Task Specialization

We separate the solids from the liquids at first for different parts of the composting process.

This is a strainer over a bucket. It lets the liquids go through and keeps the solids on top.

I pour the blue bucket into the collander this time and then put the solids back into the blue bucket. They will go downstairs into the worm bin. The liquids will go to the wood chip pile.

I'm having a bit of a challenge with fruit flies in our worm bin, but worms are the best way to compost kitchen scraps for us. Then, after the tumbler is finished with the larger stuff, the worms finish that off, too.

The Blue Bucket Cycle

We keep a three-gallon bucket by our sink for kitchen scraps and non-soapy water.

The worm bin component of the water / compost operation

Problems in the worm bin in the spring include fruit flies. Here we are cleaning out a couple of trays to start over.

 https://youtu.be/8HsSr8zXch4

Grandma Kirk and Grandma Shaver on the portch of the big house at Lake Tahoe, California. (date, before the deck remodel, before Grandma Kirk died at 98, born 1898, so that would make it before the year 2000, but it was way before that. Before dad died in 1987? I hadn't yet gone to Pasadena. It was still when we were spending a few weeks of the summer out of town. The 1970's? possibly. [This was written without my glasses. Please forgive any typos.] Peace.

How We've Used Coffee Grounds

Compost ingredient Worm castings fill, absorbant Worm bin filler, carbon buffer, worm food Ant and bug repellent, suppressant Top dressing Compost food, renourishment Air freshener Exercise excuse (sifting the disks to break them up, walking to pick them up, carrying them back) Thank you, Starbucks

Volunteer mangos

Tomato Self Defense