All about Composting

Composting is a great example and opportunity to "Go Green" Composting is an easy way to help the environment and make you feel good as well. Everyone can compost it is simple way to recycle many things from garden and yard scraps, leftovers, papers, untreated wood and cardboard. Compost can help the plants in our yard by feeding them, keeping weeds down and helping to retain soil moisture. Don't have a yard why not offer it to someone who does.

There are a few different ways that composting can be done. Starting a simple compost pile in your backyard is one way. Another way would be to start a compost bin or barrel. Using indoor compost pail can help as well.

Good gardens are rich in organic materials. Plants consume nutrients that are present in the soil. Over time these nutrients need need to be replaced for future crops. Adding rich garden compost is a great way to do just that. There are 5 main steps to successful composting

• The right mix of materials containing Nitrogen (Greens) and Carbon(Browns). See What to Compost
• Micro-organisms - microbes and bacterias that break down materials
• Air need for microorganisms to thrive
• Moisture - needed by microorgaisms
• Temperature - A cold pile doesn't decompose

Materials such as kitchen scraps (no meat, grease or fats), weeds that have been pulled, grass clippings, leaves, straw, wood chips, branches and stems (cut up to make composting speedier) , dead flower and garden plants following the season.


 you are not using a composter or a compost tumbler, select an area near your garden, to create your compost pile. When I was a kid , my parents would have a spot in the garden to compost in. Organic matter from the garden and yard are great for composting. We would rake the leaves each fall and place the leaves right on the pile. Things that may be considered trash such as vegetable and plant waste, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, and any spoiled veggies or fruits are perfect for composting as well.

I hope this post has helped you understand composting. When I was a kid we never called it this but I realize now that is exactly what we were doing

Happy Gardening