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    Composting for Seniors

    Free fertilizer. Less garbage.

    Bin picks

    • Tumbler bin ($100-200) — easy turn, no shoveling. Senior favorite.
    • Closed plastic bin ($50-100) — keeps animals out.
    • Open pile — free but slowest + animal access.
    • Bokashi bucket ($60) — indoor, quick. Includes meat/dairy.
    • Worm bin (vermicompost) — indoor, kids love.
    • Tumblers easiest for seniors — no bending or heavy turning.

    What to add (browns + greens)

    • GREENS (nitrogen) — fruit/veggie scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings, eggshells.
    • BROWNS (carbon) — dried leaves, cardboard, newspaper, pine needles.
    • 2-3 parts browns to 1 part greens.
    • Small pieces decompose faster.
    • Keep moist like wrung-out sponge.
    • Turn every 1-2 weeks.

    DON'T add

    • Meat, fish, dairy (rats, smell).
    • Pet waste (parasites).
    • Oils + greasy food.
    • Diseased plants.
    • Weeds with seeds.
    • Treated wood / glossy paper.
    • Citrus + onions in worm bins.

    Troubleshooting

    • Smells bad — too wet or too many greens. Add browns.
    • Not breaking down — too dry or too cold. Add water + greens.
    • Pests/animals — closed bin or no meat/dairy.
    • Fruit flies — bury food scraps under browns.
    • Compost ready — dark + crumbly + earthy smell. 3-12 months.

    Easier alternatives

    • Curbside composting — many cities offer green bin pickup.
    • Community gardens — drop scraps off, take finished compost.
    • Mulch in place — bury veggie scraps directly in garden.
    • Lasagna gardening — layer browns/greens, plant on top.
    • Apartment composting services — Curbside, BinTaste, etc.

    Free composting classes

    Most counties have FREE Master Gardener composting classes. Search "[your county] master gardener compost." Free finished compost often given away spring/fall. Reduces trash 30%+. Garden grows better. Win-win-win.