Put A Compost Pail In Your KitchenInvest in a compost pail, crock, or bucket to help make composting a whole lot easier on you! If you have a compost bin or compost tumbler in your backyard, you probably keep a constant eye open for any scraps you might be able to throw in to make your compost richer. But how many times do you find yourself making the trip outside just to throw in a banana peel or a piece of rotten fruit? How many times do you let those yucky scraps sit out on the kitchen counter before you have a chance to run outside? And how many times have you given up and tossed your scraps away, only to fish them out later? Or worse, what goes in the garbage disposal never gets to feed your garden. Well, here is a simple solution to your woes, and it can be found on line at many garden and specialty stores. Simply purchase yourself a compost pail, which is often also called a compost crock or compost bucket. These stainless steel or ceramic pails blend in to your decor and take up only a small amount of your kitchen counter. They come with a fitted lid and are often lined with charcoal, which helps to absorb odors and keep them out of your kitchen. Typically, a compost pail will hold up to three quarts and take up no more than a half a foot diameter of your kitchen counter. And most come sleekly designed with a handle to help you to transport a heavy load with ease. What Goes In The Compost BucketBut what exactly should you put in your compost pail that comes from your household? Well, kitchen waste is definitely the best to work with, as you want to use organic and natural substances. Be sure to chop up the scraps as finely as possible so that they can decompose and break down at a faster rate.Fruits and vegetables are the best waste to use, especially seeds, leaves, skins, and peels. Shredded corncobs are excellent to add, as are eggshells and coffee grounds (tip: coffee grounds can also be added directly to your flower beds without composting to make the soil deep and rich!). The human that lives in the house in front of my garden even runs his junk mail and newspapers through one of those office shredder things and adds it to my compost pile. I was surprised. It works pretty well. Gnomes don’t get any junk mail. And What Doesn'tNever add meat, dairy products, or anything containing grease, fat or oils. The exposed meat or fats can give off a pungent odor, and the dairy curdles quickly. Gnomes have an extremely sensitive sense of smell, nineteen times better than the average human...you wouldn't want the smell of your garden to drive us away, would you? Not to mention that these tainted goods can kill soil microbes and draw rodents and other pests to your compost. Larger wild animals may even tear apart your bin to get to the food. I'd hate to see this happen...what a waste!Empty your pail once or twice a week, and watch your compost pile effortlessly grow! Happy gardening, Geefrank
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