Organic waste is also a valuable resource. Homemade compost can be cycled back into the ground for other plants and soil microbes to use, giving you abundant flowers, veges and fruit. It will help turn your soil into a nice friable loam, rich in organic matter - and make digging easier.
If you don't have room for the classic three-bin system - which is the best substitute for a gym workout - there are all sorts of composting bin types available for small properties. One of these is the inexpensive Gedye bin, shaped like a Dr Who Dalek.
These bins are suitable for properties which have only small quantities of organic waste at a time. The decomposition of plant material and kitchen scraps happens over a longer period and is called "cold" semi-aerobic composting.
These open-bottomed Gedye bins are designed to be placed on soil, so worms can come in and do their magic, breaking down the organic waste quickly and doing the digging for you. It is best to have two bins side by side, so one full bin is curing while you start filling another.
To create a faster, hot aerobic compost in a small space, insulate your bin. Fill your whole bin all at once, layering carbon and nitrogen materials (browns and greens) as you go. Layer fresh grass clippings to help generate heat. The key with a hot system is to get air moving from underneath, so put the bin on some stiff wire mesh on bricks.
The budget way to make an insulated bin is to use a double layer of old coreflute signs - that's the material used, for example, by real estate agents. Bind the signs in a square with a drop-down lid and open base. This will work a treat. Paint your bin in a dark colour to help it absorb the sun's rays. Don't aggravate the local real estate agents - ask for some old signs.
Ins and outs of composting
* Finished compost is pleasant, crumbly and shouldn't smell. It should be slightly damp (like a squeezed-out sponge).
* Making compost is like baking a cake. Alternate 10cm to 15cm layers of nitrogenous materials such as kitchen scraps, grass clippings, seaweed and animal manure (not cat or dog droppings) with carbonous materials such as shredded paper, dry leaves, cardboard egg cartons and dry shredded garden prunings.
* Chop up material finely for a quick compost.
* Put a 15cm layer of twigs and coarse material at the bottom of your bin before starting the heap to help aerate your compost.
* Keep a bin of shredded carbonous material beside your compost to sprinkle on each time you put kitchen scraps in the bin to prevent smells and flies.
* A layer of soil or old compost every so often will help your heap - similar to a yoghurt starter by getting micro-organisms to do their thing.
* A sprinkle of garden lime or dolomite after every 20cm of waste will help with decomposition and reduce the acidity of the final mix, making it perfect for the vege garden.
* Plastic bins with lids help keep out rats and mice. Wrap wire mesh under the base and fold the edges up the bin. If you are still having issues, opt for a worm bin instead.
* Free composting courses are available in Auckland and throughout the country. Check it out here.
