If you ’re concerned in environmentally friendly gardening , you ’re plausibly familiar with a countertop composter . Whether it be on societal medium or on the shelves of horticulture computer storage , they seem to be all the rage right now . I ’ve been testing out one for the past month to see if they are deserving the ballyhoo and if you should try one , too .
I ’m always look for slipway to reduce my food waste while supporting my garden . So , I was intrigued when I started seeing countertop composters popping up everywhere . They promised prompt compost with minimum effort ( and odour ) .
I typically use a combination of a worm bin and a backyard bin for composting , and they have serve me well . I ’m a passionate composter , that ’s for sure .
Another great small space solution is having a worm bin andvermicomposting.
I wo n’t traverse that I ’m a bite of a doubter when it hail to these galvanising composters . But I ’m excited to give it a try and see how it fits into my current composting routine .
I ’ve been using mine for almost two calendar month , and I ’m ready to portion out my thought . This post will focalise on theVego Kitchen Composter , but if you ’re considering another brand , a tidy sum of the selective information will still use .
What is a Countertop Composter?
A kitchen composter is a compost machine thatturns kitchen scraps into nutritive - plentiful dirtthat can be used for houseplants or in your garden . They ’re advertised as a quick and soft way to sell with food waste material and fertilise your plants . Theoretically , you could break down your scraps in just hour , as opposed to weeks and calendar month .
These appliances utilise heat to dry up nutrient scraps , then grind the materialinto a fine compost that can be used in your garden .
Using My Vego Kitchen Composter
One of the things I like about theVego Kitchen Composteris that it hasfour different setting . The chief difference is how long each of these modes take to process your kitchen refuse , but the ending termination also vary slightly .
skunk mode has the longsighted cycle ( 11 - 24 hours ) and it labour the compost more than the other options . Vego fashion takes 9 - 24 hours and is meant to keep more of the micro-organism in the compost to provide the most alimentary - robust dirt .
The fertilize setting on the other hand get semi - composted material in 9 - 22 hours , and utter mode dry the material rather than in full composting it , taking just 2 - 8 hours .
I ’m still experimenting with these different modes , but I ’ve mostly been using the express mode . Regardless of which setting I have it on , the machine does a great job of ruin down green wastefrom my kitchen and reducing the amount of waste that I have to deal with .
One thing to keep in mind is thatnot everything that goes in your green bin can be processed in an galvanising composter . For instance , fat and osseous tissue from nub still have to go in my even compost ABA transit number , but the gracious thing is that it does n’t fill up as apace .
I ’ve started keep other scraps in a freestanding drinking glass container on my counter , then channelize them to myVego , which I keep downstairs .
I ’ve been using my resulting compost in containersbecause I encounter it easy to deck in and do some spot composting . In my eye , the kitchen composter is discharge the first step of compost , which is burst down the material into small bits , and the remainder will get along in the soil itself .
Using the Compost on Houseplants
If you have a small place and want to break down some kitchen waste , this will help oneself you get some organic matter that ’s break down in a way thatwon’t smell if you expend it in your houseplants .
It ’s hard to bed the exact composing of any compost . But in my book , add organic stuff to your plant is never a bad affair .
You do need to take some consideration with your houseplant , though . The grunge in houseplants does n’t have the same level of microorganisms in it to really break down that material effectively . So you want compost that ’s really industrial plant - uncommitted .
For this reason , I think the compost from a countertop composter is better used for remote plants . But I ’m going to continue to try it on my houseplants and see how it does .
Benefits of a Kitchen Composter
If you ’re attend for a fast and simple room to compost your kitchen refuse , a countertop composter like theVegoone is definitely an good solution . These convenience are easy to apply and much quicker than other composting method acting . The Vego one breaks down refuse in under 24 hours . It would also be a good choice for someone in an apartment or without a full railyard .
I ’ve been keeping mine downstairs because of the olfactory sensation , but if you have a sheltered spot outdoors , that would in all probability be ideal . A built - in spot under your kitchen cesspit would also work well as long as it ’s ventilated .
I think it ’s important to bring up thatnot everyone can compost outside . Whether you survive in an apartment or a basement suite , or perhaps you have apest problemoutside , a kitchen composter could make it attainable for you to compost .
As someone with a disability , I also come up that my even compost bins can be a quite a little of work . While many hoi polloi think compost is just dumping refuse in a wad , there ’s a set more to it . You have to monitor what you ’re adding , see it ’s getting air and is turn , andfollow the right compost recipe .
I do n’t always have the energy and capabilities to do this , and even mysmaller worm bincan be DOE - zapping , specially when it ’s time to harvest the worm castings .
But with this galvanising composter , you’re able to do everything with the click of a button , and then you have it all ready to just plunge in your skinny horticulture container .
Cons of a Kitchen Composter
To me , the primary con when it comes to a compost machine , as opposed to more traditional compost methods , is the price . Although they do the job , these appliances are quite dear , so it may not be worth it for everyone .
The other downside is , of course , the spirit . My motorcar has a carbon paper filter that helps with odours , but at the end of the day it can still stink , especially on the Vego mode . I found thatthe good way to avoid odours was to use express modal value .
Originally , I had the container in my downstairs studio space . Now , I ’ve moved it outside the door and under my covered deck .
If you have a balcony or something exchangeable , putting it outside where you ’ve got an outlet and it ’s covered may be a better solution than keeping it inside . Then , you do n’t have to occupy about the smell .
Because aboveboard , it can be solid depending on what you put in it .
I also get that it can be a trivial bit gaudy . I would n’t want it running in my kitchen because I find there are already so many noises . The oven is loud , the fridge noise , and an frappe maker clang regularly . add together another contrivance that is constantly running will just make more noise pollution in the house and I would prefer to prevent what I can .
When I posted about the composter on Instagram , one comment was very against the idea of the composters because of the environmental implication of making it in the first place and then running it to get compost . The comment went on to say that there are other pocket-size - scale compost operations that are all - natural .
While I do think there is some deservingness to this , I also think thatnot everyone can easy make or expend their own composting bin , whether that ’s due to space or accessibility or something else entirely . But I do intend the comment is deserving blab about as well .
Final Thoughts on Countertop Composters
Overall , countertop composters can be an effective alternative to other composting methods for those who have struggled to maintain a compost ABA transit number or who have limited space . As I mentioned , theywould ferment particularly well for someone living in an flat .
Although I would only suggest it if you have an outdoor outer space like a deck of cards where you could store the machine to keep olfactory property out of your nursing home .
Personally , I will stay to usemy countertop composterfor small food scrap and as an well-off addition to my garden . However , it wo n’t supercede my other composting method , and I ’ll stay to habituate my worm and outdoor bins as well .
If you ’re concerned in getting aVego Kitchen Composterfor yourself , you’re able to practice my discount computer code to get an extra 10 % off ! And yes , you’re able to heap it on top of some other sales . Use the computer code GARDEN_THERAPY10OFF at checkout counter .
Update : After send this galvanising composter review , I stupefy a lovely submission from a referee about her composter , and I believe I would portion out :
“ I use the Breville Food Composter . It only takes five hour to process , grind , and dry the nutrient scraps to resemble dirt . If I bulge the composter in the morning , the entire process is finished by the afternoon , and I am able to tilt the bucketful of compost onto my garden at the end of the day . I fuck my Breville Food Composter and highly recommend it , especially for people living in apartments or rental accommodations . ” – Cheryl
Frequently Asked Questions About Electric Composters
The Vego countertop composter has multiple mode . The fertilize , grass , and Vego preferences do molder scraps . you’re able to also add speedup pad , which contain microorganisms , to help induce decomposition . The express mode uses heat to exsiccate the material , rather than break down it . However , there is still value in adding this organic matter to your garden . The little part of organic matter will break down more once they are in the soil . I’m still try out in price of what kind of compost it make , because without a doubt it ’s dissimilar than what you might make in your own compost bank identification number . But that does n’t mean it ’s not still valuable constituent stuff .
Worm binsare an excellent choice if you ’re bet for a more affordable result ! They do n’t take up much space and they expend ( aka worms eat ) the same type of scraps that you would put in an galvanic composter . As I ’ve mentioned , this is only one of the many different galvanic composters out there . If you are using one yourself , especially from a dissimilar steel , I ’d eff to hear some of your thought . Let ’s dive deeply into the pros and cons of using these thing .
As I ’ve mentioned , this is only one of the many different electric composters out there . If you are using one yourself , especially from a different firebrand , I ’d love to learn some of your thinking . Let ’s plunge deeper into the professional and cons of using these thing .
