Trying to get enough matter in the composters to make us self sufficient.
Me Too, and I've cracked it, this year. Fact is, one household that's frugal won't create enough kitchen waste and one allotment won't create enough garden waste. We savvy composters need to 'acquire' extra....
1... Get free or cheap horsemuck on FB Marketplace. (Beware Grazon)
2... Ask your neighbours for their grass clippings
3... Ask local tree surgeons for their woodchipping waste
4... Sawmills for their sweepings up
5... Cafes for their green waste.
6... Scoop up dropped leaves around your housing estate or any similar suburban area.
7.... If the council cut grass on suburban estates, they seldom scoop up the clippings. Fill your boots.
8.... Blag Cardboard (and pallets) from workplace or tradesmen (plumbers/kitchen fitters are good)
You need to make it advantageeous for them to favour giving it to you.
1.... Horsemuck is hazardhouse waste, so stables will be glad to see you collect it. Do them that favour!
2.... Quirky, but get to know when they cut the grass and put your collecting bin convenient for them. Cut yours at the same time. Give them some free produce. Share a fourpack of beer over the fence on cutting day.
3.... They will be glad to get rid, but won't want to waste TIME, so be where they are when they are creating it.
4.... Help them sweep up?
5... Arrange them a set-aside place which you vigilantly clear. Provide them with suitable bags or bin. This is one of my TOP sources.
6.... You'll look like a loon, but sod it. Use a trug and a big builders bag to fill your car boot.
7.... You are doing your neighbours a good deed :) They'll think you're nuts.
8.... Again, you need to make it more convenient for them to give it to you.
I've got 1,2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 sorted and get Masses of ingredients, in a good balance. It's a bit eccentric, but so is self sufficiency. We get it. Let the suckers that don't get it be our donors.
Free produce is helpful in encouraging donors. Doesn't need to be much.