How to Start Composting

Want to cut down on waste and help your garden grow? Composting might be the answer! It's like recycling for food and yard scraps. This guide will show you how to start composting, even if you're a complete beginner.

Why Start Composting? The Magic of "Black Gold"

Why should you bother? Here's the lowdown:

• Less Waste in Landfills: Think about it. A lot of what we throw away is just food! Composting keeps that stuff out of landfills.
• Super Soil: Compost makes your soil way better. Gardeners call it "black gold" because it's so good for plants.
• Fewer Chemicals: Compost gives plants what they need naturally. You won't need as much chemical fertilizer.
• Save Money: Making your own compost means you buy less stuff for your garden. That's a win!
• Help the Planet: Composting is a simple way to be more green. It's good for the earth.

Pick Your Composting Style

There are a few ways to start composting. Here are some popular ones:

1. Backyard Composting: The Classic Way

This is the most common method. You make a pile or use a bin in your backyard. Here’s how:

1. Find a Spot: Pick a place that drains well and gets some shade.
2. Get a Bin (Maybe): A bin keeps things tidy, but you can also just make a pile. You can buy one or build one yourself.
3. Gather Your Stuff: You'll need "greens" and "browns." More on that in a bit.
4. Build Your Pile: Layer the greens and browns. Aim for about 1 part green to 2 parts brown to start composting the right way.
5. Keep it Going: Turn the pile every so often and keep it damp. Like a wrung-out sponge.

Greens and Browns: The Composting Secret

Greens and browns? What are those?

• Greens (Nitrogen): These help things rot. Like grass clippings, veggie scraps, coffee grounds, and tea bags.
• Browns (Carbon): These add bulk and air. Like dead leaves, shredded paper, cardboard, sawdust, and straw.

2. Vermicomposting: Worm Power!

This uses worms to break down food. Great if you don't have much space.

1. Get a Worm Bin: You can buy one or make your own.
2. Add Bedding: Shredded newspaper or coconut fiber works well. Moisten it first.
3. Add Worms: Get some red wiggler worms. They're the composting pros.
4. Feed Them: Bury food scraps in the bedding. No meat or dairy, please!
5. Keep it Up: Keep the bedding moist and harvest the worm poop (castings). It's amazing fertilizer!

3. Bokashi Composting: The Pickling Method

Bokashi uses special bran to "pickle" food scraps without air. Good for meat and dairy.

1. Get a Bokashi Bucket: It has a spigot to drain liquid.
2. Add Food: Layer food scraps with bokashi bran.
3. Press it Down: Push out the air.
4. Drain the Liquid: Use it as fertilizer (diluted with water).
5. Bury It: Once the bucket is full, bury the pickled waste in your garden.

What Can You Compost? A Handy List

Not everything can go in the compost. Here's what's good and what's not:

Yes, Compost These:

• Fruit and Veggie Scraps: Apple cores, banana peels, etc.
• Coffee Grounds and Tea Bags: Even the paper filters.
• Eggshells: Crush them first!
• Grass Clippings: But not too much at once.
• Dead Leaves: A composting staple.
• Shredded Paper and Cardboard: Skip the shiny stuff.
• Sawdust: From untreated wood only.
• Straw and Hay: Great for carbon.
• Plant Trimmings: If they're healthy.
• Nut Shells: A few is fine.

No, Don't Compost These:

• Meat and Dairy: Attracts pests and stinks (unless you're using bokashi).
• Oily Foods: Slows things down and attracts pests.
• Diseased Plants: Can spread disease.
• Weeds with Seeds: The seeds might survive.
• Pet Waste: Eww, no.
• Treated Wood: Chemicals!
• Coal Ash: Heavy metals.

Help! My Compost Has Problems

Sometimes, things go wrong. Here's how to fix them:

• Smelly Compost: Not enough air or too much nitrogen. Turn it and add more browns.
• Dry Compost: Add water!
• Slow Compost: Too dry, too cold, or not enough nitrogen. Add water, turn it, and add greens.
• Pests: Cover it with soil or add more browns. Avoid meat and dairy.

Compost and Your Garden: A Perfect Match

Compost is awesome for gardening. Use it to:

• Improve Soil: Mix it in before planting.
• Mulch: Put a layer around plants to keep them moist and weed-free.
• Make Potting Mix: Mix it with other stuff for great potting soil.
• Make Compost Tea: Steep it in water for liquid fertilizer.

Composting: Good for the Earth

Start composting is more than just gardening. It's about helping the planet!

It cuts down on landfill waste, which makes less methane. Methane is a bad greenhouse gas. Also, it reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, which can pollute water. Composting helps our planet.

Instead of buying chemical fertilizers, you're using a natural process. This uses fewer resources. Plus, it helps make the soil healthier. Healthy soil is good for everything.

Composting: A Greener Future Starts Here

Start composting is a simple thing you can do to make a difference. No matter which method you choose, you'll be helping the earth. So, give it a try! You might be surprised how easy it is.

So what are you waiting for? Start composting today! You'll be amazed how easy it is to turn trash into treasure.