#127 How we made a compost system with our online community

Introduction

Four years ago, we embarked on a journey to create a more sustainable way of living by purchasing a piece of land. Over the years, we’ve focused on building resilient living spaces, enhancing the land’s fire resistance, and implementing sustainable practices. One of our latest projects involved developing a new composting system, and we're excited to share our experience with you! In this article, we will walk you through the process of creating this new compost system with valuable input from our online community.

Current Compost Situation

Currently, we have a food compost setup that has seen better days. It was built on a slope, making it unstable, and it’s been hidden behind mimosas, creating a situation that’s difficult to ignore. The structure is now wobbly, with many parts falling apart. Inside, we lack an organized system for layering compost materials. For instance, we’ve been adding citrus, which attracts flies and often leads to unpleasant smells.

To illustrate the issue, we demonstrated how sloped the structure has become and shared our observations during the past year when the compost was left to rest. With the goal of improving our composting experience, we recognized our lack of knowledge regarding composting and decided to build a new system.

Research and Design

To create a better structure, we opened a research module to gather feedback from our online community. Based on their input and our own research, we designed a new compost system. It consists of four bins with removable front planks and lids to minimize rainwater infiltration. We sourced secondhand pallets similar to the ones used for our original system.

Building the New Compost System

We found an ideal location for the new compost structure, which is flat and conveniently close to the kitchen. After ordering thick wood from a local sawmill, we began removing dirt and preparing the site for assembly.

Once the wood was cut, sanded, and treated with linseed oil—an eco-friendly option to avoid harmful chemicals—we moved on to assembling the upper part of our compost system. The upper structure consists of a large, fixed lid and four smaller, removable lids for easy access to the compost.

Next, we focused on constructing the front part of the compost bins, ensuring we had racks in place for removable planks. After all the wood was treated and positioned, we filled the bins with compost remnants and other organic waste.

The final setup features a dedicated space for ready-to-use compost, a bin for compost resting for approximately a year, and another bin for active composting. To encourage proper use of the bins, we created clear instructional signs.

Community Engagement

While working on our compost system, we also decided to help our neighbors, particularly Fernanda, with their bean harvesting. We joined her on several occasions, learning different techniques to harvest the beans efficiently. Despite the heat, we discovered that working during hotter hours allowed the beans to dry out and fall more easily from their pods.

After a productive day, we concluded our harvesting tasks and returned to our project camp. We shared beans with the community and planned for future collaborations.

Thank you for following our journey towards building a sustainable composting system. We will continue to update you on the progress and challenges we face as we learn and grow together with our online and offline communities.

Keywords

• Compost system
• Sustainability
• Online community
• Bean harvesting
• Organic waste
• Linseed oil
• Compost organization
• Community engagement

FAQ

1. What is the purpose of the new compost system?

   • The new compost system aims to improve the composting process, enhance sustainability efforts, and organize organic waste management better.

2. How did you involve the online community in this project?

   • We opened a research module for feedback, which helped shape the design and features of the new compost system.

3. What materials did you use for the compost system?

   • We used secondhand pallets and treated wood with linseed oil for the construction of the compost bins.

4. Why did you choose to work with your neighbors on bean harvesting?

   • Collaborating with neighbors fosters community relationships and helps us learn and share knowledge about sustainable agriculture practices.

5. How do you ensure the proper usage of the compost bins?

   • Clear instructional signs were created to guide the community on how to use the compost bins effectively.