My mom introduced me to the idea of "Stealth Composting": the process of composting organic material right in an out-fo the-way location where no one would know it.  We live in a condominium, which made this approach ideal - we could compost right in our garage.  I put my first batch of compost out back yesterday and I'd like to report on the results.

I learned many lessons during this process.  In particular, the use of cereal boxes as the carbon source during the compost process.  My mom always suggests leaves, but being at a condo this material is usually cleaned up pretty quick.  I needed something readily available.  I began shredding newspaper, but it tended to cause lumping - and hence, stinking - in the composter.  I decided to try shredding cereal boxes.  It had the structural ooomph needed to keep the organic matieral from creating stinky lumps.  It made the contents easy to mix.  However, in the end result it was clear that the material they used to decorate the boxes, the ink if you will, did not break down at all.  Since I couldn't find anyone who could tell me this material was safe, I think it's naive to believe there isn't something unhealthy in there that probably shouldn't be ammended to any growing medium inteded for food.

So.  My search continues for a ready-supply of carbon for my garage composter.  I may try newspaper again, just more of it.