Create Your Own Compost

Spring is here ready or not. Many of our minds have all ready turned to gardening. One frugal way to feed your garden is to makeup homemade compost. Composting is cost effective and is also good for the environment. The reason is because you are making sure that biodegradable foods are getting to break down.

To make your own compost start by getting a container to put your food scraps in. This does not have to be a fancy compost container. It could be as simple as a plastic container. The one requirement is that it has a lid.

You will want to keep this container in an out of the way spot that is easy to get to. One idea is large heavy duty garbage can with locking lid. Simply drill about a dozen holes in the bottom of the plastic can for storage. There are containers that are specially made for composting but they often cost more than a regular garbage can.

All food scraps including coffee grinds should be put into the container. Meat can be added if you don't mind getting maggots in your compost heap. You must also be aware that if you add meat you may attract wild animals. When your indoor container is full time to dump it into the outside composting bin. Each time you do this be sure to add some dried composting material as well. Wood chips, dried leaves or plant cuttings, shredded papers are all browns and food scraps and fresh leaves and cuttings are called "greens" You will want 2 browns to 1 part of green. This will help it decompose quickly. If you do not have enough browns do not worry it will just take a bit longer to decompose.

When your outside container fills up start a new one and continue to turn your old one until it begins to look like soil. When it no longer has recognizable food items in it dump the mix into an outdoor pile and use it to fertilize your garden.