Published by City Farmer, Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture
Urban Home Composting
(C) Copyright: City Farmer
Essential to the success of any urban agriculture project is the condition of our city's soil. Convincing city people to turn scraps of food and garden waste into soil-nourishing compost is one of the best projects a group can start. If all our urban organic waste was turned back into crop nourishing humus, think how fertile the ground would become and what good crops we could grow.
City Farmer has researched and promoted the best methods of urban composting since the fall of 1989 . We operate the Compost Hotline for the City of Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver Regional District and we maintain the Vancouver Compost Demonstration Garden (2150 Maple Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 3T3 Canada) for the City of Vancouver.
Compost Hotline: (604)
736-2250
We have published brochures, a handbook titled Urban Home
Composting, Rodent-Resistance and Environmental Health Standards,
(cost $6.00) and City Farmer's Compost Research "Answer's to
Questions Received by the Compost Hotline" (Cost $12.00).
Wet & Dry, Brown & Green, City Farmer's Composting Recipe
We have emphasized animal-resistant bins because of concerns brought forward by the Health Department and the public. All our bins have tight fitting lids and bases, and no openings larger than 1/2 inch square. Traditional designs for bins allow easy access for animals. The models that we display at our garden are made from metal, wood with a wire mesh lining, and plastic. These aren't "rodent-proof" it must be remembered, just "rodent-resistant" with ratings anywhere from 1-10 depending on the bin's strength.
Compost Poker
and Chopper
Wooden Bins Reinforced With Wire Mesh
Rand French, a local Vancouver builder, has been making rodent-resistent wooden bins for over ten years. They come in single, double or triple bin systems, all made of long-lasting cedar, have front panels that are easily removed, are top loaded and have wooden bottoms which protect the wire mesh on the base.
Cedar Creek Enterprises
2689 Walpole Crescent
N. Vancouver, BC
V7H 1K7
604
929-7760
Metal Bins
Two bins which we really like are made from metal. They rate highly as rodent-resistant models. Sadly, they are no longer being manufactured.The Speedibin, developed in Victoria, B.C. by Fred Francis has an all-metal body with galvanized steel mesh floor, locking lid, and a dark brown, baked enamel exterior (capacity 15 cubic feet). No contact available.
Speedibin
The BioBox, from Ladysmith, B.C. is made from 26 gauge, galvanized steel, has a capacity of 18 cubic feet (524 L) and has a five year limited warranty.
Contact:
C.K. Ventures Ltd.
PO Box 2052 Ladysmith, BC V0R 2E0, Canada
Phone/Fax 250-245-7525
Contact the inventor if you are interested in manufacturing this bin.
BioBox
Stone Bins
The Critter-Proof ComposterThe Critter-Proof Composter, developed in Lund, B.C. by Laurie Chambers, was engineered specifically to deter bears, but it works equally well for rodents, skunks and raccoons.
The composter is made using concrete formwork, faced with stone, with recessed bolts holding aluminum lid, front door and back vent in place. As unique as it looks, this design uses proven methods for producing compost.
Contact:
Lauritz Chambers
1 (604) 483-3205
Email: Lauritz@critterproofcomposting.com
1423 Grouse Ridge Rd.
Lund B.C.
V0N 2G0
More Information About Composting
Here's a great Discussion Forum on composting.
Home composting is a great way for people to connect with nature. Building a compost bin is just the beginning. You can also build a nice patio or deck as well. If you enjoy being outdoors, consider building a birdhouse and let the beauty of nature come to you!
The Compost Foodweb
Read this excellent
summary!
BioCycle
Magazine
"Recognized as the authoritative
information source on composting and recycling municipal, commercial,
and agricultural wastes, The JG Press, Inc. is publisher of
BioCycle, the monthly Journal of Composting & Recycling, and the
quarterly journal,Compost Science & Utilization".
Community Composting
Defined as: "Where a
group of people in a local community will pool organic materials to
recycle larger amounts of waste and make larger amounts of compost."
Worm Words Glossary For Teachers
Composting With Red Wiggler Worms
Composting Activities For Children
City of Vancouver, Compost Capital
The Poop on Wormshops in Schools
Black Gold and
the Power of One:
500 Worm Bins Distributed by City of
Vancouver
Bin Plans
Seattle's Tilth has some
excellent material which can be downloaded and read using Acrobat
Reader.
- Portable Wood and Wire Compost Bin.
- Tilth Worm Composting Bin.
- Wood and Wire Stationary 3-Bin Composting System.
- Homemade Food Waste Composter.
