Composting is a natural process that transforms discarded kitchen and yard waste into a nutrient rich soil additive for your garden. It’s easy to get started and you’ll be amazed at how much less waste you produce when you compost your kitchen and yard waste.
What’s needed for a healthy compost pile?
A healthy compost pile needs a mix of “browns” or carbon-rich ingredients, and “greens” or nitrogen-rich ingredients. In general, a ratio of four parts carbon to one part greens will ensure a healthy mix.
Compost piles also need to be turned (or mixed) on a regular basis. Weekly is a good rule of thumb. Turning adds oxygen to the pile, distributes the moisture, and puts new material into contact with matter already composting, which improves the biological process. Use a garden fork or a specially designed compost turner.
Compost bins
Compost bins vary from wire corrals or wooden boxes to black plastic bins, with lids and ventilation holes, or rotating barrels. You can make your own using a variety of plans available on the internet or purchase a pre-made bin from an area garden or hardware store. When choosing your bin, one thing to keep in mind is ease of turning. Since one of the most important steps in the composting process is turning your pile regularly, you want to be sure that the bin you choose makes this easy for you. Tumblers can dramatically speed up the composting process because they provide a steady flow of oxygen which is needed to create the decomposition process.
Basic tips for a healthy compost pile
- Four parts carbon (or “browns”) to one part nitrogen ( or “greens”)
- Turn it weekly.
- Keep it damp (not wet).
What can and cannot be put into a compost pile?
Yes! Greens
These ingredients add nitrogen and moisture
- Grass clippings
- Houseplants
- Tea bags
- Coffee grounds and filter paper
- Fruit & vegetable scraps, peels and trimmings
- Trimmings from your garden
Yes! Browns
These ingredients add carbon
- Dried leaves
- Cardboard
- Newspaper (avoid glossy flyers)
- Shredded paper
- Paper bags
- Sawdust
- Egg cartons
- Twigs
Avoid
These ingredients attract rodents and pests. They also can potentially harbor plant diseases and weed seeds.
- Meat
- Dairy
- Pet waste
- Diseased plants
- Weeds with seed heads
