composterI can’t believe I let another year go by without composting. We have lots around the yard and kitchen that could be going into a composter instead of the landfill.

We weren’t sure what to do to compost effectively so we kept putting it off and before we knew it last year was gone and we still weren’t composting.

Well I made a decision not to put composting off for another year and took a few minutes to look up compost related info that would help us get started.

I think learning to be a good gardener means you will try to use or recycle what ever you can to help your environment. Composting is a great start and we have certainly taken our sweet time getting started.

Check out this video, I am sure it will show you just how easy it to get started.

15% of Kitchen & Yard Waste, What A Waste…

Just remember about 15% of our landfill is yard and kitchen waste that could be recycled into great soil for your indoor and outdoor gardens. There are some things you don’t want to compost but still almost all of that 15% can be turned into fertilizer. Oh yeah, and it’s free and natural but costing us not to compost it.

The important part of composting is anyone can get started and you will be saving your home, earth by keeping more out of the landfill areas.

As is pointed out in this video composting can be started easily without much expense. A box or chicken wire cage or even a pile, as long as you get started.

Getting Started Composting

Getting started is easy and you only need to know a few steps and you’re on your way.

The four things needed to make great compost:

  1. Air
  2. Water
  3. Carbon - Brown - Kitchen waste - Note: You will need about 25 times more carbon than nitrogen.
  4. Nitrogen - Green - Leaves, grass…

Not everything from your kitchen should be going into the compost pile. Fats and oils don’t do well. Even citrus is hard to break down so avoid using your orange peels as it will take too long while your other ingredients will be well on their way to becoming fertilizer.

Where to Begin

Carbon first - Start with the brown, your leaves, straw, wood chips and remember the smaller the pieces the quicker it will break down into great and rich soil.

Nitrogen Rich - This is your lawn care trimming, the green stuff and your kitchen waste, salad pieces are great but leave out the oils and fats of course.

We started collect newspapers to add as well. We even get our neighbours newspaper when they are done reading it.

Composting is one thing you can do for your enviroment that doesn’t cost you anything but you will gain alot and your plants will love you even more.

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