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This sound a little crazy so I want to run this by you guys and see what could be the down side of the idea.
After reading the recent threads about composting, I'm thinking about making an emulsion of kitchen scraps like citrus peels, banana peels, etc (essentially what would go into a compost heap which unfortunately my yard is too small to have) using my Vitamix blender and just spread the solution onto the lawn.
I figure it could be a good way to add organic material to the soil as the bio materials break down while keeping stuff out of the landfill. And since the material is essentially pulverized into tiny particles, it should not be long for it to disappear into the soil.
Those 'peels' have difficulty composting in an active compost pile. Why? They have natural chemicals in them that prevent insects, bacteria, and many fungi from breaking them down. While you have pulverized them, this will not remove the chemicals, and I would be concerned that the slushy would be somewhat harmful to the natural microbial balance in the soil.
But, you could try it in a small area and see what happens.
do you have any plants in your yard? Sometimes I simply bury banana peels, egg shells, etc right around the plants.
. I find whole banana peels take forever to disappear. There are a few shrubs and I don't want to mess up the mulch bed by digging into the soil around them. I used to have a patch for gardening when I lived in another place and I just bury the scraps in the soil and till it after a few weeks to improve the soil which was really just dirt to begin with. I don't have any Gardening space like that any more.
Well, I made my first batch of Orange and banana peels slurry and spread it thinly on the lawn. I think it's going to work since the material just disappears into the ground.
This is common when living in the country. Permaculture at it's most basic.
My stepmother tossed all of the veggie kitchen scraps out the side kitchen door and into the grass when I was a child. The family dogs, free range hens, or birds would eat a lot of it.
I always tossed out veggie scraps at my last country home, also.
The grass is always lush, thick and green in that area. The key is having a side door that opens up onto a less-used yard of grass. I would never toss scraps into the main yard or walkway.
I agree with the others - that banana peels never break down.
The grass is always lush, thick and green in that area. The key is having a side door that opens up onto a less-used yard of grass. I would never toss scraps into the main yard or walkway..
Interesting how you have been feeding your lawn like that. it's why I blend up the peels first so there won't be visible pieces on the grass and animals feedin on them
Even though you don't have room for a compost heap, what about an Earth Machine? They are about the size of an outdoor garbage can and then you could really compost. If you read articles about composting, it doesn't seem like what you are thinking of doing might work, but people here did say their lawn in that area was lush. But, I cook at home a great deal, so I fill up the kitchen container with coffee grounds, filter, egg shells, tons of orange peel, lemons, broccoli and other veggie stems, onion skins, banana skins, etc. every other day. I think your idea is not workable for the long run.
Our town sells the earth machine every spring for a subsidized price ($25.00) and the kitchen counter pail for $5.00. They do it to promote recycling and keeping food waste out of the trash.
I've been putting all our food waste in it for 6 years now, and it is only 1/2 full. It is amazing, because I really don't take much out for my garden. A couple of times a year, I bring over the wheelbarrow, then set up an old metal mesh stacking bin that used to be in my kid's bedroom and screen the compost. But after a few gallons, I usually get tired, so I really just use my earth machine to compost all food scraps, leaves etc. and keep it out of the landfill.
I can just imagine the smell and attraction to rodents with freshly grinded kitchen scrap all over the yard. And flies.
First of all, if you have a "yard" and a "lawn" then you have room for a small compost barrel or a pile.
Find a small spot. You can dig a hole like 15 inches x 15 inches maybe 2 feet deep. Start throwing kitchen scrap in there. And grass clippings, ect. In short time all you have to do is stick a shovel in there and dig out the compost dirt.
Blended kitchen scrap is not the same as composted kitchen scrap.
I'm sure you have room for a garbage can to throw the scraps in.
This sound a little crazy so I want to run this by you guys and see what could be the down side of the idea.
After reading the recent threads about composting, I'm thinking about making an emulsion of kitchen scraps like citrus peels, banana peels, etc (essentially what would go into a compost heap which unfortunately my yard is too small to have) using my Vitamix blender and just spread the solution onto the lawn.
I figure it could be a good way to add organic material to the soil as the bio materials break down while keeping stuff out of the landfill. And since the material is essentially pulverized into tiny particles, it should not be long for it to disappear into the soil.
What do you guys think?
It is exactly what I started to do this past week. I was amazed to see how fast the Vitamix broke down the lemon peels in water... instanteous! The city would loan me a compost bin but it's too large for the very small space I call a backyard. As for the pulverizing, I figure it's much better than whole scraps left laying in the corner enticing critters I don't want hanging out back there.
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