[bethk]

I cannot find a 'gardening' section in Talk of The Villages so I thought The Village Kitchen, where people who cook join, might have some ideas of where there might be some place to drop off vegetable/kitchen scraps for composting. I always had a compost 'pile' by my garden in Ohio and it just about kills me to toss my vegetable scraps and egg shells into the weekly trash collection.

I read about a city that has a weekly pick-up of kitchen scraps (no meats or trash) in sealed covered 5-gallon containers and then if you need composted soil they will deliver it to your home.

I realize a weekly service would not be something many in The Villages would be interested in but I would like to know if anyone knows of a community gardening area where compostable kitchen waste could be dropped off so it could be used to enrich the soil.

Suggestions? Anyone??

[Mrs. Robinson]

Yes, my suggestion for you is to start a new one!
You can buy a composter sometimes at Sam's or Costco, but I got mine on eBay.
Your plant life will thank you.

[bethk]

We considered that.....however, we're in a tiny Courtyard Villa and we're afraid there will be some odor (although we realize it won't be overpowering) and our close neighbors might find our gardening processes offensive.

But thanks for the suggestion.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by bethk

We considered that.....however, we're in a tiny Courtyard Villa and we're afraid there will be some odor (although we realize it won't be overpowering) and our close neighbors might find our gardening processes offensive.

But thanks for the suggestion.

The local critters might be drawn to it. Rats and snakes and foraging black birds.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Originally Posted by bethk

We considered that.....however, we're in a tiny Courtyard Villa and we're afraid there will be some odor (although we realize it won't be overpowering) and our close neighbors might find our gardening processes offensive.

But thanks for the suggestion.

Beth -- if you recall from any previous composting you may have done, there is no odor as long as you compost properly (no animal or dairy products).
Any compost odor is non-offensive, if you have any odor at all.

Also, regarding a previous comment, you don't have to worry about critters attempting to get into the composter (they usually can't).
Critters aren't interested because it's all vegetation.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The local critters might be drawn to it. Rats and snakes and foraging black birds.

Composting, when done correctly, does not draw "critters" and it does not smell. Suggest you attend a Master Gardner meeting for accurate information.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by bethk

I cannot find a 'gardening' section in Talk of The Villages so I thought The Village Kitchen, where people who cook join, might have some ideas of where there might be some place to drop off vegetable/kitchen scraps for composting. I always had a compost 'pile' by my garden in Ohio and it just about kills me to toss my vegetable scraps and egg shells into the weekly trash collection.

I read about a city that has a weekly pick-up of kitchen scraps (no meats or trash) in sealed covered 5-gallon containers and then if you need composted soil they will deliver it to your home.

I realize a weekly service would not be something many in The Villages would be interested in but I would like to know if anyone knows of a community gardening area where compostable kitchen waste could be dropped off so it could be used to enrich the soil.

Suggestions? Anyone??

This is the OP's post that I was responding to. I don't want to go to a Master Gardener meeting. I now see that there was no mention of meat or fat. I guess I reacted to the egg shells which I am sure she would rinse.

[thetruth]

Originally Posted by bethk

I cannot find a 'gardening' section in Talk of The Villages so I thought The Village Kitchen, where people who cook join, might have some ideas of where there might be some place to drop off vegetable/kitchen scraps for composting. I always had a compost 'pile' by my garden in Ohio and it just about kills me to toss my vegetable scraps and egg shells into the weekly trash collection.

I read about a city that has a weekly pick-up of kitchen scraps (no meats or trash) in sealed covered 5-gallon containers and then if you need composted soil they will deliver it to your home.

I realize a weekly service would not be something many in The Villages would be interested in but I would like to know if anyone knows of a community gardening area where compostable kitchen waste could be dropped off so it could be used to enrich the soil.

Suggestions? Anyone??

I expect there is probably so rule that says you can't do it.

If, you do not, or the people who mow your lawn do not pick up you grass cuttings you are actually composting.

For stuff like vegetable peelings coffee grounds, you could use a post hole digger or perhaps a quality long handled bulb planter and just bury it. It will improve your soil and lessen your trash. No one need know, no smell-NO PROBLEMS.

Not sure if it is true of all of the villages but our trash removal is handled by WASTE MANAGEMENT which has been written up as an environmentally good company. The company, a good stock by the way, owns huge waste dump properties. They actually use the methane from the decomposition of waste to heat their buildings and produce electricity.

I find it amusing that MILORGANITE is Milwaukee SELLING their SEWAGE to the rest of the country. Not to be outdone. Here we have BLACKCOW-manure with it's own ad campaign. Few read. If, you are growing any foods-Milorganite is not supposed to be used on food crops.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by thetruth

I expect there is probably so rule that says you can't do it.

If, you do not, or the people who mow your lawn do not pick up you grass cuttings you are actually composting.

For stuff like vegetable peelings coffee grounds, you could use a post hole digger or perhaps a quality long handled bulb planter and just bury it. It will improve your soil and lessen your trash. No one need know, no smell-NO PROBLEMS.

Not sure if it is true of all of the villages but our trash removal is handled by WASTE MANAGEMENT which has been written up as an environmentally good company. The company, a good stock by the way, owns huge waste dump properties. They actually use the methane from the decomposition of waste to heat their buildings and produce electricity.

I find it amusing that MILORGANITE is Milwaukee SELLING their SEWAGE to the rest of the country. Not to be outdone. Here we have BLACKCOW-manure with it's own ad campaign. Few read. If, you are growing any foods-Milorganite is not supposed to be used on food crops.

WM burns trash, CH2MHill, which services a large portion of TV, does not.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Originally Posted by thetruth

I expect there is probably so rule that says you can't do it.

If, you do not, or the people who mow your lawn do not pick up you grass cuttings you are actually composting.

For stuff like vegetable peelings coffee grounds, you could use a post hole digger or perhaps a quality long handled bulb planter and just bury it. It will improve your soil and lessen your trash. No one need know, no smell-NO PROBLEMS.

Not sure if it is true of all of the villages but our trash removal is handled by WASTE MANAGEMENT which has been written up as an environmentally good company. The company, a good stock by the way, owns huge waste dump properties. They actually use the methane from the decomposition of waste to heat their buildings and produce electricity.

I find it amusing that MILORGANITE is Milwaukee SELLING their SEWAGE to the rest of the country. Not to be outdone. Here we have BLACKCOW-manure with it's own ad campaign. Few read. If, you are growing any foods-Milorganite is not supposed to be used on food crops.

There is no "rule" which says you cannot have a small compost bin (that could change after today . . . heh-heh).
I had a large one in my side yard.
Obviously, it should be placed where it isn't an eyesore.

Most residents do not own a post hole digger and most people don't know how to use one or better yet, even have the strength to use one.
If you wanted to spend your life digging little holes with a bulb planter -- well, good for you!
The idea of a compost bin is for the vegetation to disintegrate, not to bury raw stuff in the ground.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

This is the OP's post that I was responding to. I don't want to go to a Master Gardener meeting. I now see that there was no mention of meat or fat. I guess I reacted to the egg shells which I am sure she would rinse.

Egg shells do not need to be rinsed.
They compost faster if they are dry and then they easily crush into tiny pieces.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Robinson

Egg shells do not need to be rinsed.
They compost faster if they are dry and then they easily crush into tiny pieces.

We just use fertilizer. We also enjoy GM plants like knock-out Roses.

Plant Breeding and Genetics - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Scotts Miracle-Gro Company - Wikipedia (Good Ohio Company)

[Fredman]

When I lived in Naperville Ill the neighbor composted and drew rats.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Originally Posted by Fredman

When I lived in Naperville Ill the neighbor composted and drew rats.

If your neighbor's bin drew rats, they either had an open bin or did not secure the opening of the bin they had.