Composting With Green Cones/Food Digesters

Green cone basics

Green cone basics

Trouble shooting green cone problems

The green cone is a convenient way to compost food scraps. The green cone composting process is an aerobic process, using air to assist with the decomposition of waste. The green cone is a plastic, rodent proof, cone-shaped composting unit with an attached underground basket. Proper installation is essential to keep the Green Cone rodent proof. Units available for purchase should have complete installation and use directions. Select a convenient, sunny location for installation of the unit. Preferably the Green Cone should be installed away from your home on a well-drained soil. Although the Green Cone is most successful in sandy or loamy soils it can be used in heavy or shallow soils. Remove an additional four to six inches of soil beneath the basket and replace with rocks or sand to improve drainage. Place the green cone basket in the hole and replace the soil around the basket and screw the cone section to the basket.

Green cones aerobically decompose a wide variety of kitchen wastes.

Food scraps are added to the unit through a lid on the top. After the food scraps are added be sure and close the lid to keep down odors and flies. A plastic bar across the opening may be removed to allow easier access. Add a thin layer of leaves or sawdust if odors or flies become a problem. Although additives are available to speed up the composting process, decomposition should proceed at an acceptable rate without it, in most instances..

Over time the Green Cone basket should contain some dark, moist compost. The speed at which compost is produced will depend on what kind of food waste is added, the soil drainage, the soil texture, and the time of year. On average, a Green Cone used by two people should be harvested after six to 12 months. Spring or fall are the best times to harvest the compost. To harvest the compost, unscrew the cone section from the basket and take the compost and any uncomposted food out of the basket. Bury the compost in the garden at least eight inches deep as a soil enhancer. The compost may be smelly, but this is a quick and easy way to harvest. After harvest, replace the cone section on the basket.

Occasionally food may rise into the cone section. However, the waste food volume will decrease with time. If the cone section is constantly filled, consider using two green cones or bury a portion of the waste.

Using two Green Cones makes composting even easier. Simply use the first Cone until the cones section is about half full. Then switch to the second unit and let the first one sit idle to allow the food to decompose and settle back into the underground basket. By the time the food in the second Cone has filled half way up the cone section, the first Cone should be ready to harvest. Use the harvested compost directly into the garden as a mulch or top dressing or dig into the soil. Alternating between the Cones allows the food scraps to be composted more efficiently and completely than with one Cone.

Trouble shooting green cone problems

More information about this topic is available through your local Cooperative Extension Office

Source: James A. Kropf, Extension Faculty, Horticulture, Small Farms and Farm Marketing. (1998) Updated by Dave Pehling, Snohomish Co. Extension Analyst, 10/03