The Compospin and the Envirocycle both offer convenient tool free mixing options to keep your compost aerated.

Traditional composting is especially great for people with yards or for those that are going to generate a lot of kitchen waste. You can successfully compost in everything from a pile or trench… all the way up to a big tumbling barrel. Nothing is better at processing large amounts of material, but maintaining the right balance of ingredients, moisture, and aeration can sometimes be a problem.

Vermicomposting or Worm Composting offers up a slightly squigglier option. Worms eat and aerate the soil continuously as they wriggle around, which makes them a great low maintenance option. Simple stay away from adding too many acidic scraps and they will pretty much regulate themselves as long as you keep adding vegetable matter into their home. Worms are much faster than traditional compost piles and produce a great rich “compost tea” which can be diluted and added to your garden. There are a number of ways to get started with worms. There are even ready to go kits like the “Can O Worms” and tower setups from Worm Factory

The latest home composting option comes from Japan. Called Bokashi it utilizes a different approach to processing. It employs a number of anaerobic microbes to ferment or pickle the scraps, which means it works best in sealed containers. You can think of it as a sort of “dirt yogurt.” You inoculate the container with a mixture full of the beneficial microbes after every addition of new material. This technique can create compost in as little as two weeks. It also works on foods like meat and cheese which you would leave out when using the other two methods. Even before the container is full you can harvest a nutrient rich “bokashi tea” which you can use to fertilize plants, help out your septic system, or even use to help maintain your drains.

There is a huge selection of great looking compost pails… like this Simple Human, this ceramic one, or this bamboo option.

Bokashi works in sealed containers of any size so you can fit it anywhere. You can even use it in conjunction with a compost pile as it will help speed up that process as well.

With composting and a home garden you can take your kitchen scraps or left overs and turn them into another great meal! It’s a great activity that’s easy to work into your routine and helps make a brighter, greener, and healthier future.