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Today's idea is for a compost bin. One of the local papers just ran an article about how all these little environmental efforts people are making don't work. And the planet is going to wither and die the same way it would if no one was trying to save it. Well, and who knows what the intended purpose was, but that just made me want to try harder. So today I propose the easy idea of a compost bin.

It looks pretty simple. You just throw your organic materials (I think cardboard and stuff, too*) into the bin and let nature do its thing. The good stuff seeps back into the ground. I made dinner the other night and was downright shocked by the amount of waste I had. The middle of a tomato, zucchini ends, brocolli stalks, etc. Most of it could have been tossed into such a bin and everyone probably would have been better off.

There are claims about how this saves money, but those seem spurious at best. Just do it because it's the right thing to do. Like not voting.

As always, I try to point you in the right direction so I stole the following from www.improvingyourworld.com. Hopefully that's allowed.

Compost bins:
These can be made out of old garbage cans or barrels. You will need to drill holes in the bottom and sides of the barrel or garbage can. The holes are used to ensure proper ventilation and ground contact, which will allow the microorganisms and earthworms to get into the bin. You should also think about using a lid to help keep the rodents away. You can also use a bin with no holes, although the lack of fresh air will greatly slow the process.

*More research from www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au:

What can go in my compost bin?
Basically anything that was once living can be composted. This includes fruit and vegetable scraps, newspapers and paper towel, grass clippings, garden prunings, leaves, twigs, egg shells, ground coffee, tea leaves and bags, animal and human hair, vacuum cleaner dust, cotton rags, weeds, dead flowers and old potting mix.

What should not go in my compost bin?
There are a few things that can make your compost sick. These are meat, seafood and dairy products. These things don’t break down easily and as a result they rot and make your compost smell. The smell will attract unwanted guests, such as mice, rats and other critters to your compost.