Easy composting for your veggie garden
Creating a bucket compost system is quick, easy and will help nourish your vegetables for as long as you need. With Aucklands temperate / warm climate, material decomposes fairly quickly and makes composting a breeze. Here are some really easy steps to creating your first composting bucket in your Auckland veggie garden.
1. Get a bucket
Any old plastic bucket with a lid will do, however if it has previously contained paint, make sure its thoroughly cleaned, and obviously if its previous contents were very nasty, just don't use it. Next drill a good number of 2cm ish holes in it. This will let the goodness get out and worms get in. You can also completely remove the bottom and drill just the sides if you are going to be adding to it regularly.
Dig a hole in your veggie garden
Make a bucket shaped hole in the middle of your veggie garden or planter box and add the bucket. Make sure most of the bucket is buried with only the lid, and a few cm at the top of the bucket visible. Add food scraps and lawn mowing clippings and layer with dead or fallen leaves
What to add to the composting bucket
- Fruit scraps
- Vegetable peelings
- Coffee grounds
- Crushed eggshells
- Finely shredded cardboard
- Dead leaves
- Trimming waste
- Plain sawdust
- Tea bags (ensure they are plastic-free)
- Nut shells (except walnuts)
- Stale bread (without meat or dairy spreads)
What NOT to add to the composting bucket
- Meat bones
- Dairy products
- Cooking oils
- Pet waste
- Diseased plants
- Glossy paper
- Plastic stickers
- Perennial weeds
- Citrus peels (avoid if you are managing a worm-heavy pit)
- Onion scraps (keep minimal if worms are present)
- Treated timber shavings
- Coal ash
As you can see, it couldnt be easier, and if you need help getting started with a planter box, we also make custom planter boxes here at Barclay mowing, and have made a number for local East Auckland clients