2 Steps Compost

Here’s a fun song from the worms who want your kitchen scraps.

2 steps: Kitchen scraps to rich black compost

The 2-Step compost system.
Once-A-Day empty your Kitchen Scrap Bucket into the Compost Bucket.

Once-A-Week empty your Compost Bucket into the Compost Box.

Children can do it

One of the children’s jobs is to empty the Kitchen Scrap Bucket each day.

This bucket contains kitchen scraps, egg shells, food scraps, vegetable scraps. It’s a vegetarian, so no bones, meat or fat.

Once a day

The Kitchen scraps are emptied once-a-day into the Compost Bucket which is a bit larger (20 Litres). Lightly cover the scraps with a thin layer untreated sawdust or garden soil. This deters flies and prevents smells.

Keep a small coal-shovel and a bag of untreated sawdust (or soil) next to the Compost Bucket. Keep a lid on the Compost Bucket to prevent access by rats. It will not smell. You can add torn-up paper and cardboard if you wish.

Once a Week

Each week, empty the Compost Bucket into the Compost Box. Cover the heaped contents with a mix of green-waste, leaves, grass clippings, weeds and dirt or sawdust. It’s an 8 minute job once-a-week.

Cover the composting scraps well to prevent insects, animals or smells. There should be no smells at all. It will take many months to fill the Compost Box.

Get four pallets for free from Huttons. Nail them together. You’ll find free pallets in many places.

Bucket Size – How big?

You need to be able to lift the full compost bucket to shoulder height. For me that’s 20L. Choose a smaller size if you are looking after a sore back, are older or just prefer light work.

To make it easier, keep several small Compost Buckets in a row. If it’s raining you can wait a week or two before emptying them into the Compost Box. This is a great choice for older people.

These old 40 L chlorine buckets are now too large for me. I also use them for my composting toilet. You can buy them second-hand from K Drive Pool and Spa for between $2 – $5. Most Spa and Pool shops have 2nd-hand chlorine drums in different sizes. If they don’t have a lid, make one out of plywood. However, I recommend recycling a 20 litre pail. 20 L of composting scraps is lighter to lift and easier on my back – and will be on yours too.