composting tips

It is really easy to get started at home, making your own compost.

What is funny is, a lot of refuse collection companies, all over the world, are now providing those they service with special brown bins, for kitchen items.

They then go on to make their own compost from these scraps, creating their own “black gold”, and profiting off people’s waste, while charging them for the privilege!

Here’s how you can make your very own compost at home. You can use this in potted plants, for growing your own veggies or herbs, or just to help improve your soil quality for your lawns.

Pick a Suitable Container:

If you don’t want to have a dedicated pile, the first thing you will need is a suitable bin for your compost collecting.

This should be rigid, and have a lid included. You will need to drill some holes in the bottom of this container to allow fluids to drain from the vessel also.

In addition to this, it is a good idea to also drill some ventilation holes, either along the top side of the bin, or in the lid of the box itself, as gas will accumulate while the vegetative matter breaks down.

What to Use:

You can use a variety of things from your kitchen and pantry in your compost heap.

So, vegetable peelings, tea bags or leaves, egg shells, leftover vegetables from dinner, all of these things can be used to create your own compost. You can even use grass clippings from your lawn for your compost.

Leaves, wood or bark chips, newspapers (shredded), even sawdust, can all be used to boost your compost.

Things to Avoid:

There are a number of things you will need to be sure not to include in your compost also. Avoid oils, fats, plants that are diseased, dairy products and meat.

Under no circumstances should dog or cat feces be used either, as these kinds of things will destroy the micro organisms doing the good work invisibly in your compost.

While sawdust and chippings from wood are good, pressure treated wood shavings etc should not be used.

Things to do:

Once a week, rotate the contents of the pile. You can use a garden fork for this task.

This provides essential oxygen to your compost, and prevents the centre of the pile from heating up (by the action of the micro organisms).

You should also keep the pile slightly wet, (think damp sponge), this will promote composting over the pile just rotting away.

Avoid soaking the pile, as to do so will water log those preciously vital micro organisms, if not kill them outright.

The process is slow, but ultimately, well worth it. You will know exactly what is in the compost you are using, as you have made it yourself.

All from material that otherwise would have been thrown out in the refuse. And you save money, as you no longer need to purchase compost from garden centres!