Compost on a balcony

[the.fee.fairy]

I live on the third floor. I've got an enclosed balcony with windows that open.

I really really really want to compost. I eat a lot of fruit and veg and get so angry every time i throw the skins in the bin.

But...Bokashi is not known at all here. And composting is not really done in the cities.

I know how to set a compost bin in the garden, how to set up a wormery (problem: no worms...) but how do i compost on a small scale on an enclosed balcony? I can't just order worms (not even sure where to start looking to be honest), don't think the apartment manager would be impressed at me digging in the flower beds.

Also...need to make sure that the bin doesn't encourage cockroaches or other nasty little insects (sorry if you're a cockroach fan. I hate the things with a passion).

Any advice welcome.

Ta

[the.fee.fairy]

so...I looked online and found a few things that could be helpful. Today I made a balcony composter - two bins. Both are plastic, one is clear and one dark (I could only get a clear one that fitted inside the dark one). The clear one has holes in the bottom and a couple of splits in the sides. I tried to make holes, but the plastic split instead.

The instructions said to keep it covered and to keep adding brown material. So it's got a couple of sheets of newspaper (The Times from last September) and some walnut shells, and I added the veg peelings from last night's dinner and a mouldy plum that I cut up.

I'm not expecting to see worms

It's beginning to warm up here, so I'll keep an eye on it and see how it goes.

For a lid, I've got a cardboard layer, weighed down with the Christmas tree :)

[Thomzo]

Well, that certainly conjures up an image! Good luck with it. Are you sure that you couldn't go worm hunting in secret? Maybe after dark with a torch? Hopefully, keeping the lid on tight will keep the pests out.

Good luck.

[Pumpkin&Piglet]

Our compost bin is near our house (teeny weeny garden!) and we have the problem of flies in the summer. I read - I think on here - that marigolds and mint will help keep them away. I'm still in the process of trying it so can't tell you how successful they are but you could try them if you find insects a problem?

[the.fee.fairy]

Thanks for the suggestion.

I could go worm hunting, but it's rarely dark enough to get away with it - I live on a University campus, so the lights are on all night.

I looked in the bin today and there's some mould growing...I'll keep a eye on it.

My balcony is virtually enclosed - there's a small window where the aircon vents that's an open space, and another window that's open to let fresh (ish) air into the apartment when the doors are open.

Hopefully it won't attract flies this high up...and there's a healthy local bat population, so I might end up with a few furry flying friends...

[Pumpkin&Piglet]

That would be brilliant!

How do I attract bats to my garden?

[Green Aura]

I think anything that attracts insects to your garden will do. They'll attract the bats