| Like many would be gardeners, you may want to | | | | celery tops, apple cores and banana peels, onion |
| be a responsible citizen and start your own | | | | skins and any other unwanted parts of the |
| compost bin in the rear garden. Composting is the | | | | vegetable or fruit that is inedible. You can also add |
| practice of recycling plant vegetation, dead leaves | | | | coffee grounds, tea bags and potato peels to the |
| and organic kitchen scraps into a robust material | | | | pail for safe keeping. |
| rich in minerals and nutrients like nitrogen. It is a | | | | As you can see there are many foods that can |
| natural process that has existed since the dawn | | | | be added to the pail, but as with anything, there |
| of time and creates a rich dark soil that feeds | | | | other kitchen scraps that SHOULD NOT end up in |
| new plant growth. | | | | your compost pail. Some of these items include: |
| If you are new to composting, you can add many | | | | - Meat, fish or chicken |
| different organic items to the compost bin. Some | | | | - Animal Bones |
| of these items come from the kitchen like coffee | | | | - Eggs, Milk, cheese or any other dairy products |
| grounds, egg shells and discarded vegetable | | | | (Eggshells are OK) |
| peelings. If you are not careful, storing these | | | | Having these items end up in your compost pile |
| items in your kitchen before it makes to the | | | | could very well attract unwanted pests into your |
| backyard garden, can smell up the house. | | | | rear garden. It is best to stay with the basic |
| Decomposition is a natural occurrence that | | | | principles of composting to be successful and |
| happens when the organic materials begin to | | | | keep unwanted animals from your backyard. |
| breakdown. The result is an odor that can make | | | | In summary, your to be congratulated in trying to |
| you think twice about taking on this new role. | | | | do your part in helping the environment and start |
| A simple solution to the problem: A kitchen | | | | a compost plan. Many people think of the outside |
| Compost Pail. This device resembles a small trash | | | | compost bin when they begin to move forward, |
| can with a lid that can help to contain the odor | | | | but neglect the need for something indoors to |
| where it belongs. While you wait to add the | | | | temporarily hold the material. Some people prefer |
| material to the compost bin outside, the compost | | | | the fancy versions if they intend to keep it in a |
| pail keeps the organic material out of sight in a | | | | visible area. However, an elaborate or expensive |
| lower cupboard until it is ready to be emptied. | | | | Compost Pail is not necessary as any old coffee |
| Items that can be added to the compost pail | | | | can will do to contain the odors from permeating |
| would include vegetable and fruit scraps such as | | | | your kitchen. |