbler designed to make compost and compost tea simultaneously.
Worm Composting Bins
Worm composting bins are in a class of their own.
These versatile units use red worms to help speed up the composting process.
They are compact and generally odor free.
They can be used both inside and out and are an ideal solution for those with limited space.
Worm compost bins are a great way to get rid of kitchen scraps and paper and 
they offer year-round composting.
Those living in apartments can now make their own compost for their plants.
Worm bins require little maintenance once set up and are easy to care for.
The only disadvantage they have is keeping the temperature from getting too cold or hot.
They need to be kept above 40 degrees and below 80 degrees.
Many users keep them in the kitchen, a garage, or a basement with great success while others move them inside and out with the seasons.
Life Changing Composting Ideas Final Thoughts
Composting is an excellent way to reduce waste and improve your gardening.
With a little planning, you can easily compost at home using kitchen scraps, paper, and even red worms.
By using rain barrels, worm bins, and other tools, you can make composting easy and odor-free.
With a little effort, you can change your life and the environment for the better with composting.
