Creating compost at home is an eco-friendly way to recycle kitchen waste and enrich your garden soil. Here’s a simple guide on how to make compost using two 20-liter buckets:
Materials Needed:
- Two 20-liter buckets with lids
- Drill with a small drill bit for creating drainage holes
- Kitchen waste (vegetable scraps, eggshells, fruit waste)
- Compost (as a starter)
- PSB (Photosynthetic Bacteria) solution
- Water
- Sunny location for composting
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Prepare Your Buckets:
- Drill many small holes in the bottom of one of the buckets for drainage. Ensure the holes are small enough that compost won’t leak out.
- Layer Kitchen Waste:
- Start by adding a layer of kitchen waste to the bucket with drainage holes. You can use vegetable scraps, eggshells, and fruit waste. Avoid adding meat, dairy, or oily foods.
- Cover with Compost:
- Add a layer of compost on top of the kitchen waste. This acts as a starter and helps speed up the decomposition process.
- Prepare PSB Solution:
- Mix 3 bottle caps of PSB with 1.5 liters of water. PSB helps reduce bad smells and aids in the decomposition process.
- Moisten the Layers:
- Sprinkle some of the PSB solution over the layers to ensure even moisture throughout the compost.
- Place in the Sun:
- Put the compost bin in a sunny location. Sunlight helps speed up decomposition.
- Regularly Add Kitchen Waste:
- After 7 days, add more kitchen waste to the bin and cover it with compost. Continue adding waste every 2-3 days.
- Maintain Moisture:
- Ensure the compost stays moist but not waterlogged. Add more PSB solution if needed.
- After 30 Days:
- Mix the compost every 2-3 days to accelerate decomposition. This helps distribute bacteria evenly.
- Harvest Liquid Fertilizer:
- After about 60 days, your kitchen waste should have decomposed into compost. You can harvest liquid fertilizer from the drainage holes at the bottom. Dilute it with water (1:500) and use it to fertilize your plants.
- Apply Compost to Plants:
- The compost created is great for applying to all your plants to enrich the soil.
By following these steps, you can turn your kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost and liquid fertilizer for your garden. It’s an excellent way to reduce waste and improve your gardening efforts.