I'd Compost...That!

When Edward joined our family (almost a year ago!!), I was a bit dismayed about how much litter I was tossing out by cleaning his cage.  I felt I had made an ecologically sound choice in the litter I use, as far as it being a recycled product, no dyes, natural, but at the rate I (he) was going through it, I felt very wasteful and self-conscious.  About a month later I attended a composting workshop at our Water Agency's Conservatory Garden.   I came with an open mind, a notebook, and a single question:  Can I compost rabbit litter?  The answer was yes.  Yes!  I left with a government subsidized compost bin and a new hobby. 

Big Daddy was leery.  I sheepishly admit to a history of hobbies that "didn't take".  My initial excitement and intentions are always good, but my follow-through and commitment have left the garage a bit cluttered with big ideas.  "Don't throw that out!  I'm gonna get to that someday!!"  "C'mon! This box says 1994 on it!!  You don't even know what's IN there!"  "Yes I do!  An unfulfilled dream!"  "Fine. (**sigh**)". 

Well, the composting took.  And I love it in a weird way.  I'm not sure if it appeals to the chemist in me, the San Francisco-Eco-Freak in me, or what, but it does.  And I get excited when I come across would-be trash that can go in the bin.  "Ooo!  I bet I could compost that!"  It's also a guilt/stress reducer.  If I want to throw the heels of the bread away:  compost it.  If I never got around to making rice pudding out of that leftover cup of rice:  compost it.  That lettuce got so bad it's not even fit for the rabbit:  compost it.  It's so satisfying!

So, aside from the usual banana peels and vegetable scraps, here is a list of my most favorite things to compost:  

 Rabbit litter, of course

Laundry lint

Any personal info--it never has to leave your home!

Shedded hair (all species welcome)

 

Sweetner envelopes

Worn-out cotton T-shirts and skivvies (elastic removed)

Q-tips with cardboard stems

Lightly used napkins and tissues

 

Leftover rice and pasta

The lime from the Corona

 

Those are just my faves, because prior to the new hobby they were just curbside trash.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm gonna get a couple of lime wedges ready to add to the bin.  Big Daddy'll do his part and have a lime with me.  To composting!  To composting!  Cheers!

Comments

[Mom]

I very much enjoyed the compost article. My amazing daughter: she can compost, she can compose, she can pose and create prose...

I love it. Can't wait to sneak some laundry lint in there when Dad's not looking.

(I got so excited I amost put my email address as "compost.com")

[Alisa]

Wonderful! I can see from your mom's comment, exactly where your creativity comes from! The Dad and I have been at odds about composting the paper. I want my tea bags in there, and his coffee grounds, but he is firmly opposed for some odd reason. I am so looking forward to that composty goodness in the garden this spring!

[Lisa Flaherty]

That's weird that J doesn't want coffee grounds and tea bags in there! Those are definitely on my list of favorite things to compost, but I didn't put them on this list because they are such naturals for the bin! In fact, so much of my "base" is used grounds from Starbucks. They would give me huge bags of it if I showed up at the right time. Now I have enough stuff to keep the level up, but that initial fill-up-the-bin was a bit tricky.