We believe that making a difference can be easy. Recycle. Take a shorter shower. Turn off the lights. Easy, right? Well another great way to reduce your impact on the environment is through having your own compost. Composting takes a little effort to get started, but once you have a thriving compost bin the benefits are clear.
Why?
Composting is an efficient way to get rid of your kitchen scraps and your gardening waste without adding to our ever-growing landfills. But to put it simply, composting
Jonathon Hoke via Flickr CC
produces great dirt. Micro-organisms in the soil break down organic material into rich fertilizer that will improve your garden. This fertilizer continues to re-introduce great minerals and nutrients into the soil, strengthening your local environment.
What?
You can compost most of your kitchen and garden waste. To make it simple, here’s a very basic list of the do’s and don’t’s of what to put in your bin:
Do’s |
Don’ts |
| Garden Waste:- Flowers
– Leaves – Weeds – Grass and shrubs cuttings – Wood chips – Straw or hay |
Garden Waste:- Perennial weeds
– Black walnut leaves – Diseased plants |
| Kitchen Waste:- Fruit and vegetable scraps- Eggshells
– Coffee grounds – Table scraps – Tea leaves |
Kitchen Waste:- Banana, orange, or peach peels- Meat of any kind
– Fish scraps – Dairy – Fats – Pet droppings |
| Paper:- Cardboard
– Coffee filters – Newspaper – Dryer lint – Shredded paper |
Paper:- Colored paper
– Inorganic materials such as aluminum foil, glass, plastics, and metals |
How?
To start your compost bin, you should begin on a patch of bare earth in your garden. Air circulation, good drainage, and partial shade are key to efficient composting. Lay down several layers of straw or twigs so that the pile has access to some air flow, or you can build your own composting bin. If you live someplace that gets a lot of rain, consider setting up a roof for your compost. On the other hand, if you live in a drier climate, make sure to water your compost occasionally. You can begin adding organic materials such as those listed above.
Many articles can make this process sound complicated and science-heavy, but it is actually simpler than it seems. Provide the right conditions and the right ingredients, and your compost will flourish. If you want to take your composting to the next level, consider introducing worms or figure out how to fine-tune the carbon-nitrogen ratio in your bin.
For more ideas, tips, and tricks, check out these great articles:
http://www.composting101.com/how-it-works.html
http://eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/composting/index.htm