Main "Urban foraged” Ingredients:

These two ingredients together are usually a great carbon/nitrogen balance on their own that don’t attract pests. You are able to make a great bulk “base” for you to add your other ingredients to. Free, no barn needs, getting local organic waste back in the ground.

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Velveteen: Your bulk Carbon/Structure

Rescue bunny orgs are in almost every city. Their “waste” bedding (often pine shavings) is perfect bulk carbon for compost. Ask how they handle it—or even volunteer to help collect. It’s an easy, clean, local upcycling win!

Why is bunny poop so great for your garden? Read More

Shout out: Rabbit Ears Rescue, Oakland, CA if you’re in the Bay

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Want a free window cling?

Got an idea to add? I’d love to hear it. This is a co-created, community-informed.

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Bean: Your Bulk Nitrogen Source

Coffee shops make great bean water every day, bulk nitrogen, compost gold. Ask your local café for their used grounds or help set up a collection system. Simple, impactful upcycling!

Here in the East Bay, Bird & Bear Coffee Co. also diverts their used burlap coffee sacks and coffee chaff for our compost and garden experiments. Ask around!

Know a local roastery? You may have access to garden gold - Read More

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FYI 🌟The magic comes from the bulk carbon and bulk nitrogen being similar in size, help microbes break it down in concert while keeping “structure” to your pile.

💥How to:

❓ Why This Method (+ read why local compost matters!)

Urban and suburban composters often face three big hurdles:

[ ] Not enough bulk carbon to balance kitchen scraps. It’s hard to source without a farm or bigger yard!
[ ] Rodent pressure when using food scraps directly.
[ ] Space. This works in any sized space or any system; small pile in ally, balcony bucket, driveway pile, tumbler, etc.

✅ The Velveteen Bean Method solves this: (Simple 1-2-3)

Tumble first: Let your kitchen scraps pre-break down in a tumbler or any pest-resistant container. Add a bit of bunny bedding if you’ve got it—helps speed things up, control moisture, and cut odors.
Build your pile: Pile bedding + used coffee grounds at about 1 trash-bag of bedding : 1–2 half trash bags/small buckets of coffee. Don’t stress exact ratios—close enough is good. Wet, stir, cover with cardboard, burlap, etc. Can be an open pile or in any container, or enclosure you have.
Feed ongoing: Once scraps are broken down enough to where they aren’t recognizable as food, dig a hole in the middle of your pile and feed them in. Let ‘em cook. Every time you add feeder, stir your pile. It will be braking down and spreading more microbe love. Add water when it looks dry.