In the same way that growing vegetables, planting fruit trees, and harvesting rainwater can seem off-limits for renters, composting too can often seem a bit out-of-reach, especially if you live in an apartment. But don’t dismay, there are several strategies for composting in public spaces, on borrowed land, or even indoors! Here are two:
Community Compost Bins
Even if you do have the space, the amount of bio-mass (foodwaste or otherwise) that a single urban household will usually generate is too small to justify maintaining a large composting setup (i.e. multiple hot piles). By teaming up with neighbors and collecting organic matter from multiple households, a three-bin compost setup can get plenty of input, and the households benefit from the efficiency of a larger system. Where to put such a thing? In the commons!
Many residential neighborhoods in cities have grass strips between the sidewalk and the street. Technically a public right-of-way (i.e. the commons), these areas are often under the jurisdiction of the local Department of Transportation, but the onus is placed on the owner of the home or property adjacent to maintain the area in front of it. These strips, often four to six feet wide, are perfectly dimensioned to fit a 3-bin compost setup that can transform food and yardwaste from surrounding houses into fertile soil.
The community compost bin pictured (above right) is one of several that I’ve seen in Portland, but gets extra points in by book because it was well-built out of recycled shipping pallets, and because it also includes step-by-step instructions for neighbors who want to start using it.
Indoor Vermicomposting
Using worms (and a bunch of other unseen microbes) to breakdown foodwaste into high-quality compost, should be in every renter and small-space gardener’s repertoire. Vermicomposting bins (‘worm bins’) can be almost any size and can be nestled into cabinets, under beds, or on the floor of a closet.
Composting your foodwaste with a worm bin is a great way to produce very high-quality compost that is superb for gardens, container plantings, and indoor plants.
For more information about vermicomposting, check out these two websites: 1, 2.
If you like the tactile experience of an old-fashioned book, check out Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof. (To purhcase directly from the author, click here.)
Participate in a community compost setup or have a wormbin? Send photos to share@permacultureforrenters.com!
Tags: Borrowed Land, composting, public space, soil
Thank you so much for this site! I want to do more, but often find the restrictions of apartment living difficult to deal with, and so I end up not doing much at all. Vermicomposting presents a fine example. My lease actually says:
“TENANT may not bring or allow animals or pets on the property for any length of time, even minutes. The ‘property’ includes the ground and all areas LANDLORD owns. An ‘animal’ is any living thing other than a human being or a plant. It includes fish, rodents, birds, turtles, cats, dogs and every other known life form.”
Yes, we can both recognize the absurdity of banning “every other known life form,” and I guess that makes keeping yogurt in my fridge a violation of my lease, too, but I don’t know what to do with a worm bin. Do I try to go for it anyway, and figure, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission?” (seems to go against the principle you talked about earlier, on trying to stay on good terms and maintain a respectful relationship), or do I try to convince my landlord that this clause could never possibly hold true, and worm composting is another good exception? Or take some other tack entirely? What do you think?
Thanks,
Jason
Oakdale, PA
Jason,
Ouch! That’s a pretty tough clause, and indeed, totally absurd. I think I would go the “easier to ask for forgiveness” route if you could stand bearing the potential consequences.
Good luck!
Leonard
Love your site. As a renter in Philadelphia I was encouraged to learn that Philly Pedal Co-op offers pick up of both recyclables and compost!
http://www.pedalcoop.org/services
Another great option for those who cannot compost at home or in their neighborhood. (I hope this is/will be replicated in other locations.)