Compost Happens!
How to Recycle Plant Waste for Your Yard and Garden
No need for fancy equipment. No need to worry about the responsibility. A compost pile can take care of itself. But it can always use a helping hand.
Compost is a Force of Nature
Decay is a fact of life; every living thing is subject to it. Nature is the supreme recycler. When organic matter is piled together it gets heated and breaks down until there's nothing left but a rich bit of moist compost, ready to nourish other living things. Sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, compost happens.
Speed it Up with a Better Balance
Compost happens a lot more quickly when certain organic matters are combined. While most households produce green waste, the addition of animal waste in the form of manure, blood, bone or meat scraps, will stimulate faster decay. Be sure to observe safe handling practices. A light covering of soil will keep insects away. Ideally the compost pile should be far away from the house, but not next to a wooden fence as the wood could be damaged. A mesh wire cylinder, open on both ends, is a good and simple container if one is needed to keep pests away.
Keep it Going With Moisture
Depending on the climate, compost can get too dry and become virtually inactive. Simple to remedy with a garden hose, regular sprinkling can encourage the composting process. Just enough moisture to dampen the materials is all that's needed.
Mix it Up for Oxygen
The organisms that cause decay are alive. They need to breathe. Compost can either be mixed, which is easy in tumblers or barrels, or it can simply be moved from one spot to a space next to where it was. A shovel will do the job. When the top is on the bottom and the bottom is on the top, those organisms will have what they need to work faster. Mixing only has to be done once in a while; a good general rule is once every seven-to-ten days. But compost will happen regardless. It just might be slower.
Collecting Kitchen Scraps
Put either a small lidded container near the sink or a larger bucket with a tight-fitting lid on the floor next to the recycling bin. Ideally, it is near the cutting board for convenience. Stems, peelings, seeds, all go into the compost container. It can get heavy; a secure handle is a big help. A tight lid will keep insects out.
Nobody's Perfect
Ideally, compost will be active and hot enough to destroy waste quickly. In this type of compost there is no garbage to smell or attract pests, everything is assimilated quickly. But there might be surprises if a compost pile isn't working perfectly. Volunteer fruits and vegetables, for instance, might spring up. But if noxious bugs or rodents are attracted to the compost, it is time to help things along. Inexpensive bins, earthworms, and starter bacteria can be of great assistance. Composting can be a pleasant and productive hobby, if you aren't afraid to get your hands dirty.
Compost
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