Garden composting is the natural process of decomposing organic materials to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment known as compost. It involves combining various organic waste items such as kitchen scraps, yard trimmings, and shredded leaves, allowing them to break down over time. This results in a dark, crumbly substance teeming with beneficial microorganisms and essential nutrients that plants thrive on.

Composting is an essential practice for any avid gardener looking to enhance their green space while fostering sustainability. By recycling organic materials, you can produce nutrient-rich garden compost that will nourish your plants, promote soil health, and reduce waste.

Having a compost bin or pile offers numerous benefits, making it a valuable addition to both household waste management and gardening practices. In no particular order of importance, here are some key advantages of having a compost bin:

Nutrient-Rich Soil Amendment: Compost produced in a bin or pile is a nutrient-rich soil amendment. It improves soil fertility by adding essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, enhancing plant growth and health.

Free, Homemade Fertilizer: Composting at home allows you to create your own fertilizer for plants and gardens. This homemade compost is cost-effective and eliminates the need for purchasing commercial fertilizers.

Improved Soil Structure: Compost enhances soil structure by improving its texture, water retention, and drainage. It helps create a more crumbly and well-aerated soil, providing a healthier environment for plant roots.

Water Conservation: The improved soil structure resulting from composting helps soil retain water more effectively. This can lead to water conservation in gardens and landscapes.

Reduction of Soil Erosion: Compost helps prevent soil erosion by stabilizing soil structure and reducing runoff. This is particularly beneficial in areas prone to erosion.

Disease Suppression: Compost contains beneficial microorganisms that can suppress certain plant diseases. Using compost as a soil amendment creates a healthier environment for plants and reduces the risk of soil-borne pathogens.

Waste Reduction: Composting reduces the amount of organic waste that goes to landfills. Kitchen scraps, yard trimmings, and other organic materials are diverted from the waste stream and reduces the environmental impact associated with landfilling.

Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: By composting organic waste instead of sending it to landfills, you help reduce the production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas generated during the decomposition of organic matter in unfavorable anaerobic conditions.

Promotion of Sustainable Gardening: Compost supports sustainable gardening practices by providing an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers and soil amendments. It aligns with principles of organic and environmentally conscious gardening.

Choose a Compost Bin or Pile: Select a suitable composting method based on your available space and preferences. You can opt for a compost bin, which helps contain the materials and manage the composting process, or create a compost pile directly on the ground.

Gather Organic Materials: Collect a mix of green and brown organic waste items. Green materials provide nitrogen, while brown materials supply carbon. Aim for a balance of roughly 50% green and 50% brown materials to ensure optimal composting conditions.

Layer and Moisturize: Layer the green and brown materials, ensuring each layer is adequately moistened. Avoid adding large clumps or compacting the pile, as proper aeration is crucial for decomposition. Keep the moisture level akin to a damp sponge throughout the composting process.

Turn the Compost: Regularly turning the compost pile with a pitchfork or using a compost aerator helps provide oxygen to the microorganisms responsible for decomposition. This encourages faster breakdown and discourages unpleasant odors.

Patience and Regular Maintenance: Composting is a gradual process, and will take several months or more for your compost to fully mature. Remember to occasionally monitor and adjust the moisture level, as well as add new materials to the pile to maintain a balanced composting environment.

For successful composting, it’s essential to have a balance of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials as well as moisture and aeration. Here are common materials suitable for composting:

50% Green Materials (Nitrogen-Rich):

• Kitchen Scraps: Fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds and filters, tea leaves and bags (remove staples)
• Green Plant Trimmings: Fresh green leaves, grass clippings (in moderation, to avoid matting), pllant trimmings and prunings
• Manure: Well-aged animal manure (cow, horse, chicken, etc.) – should be from herbivores and aged to avoid pathogens
• Other Nitrogen Sources: Seaweed or algae, air and pet fur, green weeds (without seeds)

50% Brown Materials (Carbon-Rich):

• Woody Materials: Twigs and small branches, sawdust (from untreated wood), wood chips
• Dry Plant Material: Dried plant stalks and stems, dead flowers, corn stalks, straw, hay, dry leaves
• Other Carbon Sources: Paper towels and napkins, shredded newspaper (black and white, not glossy), shredded cardboard (remove tape and labels)

Aeration and Bulking Agents:

• Turn your compost regularly to introduce air. This can be done with a pitchfork or by using a compost tumbler.
• Add bulky materials like cardboard to prevent compaction.

Moisture:

• Compost needs moisture, but it shouldn’t be too wet. Add water if it becomes too dry or more dry brown materials if it’s too wet.

Materials to Avoid:

• Diseased plants
• Meat and dairy products (they can attract pests)
• Oily or greasy materials
• Pet wastes
• Colored paper or printed materials with glossy ink