Composting is the act of collecting organic matter that decays and is used as plant fertilizer.
Composting can benefit the health of humans and the planet and it can very easily be done by anyone.
The first easy step is to get a bin or bucket of some sort that you can have in your kitchen tucked away (A five gallon bucket would work well), and then a larger bin or pile in your yard as well. When making meals at home, any organic matter and food scraps can be thrown in the compost bin. Organic matter includes egg shells, fruits and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, and much more. You can have a large bin outside in your backyard or just a pile that’s uncovered. Find out more about what can and cannot be composted here: http://www.getcomposting.com/composting_guide.html
Taking care of your compost is very important to make sure you are producing a good healthy compost. Adding material regularly is important to keep the healthy bacteria with enough food. Also, turning your compost every week or two will make sure all the materials are blended and working together. The more you turn your compost the quicker the process will speed up. Finding the right moisture balance is very important. When the pile is too dry the decomposition process is slowed down and when it’s too wet it just becomes a mess.
Grass clippings and yard waste can also be added to your compost. This adds Nitrogen. It is important to mix the green material with brown material such as leaves to add Carbon. Both components are neccessary for the decomposition process.
The compost process works best in warmer temperatures therefore it is easier to do in the summer months.
Adding compost to your garden soil creates a nutrient and moisture filled environment. It also provides an alternative to chemical fertilizers. Composting greatly reduces the amount of waste going into landfills.
Composting can divert as much as 30% of household waste away from landfills.
Composting is essentially speeding up Mother Nature’s natural process. Start small and see what you can create!
-Chelsea Skog
See also: The Ultimate Compost Guide