Q: I'm a college student, and I'm living in an apartment on campus. I want to compost my fruits, vegetables, and tea bags in my apartment but I do not know how to start. Unfortunately, my apartment does not have a garden or a balcony, but I have several indoor plants. How do you start composting in an apartment without a garden or a balcony?
Sent by Mia
Editor: Mia, you are not alone! This is a common problem, for college students and urban dwellers alike. Fortunately, we have written a lot about this already and received great tips from readers in similar situations. One thing you could do is start your own indoor worm composting system. (It's easier than it sounds!) Check out these posts for more:
• How To Start a Home Worm Composting System
• Good Question: Composting Without a Yard?
• Small Space Composting Solutions
• Urban Composting
Other suggestions for Mia?
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Oh how it warms my heart to hear this. Hooray for compost!
Wormicompost is a great solution. Sadly worms are not cuddly pets but they are fascinating.
You should see if your area has any community composting efforts too. In Milwaukee (WI) the Milwaukee Community Compost Network (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=290589700284) has sites in the Riverwest and Bayview neighborhoods that accept materials from the neighborhood and area businesses, and Growing Power would probably take your stuff. Several community gardens also have piles to which you might contribute. More and more organizations are popping up around the country doing community compost so seek out your local one.
If your campus has an agriculture program it might also have some options.
Yay dirt!
MaryWynn, do you know if there's anyone in Racine County accepting materials?
I have a very similar problem - and I don't want to do a worm bin or buy a pricey composter.
Awhile ago, I read a random online blog about making a composter out of two 5-gallon buckets and some soil. It is a slower composting process. I just wish there was more comprehensive instructions for doing it!
Another question to consider: How does one keep little pests like ants and roaches out of the indoor compost bin? I feel that, in my student studio apartment anyway, that this would be a big concern.