My Composting "Can" Be Improved

Since the time of my last post, I have continued filling up the garbage can that I hoped would help me contain the compost, but now, as the garbage can continues to reach full capacity, I am beginning to consider looking for new venues to form a compost pile where I can possibly create compost in a bigger area. A number of problems have arisen with the garbage can format, including the growing stench that can be smelled next to the trash, the increase number of flies next to the house, and most notably, the finite amount of material that I can put in it.

The smell is often what most people(notably my sister) have been commenting on, and I do agree with her on that note. The fumes remind me of rotting food, which is(contrary to popular opinion) not what compost should smell like. I got help from a highly informational troubleshooting document, which I was led to through the San Jose composting website(here), and you can access the document itself here. The document mainly suggested adding more dry materials in and turning it, which I will also address later in this post.

The next problem that has arisen is the increase in the amount of fruit flies plaguing the compost bin. I researched a bit why such a thing should/shouldn't happen, and drew up a resource from another blog on this website about composting here. I tried out the method, using white vinegar at first, which was not as effective(shown below), so I will try and use apple cider vinegar as suggested going into the next weeks.

Every week, my family produces about a bucket and a half of compostable food scraps, if not more, and the amount of compost that I can put in the bin at one time is limited, meaning that I probably need to think of a new method to create compost. I am thinking of maybe creating an area for my compost to sit in the backyard decompose itself, because the garbage can situation does not seem ideal for turning. It is quite useful to hold materials that I wish to compost, but the small circumference of the bin also makes it hard to turn and aerate, which I worry might delay the decomposition time, which might restrict me from the progress of my project.

Since I probably don't have that much time to go shopping for materials in which to build the compost with, I was thinking of using some chicken wire and make a pile that sits inside of it, as suggested by another plan on the list of designs that I looked at. This would also solve one of the problems that I think the garbage can has, which is the fact that it is not the right size for things to compost correctly; I was supposed to make a pile 3x3x3 ft^3 in volume, and the garbage can is not quite that size. 

Overall, all of these trials have helped me become more active with my life and acknowledge the amount of waste that could be thrown into landfills. Filling up the compost every week since the last post has forced me to move around in between my studying and go outside to deal with the compost, as well as led me to realize just how much food waste is actually thrown away instead of being utilized. I've also learned to be more resilient, and not give up in the face of hardship. Despite the commentary of many for me to change my project entirely, I am still dedicated to seeing it progress, just though trial and error. The next steps for me are to carry out the plans that I have written on here, and possibly contact the blog that I have recently looked up for advice for a composting beginner. I truly think that having an outside opinion on what I am doing will help me in convincing others that composting is an option for them as well.