Composting is the decomposition of organic materials into the soil, such as leaves and food leftovers.
It’s an excellent method to recycle yard and kitchen leftovers while enriching the soil in your garden, enhancing water retention, and preventing erosion.
Although it may appear hard, composting is both relatively easy and enjoyable.
I was shocked at how simple it was to Compost, even from my little flat. To help minimize waste and encourage sustainability, I now routinely drop off food leftovers at my local composting site.
This easy-to-follow tutorial will teach you all you need to know to start composting.
What is composting?
Compost is a sort of organic matter that may be added to soil to aid in the growth of plants.
It is made by collecting natural items that would otherwise be discarded, such as food scraps, leaves, and yard trimmings, and allowing them to degrade over time.
There are various reasons why you should consider home composting. They are as follows:
- Reduced waste. Composting allows you to recycle kitchen leftovers rather than throwing them away, reducing food waste and lowering your environmental impact.
- Enrichment of the soil. Compost aids in the retention of moisture and nutrients in the ground. Loosening up compacted soil also avoids erosion.
- Reduced need for synthetic fertilizers. Unlike many synthetic fertilizers, Compost is chemical-free and provides organic soil to your soil (1, 2).
Notably, getting started with composting is straightforward and only takes a few steps.
What can you compost?
Before you begin composting, it’s critical to understand which products you may and should not compost.
What to Compost
Food leftovers, grass clippings, and other organic waste may be composted.
Here are some examples of compostable items:
- peels and crumbs of fruits and vegetables
- spoiled fruits and vegetables
- clippings from houseplants
- paper filters and coffee grounds
- in a nutshell (apart from walnuts)
- shredded newspaper, cardboard, and paper
- unused napkins, paper towels, and toilet paper
- tea leaves
- eggshells
- hair and fur
- leaves
- flowers
- sawdust
- wood chips
What not to compost
Not everything in your kitchen or yard should be composted. In truth, certain goods may attract bugs and rats, while others contain toxic chemicals.
Here are some things you should not compost:
- Pet waste, such as excrement or litter, may include pathogens or parasites.
- Meat, fish, and poultry bones or scraps: generate stink and attract bugs
- Dairy products emit odors and attract bugs.
- Black walnut tree leaves or twigs: emit a poisonous chemical to plants.
- Walnuts produce a chemical that is harmful to plants.
- Coal ash or charcoal includes chemicals that are potentially harmful to plants.
- Large wood pieces may take a long time to disintegrate.
- Fat, frying oil, and grease emit odors and attract bugs.
- Pesticide-treated grass cuttings may destroy the microorganisms necessary for composting.
- Coffee pods: most are made of plastic and do not degrade naturally.
- Baked foods may attract bugs and promote the growth of dangerous microorganisms.
- Plants that are sick or infected with insects: have the potential to spread illness.
How to start composting at home
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started with composting at home.
1. Create your compost pile
The first stage in composting is deciding where your compost heap or container is located.
Choose an outside spot with some shade and enough drainage. It’s also critical to choose a location that’s conveniently accessible yet away from animals, including pets and wildlife.
The width and height of your pile should be at least 3 feet (91 cm), which is reasonable for most gardeners and guarantees that it can retain heat. As microorganisms break down organic materials, heat is created throughout the composting process (3).
You may also use a compost tumbler, a container to help you spin and mix your composting materials.
2. Begin adding materials
Once you’ve chosen a place for your compost pile, you may begin adding items.
In general, it is advised to alternate green and brown fabrics in layers. Green materials include food and yard waste, whereas brown materials comprise carbon-rich objects such as branches, paper, straw, and wood chips.
Although layering is unnecessary, it helps guarantee that the proper proportion of green and brown components is maintained to improve the decomposition process.
To encourage aeration and drainage, create a 4-8-inch (10-20-cm) layer of bulky brown items, like twigs, at the bottom of the pile. Then, alternate layers of green and brown things until your bin is filled. Keep each layer wet by adding a little water to it.
3. Turn the pile regularly
To guarantee optimal composting, flip your pile regularly. To do so, turn and spin the ingredients using a shovel or pitchfork to disperse air and moisture uniformly.
The frequency with which you should turn your Compost is determined by various factors, including the pile size, the quantity of moisture, and the ratio of brown to green elements.
As a general guideline, you should flip your pile every 4-7 days to begin. As your Compost matures, you may need to stir it less frequently.
While rain should provide most of the moisture in your compost pile, you may need to water it occasionally to keep it wet. To eliminate excess moisture from the bank, add more brown materials or flip it more regularly.
4. Use your Compost
Depending on the size of your pile, the type of materials utilized, moisture levels, and climate, it might take anywhere from a few weeks to a year for your items to decompose entirely.
Turning the pile frequently, keeping it wet, and shredding leftovers into smaller bits can all help to accelerate the process.
When finished, your Compost should be dark brown and crumbly, comparable to dirt. It should also smell deep and earthy and be clear of vast bits of debris.
Compost may be used in various ways, including combining it with potting soil, spraying it on the surface of your garden, and replacing mulch with it.
Make your compost tea by steeping a small amount of Compost in water for 24 to 48 hours. Then, filter the liquid and spray it over plants to provide beneficial nutrients and boost garden development.
Can you compost without a yard?
You can compost at home even if you don’t have a yard or access to the outside area.
Indeed, there are several apartment-friendly composting containers available online that you can use to create a little indoor compost pile under your sink or in your refrigerator.
Once your food leftovers have accumulated, you may dispose of them at a composting facility. You might also call nearby farms or community gardens to see if they make Compost.
Composting kitchen gadgets, however, may convert food wastes into nutrient-rich fertilizer in hours.
Some cities also have composting programs where you may drop off organic items or recycle them at the curb.
Shop for composting products online
- kitchen compost bins
- compost tumblers (for outdoor use)
- quick compost machines: Vitamix FoodCycler and beyondGREEN Home Backyard Composter
The bottom line
Composting is a simple and efficient technique to combat food waste while lowering your environmental impact.
It also encourages plant development by enriching the soil, avoiding erosion, and decreasing the need for synthetic fertilizers in your garden.
The best part is that you can do it at home, regardless of whether you have access to the outside area.
0 Comments