Two years and counting........

Its been two years and three months since I have been composting! Thats the picture of my compost pot (Before and After)

 This mango plant started growing in our backyard on its own and is surviving solely on the home-made compost produced from this pot (also known as khamba)

Today morning, harvested yet another fresh lot of sieved compost :)

Satyameva Jayate: Didn't I tell you composting is super cool?

Aamir Khan has spoken! Hopefully the nation was tuned in......      

Last Sunday morning, an issue that deserves urgent attention was finally given its share of 15min of fame or rather 60min of fame in the mainstream media. I and the supporters; promoters of 'Composting' can't contain our excitement. Its been more than two years now since I have been speaking about segregation of waste to households; communities; educational institutions (besides friends and family who are often bombarded with lectures and invitations of composting demo events from my end). Finally the idiot box spoke some sense and I hope people wake up now. 

I often ask people, where do you place your dustbins at home? The answer is mostly kitchen and the link or logic is rather obvious. Roughly 60%-70% of our waste is organic or biodegradable and is infact generated from our kitchens. Yet we continue to send mixed waste outside our homes. Besides occupying precious and scarce resources like land, this mixed pile of garbage produces the harmful greenhouse gas- Methane. What Satyameva Jayate tried to communicate to the audience, was simple and effective: 'Waste is a Resource!'The power of the simple act of segregation is immense and if we go a step ahead and start treating this wet waste at source, then we will reduce the tons of waste being sent to the landfill. Bangalore and Pune are two cities which have started doing this already.          

                                                                            
Now when I say treatment, you will wonder why should we citizens worry about it? To that, I would say, we as citizens and primary generators of waste have an equal responsibility in reducing the burden of cleaning up our city. It also makes a lot of sense to handle waste streams at generation points itself! This is also the basic concept behind 'Decentralised Solid Waste Management' which roughly translates to shifting the paradigm/notion of ‘only government or local municipalities should handle our waste’. Its application has immense benefits in terms of savings accrued at the transportation stage. It also has long term benefits in terms of planning land allocation (reducing landfilling). It can also reduce expenditure of municipalities and infact contribute to their revenue source (Sale of recyclables; compost etc.)                          
                                                                            
Like Aamir emphasised solutions to this problem are very simple, we just need to open our eyes and open our minds! There are a variety of composting options available in today’s time, both at the household and community level.  I have been using a terracotta based composter at my home since almost two years now.                                                                                          
An endorsement of this cause by a public figure is a big motivation! I truly hope that when I go out for a sensitisation demo the next time, the target audience connects more to the issue :) 
Do you want a demo on home composting? Write to me at: rozitasingh@yahoo.co.in             

You can watch the episode of Satyameva Jayate here:                                                                            

LIVE demos for composting at home begins!

Dear All,
Hope you like reading the posts here.
I have been composting since a year now, and now I want to spread the word and make as many households as I can, comfortable with practicing composting.

If you are in Delhi NCR and you want a demonstration at your home, locality, neighbourhood and friend gatherings, please feel free to contact me.

I promise you, we can reduce this waste menace and manage our waste efficiently minus polluting the environment.
Start composting from this World Environment Day. Each step counts.


Write to me at: rozitasingh@yahoo.co.in

Compost ready :)

My last post was on the completion of one month of composting. Well, its been quite some time now and I happily declare that the first cycle of compost is ready.
I sieved it last Sunday and now it is nourishing some potted plants.
Looking back, it was not that much of an effort, just requires a little bit of patience.

I recommend those interested to use this simple and effective method of pot-composting. Ofcourse, there are other options, but this one is tried and tested and yields results.

Check out the nearest Daily dump clone store in your city, here: http://dailydump.org/where_to_buy 

Celebrating one month composting anniversary :)

Today, I celebrate a month of 'not sending wet waste to the landfill', i.e the anniversary of my pot composting activity.
Some pictures to give you an idea of what I have been upto. This is the sight for each morning. So I get up each morning and hurry to my backyard :)

I pile in my wet waste and then cover it with a layer of dry leaves.

My friends are: The rake (that helps me in stirring), the activator EM solution (kept in the coca-cola bottle), dry leaves, neem cake powder (to control maggots) and the lemongrass spray (that keeps the flies away and controls the odor) :D

Here is a pic of the middle tier pot which got filled up in around 20-25 days. Its in a semi-decomposted state (with everything inside it turned black!) Will take another month for it to get fully decomposed :)

First week of composting

Did you know? May 6-12 was International composting Awareness Week (http://www.compostweek.com.au/core/background/).
So I am back with my second post. Why the wait? Well, since I promised last that I'l be writing on the methods of composting, I bring you first hand experience by introducing you all to a method I have adopted recently! Composting through a three tiered terracota pot structure. Check out: http://dailydump.org/ and to know more about how I chose this, read this blog: http://rozitasingh.blogspot.in/2012/05/when-dreams-come-true.html
Today I completed a week, so am sharing my experience for the first week of composting.

Day 1 & 2- SUPER EXCITEMENT. Couldn't wait to start. Had been waiting for this pot to arrive since a long time. So I started by spreading a thin sheet of newspaper at the base of the first tier and then added a layer of dry leaves. On top of this I piled my kitchen waste for the day and covered it with dry leaves (sawdust or torn newspapers for those who don't have dry leaves).

I begin my day with it! I get up in the morning, brush my teeth, have my glass of milk and then I carry the kitchen garbage to the backyard and start dumping :D No kidding here, but I really look forward to it each day. Then I wash my hands, get ready to leave for my internship.


When I reach there, I switch on my system and log onto Twitter, Linkedin and start reading articles on composting! Yes am suspicious, (no almost certain!) that I am falling in love with this activity.
And I say this each morning, "Can't wait for Day 45!" (the compost would be ready by then)

Day 3- Two teaspoons of neem cake powder (came with the pot) to control maggots (from now on to be put every week)

On Day 4 & 5- flies and little flies had arrived! I was worried with the smell and was wondering if the pot will get filled up before time. Started spraying lemongrass spray (said to keep the flies away), dunno if it helps much or not!

Day 6- Eureka! Smell gone, shrinkage happened, so more space is available. My doubts were cleared!

Here I would like to mention about the 'Importance of turning'. Remember its a compost bin and not a dustbin. So you need to stir the waste each day to enable aeration.


I was scared after reading all those stories on web on the importance of stirring and aeration. So followed it religiously.
But I realise that there are holes in the pot, it takes care of it naturally. This Daily Dump model has been tried and tested. (The organisation is based in Bangalore and have been doing this for years now!)

Have to add an activator once in a while (an organic bacteria solution diluted in water, came with the pot).
Confession- Can't wait to pour one capful, every 3 days! I wait for it,like its some magic potion
(To a composter, activators are infact like magic potions)


I also read about the C/N ratio, thought it was technical but infact its logical. Carbon is the brown part (dry leaves, saw dust etc) and Nitrogen is the green part (your kitchen waste, grass clipping etc.)
If you layer your kitchen waste with dry leaves/browns, you have got it right! You can never go wrong. So don't worry about the ratio much.
The correct moisture is provided by your kitchen waste automatically! And that is perfect to make a good compost. Your pile should neither be too dry nor too wet. As a beginner for making my first cycle I am relying on the information given on the website: http://dailydump.org/compost_troubleshooting and also I ask my doubts from the Daily Dump Clone (my supplier).

I want to photo record each day of my composting pot's inside but I refrain because of those messy hands. But tomorrow will ask for help from dad! Will post pics soon :)

Meanwhile, through my experience would like to dispel some myths cum fear!


Myth#1: For those who think its an unhygienic, disease prone activity! 
Beat this: I sometimes use my bare hands to shred my kitchen waste after I have dumped it coz it fastens the process. And no! one doesn't fall ill this way! Its all natural stuff you dealing with, and you can always go back and use a handwash to get clean. 
Remedy: Get used to getting muddy or use gloves if you are the paranoid types. Enjoy! its mother earth (literally)


Myth#2: For those who are so sure that composting means dealing with bad smell! 
No, this is not a smelly business. if you are following the steps correctly, stirring well, there won't be any smell! the trick is to always cover your kitchen waste with a layer of browns,well! And ensuring aeration. Also, even if there is some smell, its an outdoor product, so it won't affect you inside.
Remedy: Spray lemongrass spray and calm down your nerves with the fragrance.


Myth#3: What if this does not get decomposed? 
Remember not to panic, what does not get decomposed in the first cycle can go in the next one again. By the end of a cycle you anyways have to sieve the decomposted stuff, what you get is manure! What is left behind is semi or almost decomposed stuff but big in size or lumpy. Good News: This is your activator for the next cycle. YES, mixing this to your fresh pile speeds up the process. Hurray!
Remedy: If you are a beginner (like me)- Avoid putting tough to decompose stuff like mango seeds, corn cobs, etc. Try these later, after you feel confident, after the success of your first cycle :)

Last but not the least Myth#4: "I don't have space for composting". 
Look at the pic above. Since, it is a three tiered vertical structure, on the ground it occupies the same space than any potted plant you may be keeping. If you stay on the ground floor, it will happily take little space in your verandah and if you have a balcony then no issues! It will quietly occupy a corner and look beautiful :) I plan on painting mine to make it prettier.

I have run out of leaves, will have to go out and gather some from the lawn outside. Somehow covering with sawdust is not the same as covering with dry leaves. Know what i mean? Feels more natural!

Have come across few beautiful articles, so sharing the links here! Note the different composting bin designs.
http://montanawildlifegardener.blogspot.in/2012/05/composting-station.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/035875_composting_vegetable_gardens.html
http://earth911.com/news/2012/05/09/how-to-make-top-notch-compost-for-your-garden/

My recommended must read article for this week is this one:
http://earth911.com/news/2012/05/15/the-simple-science-of-composting/
The article speaks of a certain Mr.Singh who has transformed his farm in the dry Arizona to a rich, healthy forest like place! All through composting! Get inspired.....

The real worth of your garbage

Welcome to a space where we will learn about the various methods of composting, both at home and outdoors.
Do we need a 'Did you know?' quote to learn about the potential for composting?
Don't peek at your dustbin, just observe what you throw during the day. Where are our dustbins located? Mostly in our kitchens. Right? So that is where most of the waste comes from :)
Vegetable and fruit shavings, left-over food (which by the way one should really cut-down on throwing), egg shells, tea bags etc.
And all of this can be composted. Plus, if you are lucky and have a garden, your garden litter too can be composted.
Please don't see it as a 'scientific' method, It is in fact pretty logical and a fun filled activity.
All you need is a method, air (which you'll never fall short of), segregated waste (we need only the organic waste, the rest can go into a recycling bin) and that is it! Nature will do the rest.
Are you tired and guilty of throwing away garbage from your home in that black plastic bag each day?
Well, I am shouting to you all- There is a way!
I will return with more information on a regular basis to make you comfortable with the idea.
The journey to become a 'good' responsible citizen begins from Today :)
I would also like to confess, that I am not an expert, only an enthusiast on this topic. So would love to learn from you, I invite you all to utilise this space and share what you know or would like to know on Composting.
Leave a comment here or demand for information by emailing at: rozitasingh@yahoo.co.in/ rozitasingh@gmail.com


One thing that you should know- I am a good researcher :) So seek information and I shall deliver.

P.S: Freedictionary.com defines garbage as: worthless, useless, or unwanted matter
We'l discover that its not completely true.
Meanwhile my own definition of compost: A brown and earthy smelling soil that is created through natural techniques from organic matter, used as a nourishing agent for plants.
(look at the pic below, just holding this home made compost in my bare hand was an amazing feeling)