From the page: Sweet tangerine that goes a long way
Idea 9
Composting the peels
Composting fruit peels is imitating the cycle of the forest, where nothing is lost: leaves and fruits fall and become fertilizer that feeds new plants. Microorganisms and earthworms break the peels down into nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus — exactly the elements the tangerine tree itself needs to grow strong.
What you need
- Tangerine peels chopped into small pieces
- A bucket with a lid or a composting bin
- Dry material: leaves, sawdust, shredded cardboard, or soil
- A shovel or wooden spoon to stir
- Optional: California red worms, if you want to speed up the process
How to make it
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1
Chop the peels into very small pieces — the smaller, the faster the microorganisms can decompose the material.
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2
Build alternating layers in the bucket: one of peels, one of dry material on top — the balance between wet and dry prevents bad odor and attracts the right decomposers.
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3
Close and keep in a shaded, ventilated place, because heat speeds up decomposition, but direct sun dries everything out.
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4
Turn the mixture every one or two weeks to bring in oxygen — without air, the bacteria that cause bad odor take over.
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5
Monitor the moisture: squeezing a handful should release only a drop; if water runs out, add more dry material.
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6
In two or three months, when the material becomes a dark, forest-smelling soil, the fertilizer is ready for your pots and vegetables.
Finishing touches
If the bucket starts giving off a strong odor, it is a sign of too much wet material — add more cardboard or dry leaves and turn it. With tangerine peels, go easy on the proportion, because the oils in the peel decompose more slowly: always use them mixed with other scraps.
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