You don’t need a big garden to start composting. Even in a flat with a small balcony, you can turn kitchen waste into food for your plants.
Start with a basic container—an old bucket, bin or terracotta pot with a few holes for air and drainage. Place it in a corner that doesn’t get hammered by harsh sun or heavy rain.
Collect “greens” (wet waste) like fruit peels, vegetable scraps, tea leaves and coffee grounds—avoiding meat, fish and very oily food to keep smells down. Mix these with “browns” like dry leaves, shredded paper or cardboard pieces.
The idea is to layer and mix, not dump everything in one wet pile. A good balance of greens and browns helps compost break down without turning slimy.
Stir the mixture every few days to let air in. If it looks too wet, add more dry material. If it’s too dry, sprinkle a bit of water.
In a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on conditions, you’ll have dark, crumbly compost that your balcony plants will love. It’s a small, satisfying cycle—from kitchen to compost to plants and back again.
