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Entry bubble Backyard Composting 101

By: Sommer | December 28, 2007 | Category: Home and Family

When I was talking to some neighbors the other night, one of them mentioned that she composts and a light went off in my head. It sounded like a perfect solution for all our yard waste, banana peels, potato skins, apple cores and more. Composting will also give us the perfect fertilizer to put on our lawn, flowerbeds and garden in addition to reducing waste we put into the local landfill.

Composting is basically a way to turn yard and kitchen waste into a nutrient rich, organic material you can use to improve your soil.

How to get started:

  1. Choose a location for a compost pile or bin.  If you choose to build or buy a bin be sure to install it 2 feet from any structure.
  2. Start adding “brown and green” materials by beginning with 4 – 6 inches of brown materials like chopped up twigs or other coarse waste.  Then, add a green layer of scraps, lawn clippings, and leaves.  Alternate layers every 4 – 6 inches.  Remember that smaller pieces of material break down faster.
  3. Now, its time for the bacteria and fungi to get to work.  Wait a week, and then turn your compost pile with a pitch fork or shovel.  As it breaks down the compost should have an earthy smell.  If your compost pile gets stinky something is probably off balance.  
  4. Use your compost to fertilize flower beds, sprinkle it on your lawn or use compost “tea” to water house plants.

Materials you CAN compost (examples):

  • Coffee grounds and filters
  • Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
  • Eggshells
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Grass clippings and leaves
  • Shredded newspaper
  • Tea bags
  • Yard trimmings
Materials you CAN’T compost (examples):
  • Dairy products (e.g., butter, egg yolks, milk, sour cream, yogurt)
  • Fats, grease, lard, or oils
  • Meat or fish bones and scraps
  • Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter)
  • Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides
Check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website for a list of local composting resources.

| Comments [5] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: compost   food   home   organic   sommer   yard  

Comments:

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wow, i've been composting for forever but never heard of compost tea, great idea, thanks for sharing it. It's funny how few people compost when it is so east to do, so beneficial, and what's cheaper or a better way of recycling than turning your "Trash" into Earth.

Posted by not-so-green thumbs on December 28, 2007 at 08:41 AM EST #

Excellent!
If everyone composted, think of all the space we'd save in the landfills! If we didn't need to build additional landfills, that would mean fewer diversions for our tax dollars.

Posted by Michelle C. on December 28, 2007 at 01:16 PM EST #

I believe you can compost most of things on the don't list. The EPA gives reasons like odor or may attrack rodents. If you use an enclosed composting barrel or container, this is not really an issue. Also it depends what you plan to use the compost for. If your using it for a veggy garden, you may have a different concern than using it around mature shrubs...

Posted by Citizen Jmaximus on December 29, 2007 at 09:26 AM EST #

I'd skip the banana peels; they are treated with chemical pesticides. Also, avoid putting salty waste in the compost, as salt can do long term damage to the soil.

Posted by Christina M on December 29, 2007 at 01:42 PM EST #



and dont forget old cow dung!
almost more potent than anything .. and the farmers usually wont care if you make off with a few dry frisbees. lol
unless you have a cow ..if so then the directions would only be = 'feed, water ....wait.....wait... and then shovel' :)
(dont stare at the cow or follow it around ..or you make prolong the wait)




frank
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Posted by frank on May 08, 2008 at 03:42 PM EDT #

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