Compost it, how to?

 

Composting is a great way to give a second chance to your food scraps instead of sending them to the landfill together with the rest of your waste. You will generate nutritious soil that will make stronger your garden and plants. However, it can be an overwhelmed activity if you do not have the right information and equipment to do it.

 

But do not be scared! It can be simpler than you think.

 

How to compost?

There is so much information on the Internet and in books that you can easily teach yourself certain tips to start developing your bin to create compost. To make it easier I will provide you with a minute resume of the key points for you to start digging into this topic.

 

Let’s start!

 

What will you need?

 

Brown material to produce carbon.

Such as dead leaves, branches, coffee filters, cotton and wool rugs, nutshells, paper, cardboard, and newspaper, among others.

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Green material to produce nitrogen.

Grass clippings and leaves, fruit and vegetable scraps, hair, lint, tea, and coffee grounds.

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Water

 

 

 

Select the right container to compost.

You can use a bin, chicken wire, or just isolate an area of ground for your compost heap. I will recommend you use a 50L container where you can create all the mix to create nutritious compost.

 

Add brown and green material in alternate layers.

The ideal ratio to create the layers is 3-parts browns to 1-part greens. Also, it is important to chop or shred the larger pieces of material to help them break down.

 

Keep the compost moist.

The moisture helps with the breakdown of organic matter. Add more water if there is a need, but you need to make sure that it is not wet.

 

Turn your compost mixture to give aeration.

 You would need to occasionally move and turn the layers of your bin because it helps speed up the composting process. Besides, it keeps things airy, which cuts the risk of smells coming out.

 

The pile will get warm.

As the material breaks down, the layers will create heat and steam. That means it is working, and you just have to wait. You are almost there! =)

 

Well done!

When the pile is dark with no rest of the food, your compost is ready. You can keep it in sacs to use to feed your garden and plants. It is nutritious soil for your vegetables and flowers.

 

 

Watch this video for more tips! 6 Different Ways To Compost, No Matter Where You Live - YouTube

 

Good luck with the process!