Confession: After Penelope was born, I gave my compost bin the middle finger. I just couldn’t do it anymore. Something had to give and composting was one of those things that got pushed to the back burner, along with showering, and wearing anything other than yoga pants. Sorry, I take that back: other than sweat pants. It was a fancy day if I put on yoga pants.
I have been composting since I was 20 years old (if you’re new around here, I just turned 30). My first compost bin was a DIY version with chicken coop wire. I really wish I had a picture to show you! And I wish I had a picture to show you of my now husband’s face when he came over to my house for the first time and asked “What the hell is that?!” My second composter is one I got from God knows where, and it was this huge stackable contraption thing. Hated it. Third composter is one I got from the city they were selling for a good price one Earth day a couple of years ago. And it was ok, just hard to mix up.
Meet my fourth composter. I think fourth time’s the charm. I luh-uv this thing. I got the mini version because with our move to Jupiter, FL, next summer and downsizing our house and yard size, I wanted to have a smaller composter. Even if you only have a porch and do container gardening, this composter would be perfect. Envirocycle is made with post-consumer BPA-free plastic and the packaging is minimized and printed on recycled stock with water-based inks.
To mix it up, all you have to do is give it a whirl. Then when your compost is ready, you just wheel it on over to your jardin. So freaking easy.
And it also makes a compost tea at the bottom, it’s genius I tell ya. You find Envirocycle on Facebook and Twitter.
If you have never composted before, it is pretty easy. Don’t let my postpartum freak out moment scare you off. Just get yourself some sort of kitchen counter compost bin. You can get a fancy one with carbon filters or you can just get a metal bucket with a lid like the picture below, I got it from World Market for less than $20. And then fill her up.
Here’s a list of things you can compost:
Green (wet)
- fruit and vegetables peels
- coffee grinds and filters
- tea bags
- egg shells
- garden waste (but not weeds!)
- plant trimmings (but not stuff that has pests on them)
- table waste
Brown (dry)
- leaves
- dry grass
- straw
- sawdust (just make sure it’s not from wood with arsenic in it)
- newspaper (I don’t do this though because of the ink on the paper)
- paper and egg cartons
DO NOT PUT IN COMPOST:
- meat and fish
- dairy
- sauces
- oil and fat
- pet waste
- diseased plants
- weeds
- bones
Dump your scraps in your EnviroCycle compost bin. When I added my first scraps, I added a shovel full of dirt from my garden to activate and help the composting cycle go faster.
Some other composting tips:
- roll your drum at least three times a week
- keep material moist. If it is too wet, just add some dry leaves to balance it out
- smaller pieces of scraps compost faster
- always maintain a 50/50 ratio of green and brown material
Now for the giveaway! EnviroCycle is giving their fabulous compost bin to one lucky winner.
To enter, all you have to do is subscribe to my YouTube channel, then come back here and leave one comment saying you have done so.
For 3 additional entries, you can do any of the following and leave a separate comment for each one you have done. Remember, you must subscribe to my YouTube channel before you can qualify for additional entries.
- Like my Facebook page
- Share this post on Facebook or Pinterest, and tag @MamaAndBabyLove
- Sign up for my newsletter
Entries will be closed on December 1, 2012 at 12pm EST. Winners will be selected via Random.org and emailed. Please refer to the policies page for full giveaway details.
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Hi, Stephanie-
I’d love, love, love to win this composter…ours is falling apart and with 2 boys it’s also fallen to the bottom of the list of things to replace. I love composting and I’m sad I haven’t been able to the past 8 months or so. I love seeing our scraps go somewhere other than the trash.
Jess
I just subscribed to your YouTube channel 🙂 love your blog!!
subscribed to youtube channel! love the freezer slow cooker recipes and i desperately need a composter like this in my snooty neighborhood!
liked on facebook too! loving your grain free recipes – headed to check out more of them!
I subscribed to your youtube channel! 🙂
I liked your facebook page! 🙂
I signed up for your newsletter 🙂
I subscribe to your youtube channel; I have for a while!
I’m signed up for your newsletter already. 🙂
Already liked you on FB, too! 😉
Not sure if we need to post the link here or not, but I pinned this post & tagged you! http://pinterest.com/pin/24347654207000243/
I subscribed!
I subscribed to your youtube channel! and already follow you on facebook 🙂
I subscribed to your newsletter! AND I love to compost!
I subscribed to your YOUTUBE Channel! AND I love to compost!
Also subscribed to your newsletter! I dabbled in thoughts of composting and a garden as well but never got around to it. I guess I was lacking motivation since a baby was taking all of my time and energy. I hope to do both of these next year!
I’ve totally been “LIKE”-ing you on Facebook for months now! AND I love to compost!
Shared this post on facebook!
I subscribed to YouTube.
I liked your Facebook page. =D
I subscribed to your YouTube channel.
I like you on FB. 🙂
I just signed up for your newsletter.
I subscribed to YouTube! This is the best. I so miss being able to compost. Hate putting the scraps in the garbage.
Already get your newsletter!
And have liked you on facebook for like forever!
I pinned on pinterest
I like you on facebook
i subscribed to your newsletter
I subscribed to your YouTube channel!
I have been one of your likes on Facebook for a while!! 🙂
Just subscribed to your You Tube channel. I already liked your Facebook page. I enjoy reading your posts!
I shared on fb!!
I have subscribed! 😉
Subscribed to YouTube Channel!
I “like” MBL on FB!
Hi Renee, you are the winner!
Sub’d to You Tube! I didn’t know you had a channel! What an amazing give-away! Fingers crossed!
I also “shared” on Facebook (my own personal page as well as my work page).
I subscribed on youtube!
I subscribed to your channel. I would love to have a composter again! There was one at our rental and since we’ve moved I get a little depressed every time I fill the garbage with veggie scraps!
I’ve liked your facebook page.
I signed up for your newsletter.
I subscribed on youtube….love your webisodes!
I liked you on facebook
I subscribe to your newsletter.
I subscribed. Hope I win! I’d love to start composting but keep putting it off.
I subscribed to your youtube channel! Thank you!
I subscribed on YouTube.. great to hear your voice in person after following for so long!
I’m already a newsletter subscriber!
I signed up for your newsletter! Thank you!
I’m also a facebook follower!
I subscribed your Youtube channel.
And I liked your Facebook page 🙂
Hi! I just “liked” your Facebook page. I’ve been wanting to compost for a long time and I’m excited for the chance to win!
Hi, I just subscribed to your YouTube channel! My family is slowly (emphasis on slowly!) becoming more green, including my twins drinking raw milk. I think composting would be a great next step!
Yes please! We had to leave our old composter behind when we moved! Followed on Youtube (MMargaretful).
Subscribed!
Subscribed on youtube! Have been a facebook fan and have been subscribing to your newsletter for awhile. Started my first garden this past spring hoping to save money on produce. Wasn’t super successful overall (though my swiss chard and herbs did awesome!), but I’m much more prepared for next spring now. Have wanted to compost, but they are too expensive. Really keeping my fingers crossed for this one. Thanks for the opportunity!
Subscribed! I would LOVE a composter!
Liked the Facebook page! Pick me!!
Subscribed to your youtube channel!
I liked your Facebook page.
I subscribed to your You Tube channel
I liked your Facebook page.
I signed up for your newsletter
I subscribe to your newsletter
I like you on fb
I follow you on utube
like you on facebook
I subscribe you you on YouTube.
My problem is that it is SOOOOO dry here in Southern Arizona, I have to water my compost DAILY. Ug. Maybe a contained system like this would work better?
I’m suscribed to your channel on youtube.
I like you on facebook.
I’ve susbcribed to your newsletter.
I shared your giveaway on facebook/twitter!
Subscribed to your YouTube channel!
Already “liked” your Facebook page!
Subscribed to your newsletter ages ago!
Just followed you on YouTube
And I liked you on FB
And pinned to Pinterest in my Garden board
I subscribed to your youtube channel. Would love to win!
I Like your Facebook page
I subscribe to your newsletter
I subscribed on You Tube.
I subscribe to your newsletter. 🙂
I subscribed to your YouTube channel!
I get your newsletter!
I liked your Facebook page.
Subscribed!
I subscribe to your youtube channel.
I liked your facebook page 🙂
I’m subscribed to your newsletter 🙂
I subscribe to your you tube channel!
I like you on Facebook!
I shared this post on my Facebook page!
I subscribe to your newsletter too 🙂
Subscriber of newsletter, youtube, and facebook page.
Youtube check
FB check
Shared check
Newsletter check & thank you 🙂
I follow you on Pinterest
I subscribed to your Youtube show.
I like you on FB and shared with my daughter-in-love who has been trying to start a garden and a compose bin, but with 5 little one’s it’s hard to do, but winning the compost bin would be wonderful way to start. And a great Christmas present!
I’ve already subscribed to your newsletter. Great stuff!
I subscribed to your YouTube channel. Didn’t even know you had one!
I Liked your facebook page!
Hi Stephanie, I am a subscriber to your YouTube.
Already get your newsletter 🙂
Pinned the giveaway on Pinterest under my Amazing Houses/Yards board!
I subscribed to your youtube channel.
I already liked your FB and YouTube page! I love your blog….you are an inspiration.
I’ve subscribed to your youtube channel!!
I’ve liked your Facebook page!!
I’ve shared this blog on my Facebook page!!
I’ve subscribed to your newsletter!! I want to win the compost bin!! =D
I subscribed on youtube as morrighanfilms, and liked your page on FB as Laurie Stewart.
I also ordered your coookbook for 1/2 price. 🙂
Pinned. 🙂
Have been signed up for newsletter forever…love it
I subscribed to your Youtube channel!
Thx!
I liked your page on FB!
Thanks again!
I subscribed to your YouTube channel!
I like you on Facebook!
I receive your newsletter!
Hi Stephanie, I want to start composting!
I signed up for your YouTube channel!,
I have subscribed to your YouTube channel, liked your FB page, and signed up for your newsletter. I love your posts!