Composting can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Composting is great for the environment because it helps keep carbon in the soil instead of in the air. It’s also great for your garden because it provides healthy nutrients that make plants grow stronger.
As with most things, you’ll get more out of composting if you do a bit of research before starting your venture into reducing food waste and enriching your soil. Whether you’re just interested in composting or already have an established home compost pile, this post will help you understand the basics and get started on growing healthier plants and a healthier planet!
Why Should You Compost?
Composting is good for the environment, because it helps to reduce waste and pollution caused by decomposing organic material in landfills. Composting is also good for the economy, because it reduces costs associated with disposal of organic materials that would otherwise go into landfills or be incinerated (which generates greenhouse gases).
For example, a study done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that recycling food scraps saves $1 billion in landfill fees per year; this amount could be even higher if everyone began composting! Finally, home composters can save homeowners money on their garbage bills, while also spending less to maintain your garden.
You’ll also be doing your part to help the environment by reducing the amount of CO2 that gets released into the atmosphere and cutting down on other harmful emissions such as methane.
How Composting Benefits Your Garden
Compost is good for your garden soil because it provides nutrients to plants, helps prevent soil erosion and runoff, can help reduce the need for fertilizers, and improves soil structure. It also reduces the amount of chemicals that get into soil, which helps protect plants from disease.
Soil structure refers to the arrangement of particles in a given volume of soil. Soil particles can be large stones, small rocks or sand-like material called silt that are grouped into large clumps or aggregates known as crumbs. Soil organic matter (compost) plays an important role in creating these crumbs by acting like glue when wet; it then dries out so they become hard again once dry.
In addition to all of those benefits, you’ll be able to use compost as fertilizer for your garden or lawn instead of buying fertilizer from stores or having it delivered from far away locations. You’ll also be able to cut back on water usage because with compost you don’t need as much water when watering your plants and flowers.
Don’t Expect Instant Results
Don’t expect your compost to decompose instantly. It takes time for bacteria and fungi to digest the material, which is why you need to give it plenty of time in the bin so that they can do their job. And while this process is happening, you’ll need to turn your compost periodically so that air circulates freely through it. This allows oxygen-loving microbes to break down organic matter and release nutrients back into the soil where they belong!
If you’re using a homemade compost system, don’t forget about aeration! You’ll need something with holes in it like screening or hardware cloth, otherwise there won’t be enough oxygen getting into your compost—which means not only will you have problems with flies but also waterlogged materials that could cause an odor.
Composting involves a whole system of processes that happen over time. It’s not something you can just do once or twice and expect good results—you need to make sure you’re keeping everything balanced so that things break down safely and naturally without attracting pests or creating smells.
Use the Proper Food Scraps
You’ll want to avoid meat and dairy products during composting. These items aren’t suitable for the process because they don’t decompose quickly enough, and they can attract pests to your garden if you’re not careful. You shouldn’t throw citrus fruits or other acidic foods in your compost bin as well—they can sour the whole batch by lowering the pH of the soil in which it’s buried.
Starchy foods like breads and pasta are also best left out of your compost pile since they take longer than other food scraps to break down completely into usable nutrients for plants (if at all). Refrain from adding anything salty, because salt causes roots to wither away when added directly into soil.
Anything decaying, moldy, or high in oil and fat content should be left out of your compost as well.
Make a Plan for Composting
Before you start composting, it’s important to make a plan. This will allow you to be prepared for your compost journey and have clear expectations set.
What do you want to compost?
This can include food scraps, coffee grounds, and egg shells. If possible, choose organic materials over non-organic ones (like grass clippings).
How big of a bin do you want to use?
There are plenty of different sized bins on the market that will fit your needs. You may also have an old wheelbarrow or trash bin that could work as well!
Where should you put your bin?
Try finding somewhere in your yard that gets plenty of sun throughout the day—that way it’s warm enough for bacteria and worms to survive all year round. A shaded spot might be okay too if there isn’t much shade from trees nearby; just make sure there aren’t any other plants growing nearby that could take up all the nutrients in your soil after they’ve broken down!
Also note whether this area receives periodic rainfall so that water doesn’t collect around the base during wet seasons, which would cause your compost pile to not break down properly.
Start With a Small Batch
Start with a small batch of compostable items, such as vegetable scraps and coffee grounds. You may need to wait for several weeks or even months before your compost pile heats up enough to do its job.
Keep your compost somewhere where the temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Composting is done by letting food scraps decompose in an oxygen-rich environment. The bacteria that break down the food scraps do so more quickly when it’s warm. The speed at which you compost also depends on temperature, because this speeds up the production of heat energy and accelerates decomposition.
When you consider that most residential homes have a constant indoor temperature of about 68 degrees Fahrenheit, it makes sense that your compost needs to be kept somewhere between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Some people like to keep their compost outside, but there are times when this isn’t possible—especially if you live in an area with cold winters or heavy rainfall during springtime. If you live somewhere where insects or animals may get into your pile, or if there isn’t enough space for a substantial pile indoors, consider keeping your pile in a container indoors.
Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting is a method of composting that uses worms to break down food waste. Worm bins are usually made out of plastic, but you can also make one out of a box, especially if you have an under-the-sink cabinet that’s not in use.
Vermicomposting is not required, but it can accelerate the composting process and bring more nutrients to your composting pile.
To start your worm bin, you’ll need to gather the following items:
- A container or box (the size will depend on how many worms you want to keep and how much food waste you’re throwing away)
- Bedding material (such as shredded newspaper or leaves)
- Compost starter kit (this includes redworms and bedding)
- A thermometer so that you know the temperature inside the worm bin is at an ideal level for them; this should be between 50°F and 80°F.
How to Compost at Home: Final Thoughts
If you’re new to the world of composting, it can seem a little daunting. Composting doesn’t have to be complicated, and its benefits for your soil and the environment are worth the effort involved!
By doing your part and making small changes around your own home, you can contribute to helping the environment, while also saving money.
Along with composting, the Lil’ Broc app can help you reduce food waste by monitoring the shelf life of your produce, so that you can ensure that it is all eaten while fresh.