Any recommendations for a small composting system?

[Zikoris]

As the title says, I'd like to get a mini composting system set up when I move to my new apartment in a few weeks. Does anyone have experience with these is a small apartment setting? I haven't done this before at all. Could be either indoors (if it's very small), or on my balcony. I'm planning to use vegetable/fruit scraps for nitrogen and shredded paper for carbon. I get a lot of confidential documents that I need to shred after dealing with them, so why not use them, right??

Any tips for getting this started? Most of the composting systems I've seen have been quite large and not really suited to a couple in a 5th floor apartment.

[the lorax]

A bokashi bin system might work?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokashi_composting#Bokashi

[The Money Monk]

By their nature compost piles work better the larger they are, so you aren't likely to get very quick results from a small pile, although they do still work.

If you are going to be composting mostly vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and paper products, look into a worm bin (worm inn is a good one for your situation). They take up very little space, fairly easy to maintain, and will break down your waste much faster than a simple compost pile of the same size.

[RetiredAt63]

By their nature compost piles work better the larger they are, so you aren't likely to get very quick results from a small pile, although they do still work.

If you are going to be composting mostly vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and paper products, look into a worm bin (worm inn is a good one for your situation). They take up very little space, fairly easy to maintain, and will break down your waste much faster than a simple compost pile of the same size.

+1

[Huffy2k]

Look into vermicomposting.  My wife vermicomposts in our basement in one of those plastic storage bins you can get at any big box home store.  She uses red wigglers (worms) and she's had a lot of luck in creating really nice compost for her container garden.

[hoodedfalcon]

Look into vermicomposting.  My wife vermicomposts in our basement in one of those plastic storage bins you can get at any big box home store.  She uses red wigglers (worms) and she's had a lot of luck in creating really nice compost for her container garden.

+1

[Ziggurat]

Look into vermicomposting.  My wife vermicomposts in our basement in one of those plastic storage bins you can get at any big box home store.  She uses red wigglers (worms) and she's had a lot of luck in creating really nice compost for her container garden.

+1

+2

We've been vermicomposting for about 20 years.  However, I haven't composted office paper and I recall there is some concern about the safety of that for the worms, due to bleaching and perhaps due to the ink.  Black and white newspaper is fine but the OP might want to look into the safety of using office papers.

Other than that, there are some items to avoid in vermi-composting indoors -- any meat or dairy, and the tougher vegetable bits like banana peels and corn husks can take forever so I never compost those. Potato peelings are okay in small quantity, but larger amounts clump together and are not loose enough for proper air access in the worm bin.

[Zikoris]

Okay, this is really stupid, but... I'm really scared of worms. But I think I could use a worm system if a few conditions were met:

1. I didn't have to touch them
2. I didn't have to regularly see them
3. The system could be set up outside on the balcony rather than indoors. I couldn't mentally handle a gazillion worms in my apartment. Vancouver winters are fairly mild, but would the things survive?

Can anyone with experience tell me if this would be feasible?

[RetiredAt63]

They don't like light, so you will rarely see them.

Harvesting your compost - the easy way is to make a pile (out of the bin) and let the surface dry out.  They will burrow to the middle to stay moist.  Scrape off that dry layer and repeat, until you see a pile that is more worms than compost.  Use that to start your next batch.  Wear gardening gloves (so you don't loose sensitivity) if you don't want to touch them with your bare hands.

They would be OK on the balcony if it doesn't get too hot in summer. 

This seems to be a useful site: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Redwormsedit.htm  They recommend 55 – 77^oF (13 - 25^oC) for best activity.

Um, gardeners using soil (as opposed to pots or hydroponics) get used to finding all sorts of things while they are gardening.  Worms are pretty harmless, and not all that slimy (the slime keeps them from dehydrating and dying).  I have found small snakes (in my garden and in my compost bin), bumblebees (n my compost bin), all kinds of insects (good and bad), mice, etc.  Just part of the living cycle.  Maybe this will be a chance to get used to worms?  They are kind of neat animals, and definitely harmless.

Okay, this is really stupid, but... I'm really scared of worms. But I think I could use a worm system if a few conditions were met:

1. I didn't have to touch them
2. I didn't have to regularly see them
3. The system could be set up outside on the balcony rather than indoors. I couldn't mentally handle a gazillion worms in my apartment. Vancouver winters are fairly mild, but would the things survive?

Can anyone with experience tell me if this would be feasible?

[Nords]

Okay, this is really stupid, but... I'm really scared of worms. But I think I could use a worm system if a few conditions were met:

1. I didn't have to touch them
2. I didn't have to regularly see them
3. The system could be set up outside on the balcony rather than indoors. I couldn't mentally handle a gazillion worms in my apartment. Vancouver winters are fairly mild, but would the things survive?

Can anyone with experience tell me if this would be feasible?

Look up vermiposting businesses in your area to see if you can attend a free class.  You can also read the classic (available at your library) "Worms Eat My Garbage".  They'll show you how to set up your system to meet conditions #1 and #2.  The worms also think you're icky and scary-- they're photophobic so they'll stay out of sight.  For the same reason, they won't leave the container. 

#3:  The vermiposter and its contents provide enough insulation for the worms to avoid freezing.

[Zikoris]

This sounds great - I looked into it and my city apparently has a program teaching vermicomposting! $25 for the equipment, worms, and a hands-on class. I can't wait to get started after my move!