
Did you know that one third of the waste we put into our trash cans is made up of compostable matter? Once this material reaches landfills, it breaks down into ‘methane’ gasses, which are far more potent than even carbon dioxide.
Compost is the final result that occurs when hundreds of thousands of organisms such as worms, bacteria and fungi feed off the compost heap, breaking down the organic material into rich mulch that your soil will love. Composting is a man-made way of creating what nature intended. Besides producing excellent nutrient rich soil to fertilize your garden, making the compost creates heat which will destroy plant diseases and weed seeds in the pile.
What can be made into compost? Almost any organic material, such as vegetables, fruit, peels and even fish and meat, can be used in a compost pile. The pile needs a proper carbon/nitrogen mix. Carbon is produced from dried leaves, grass clippings, hay, straw, dead flowers and wood chips; nitrogen comes from your kitchen waste. An ideal ratio needs to be achieved, with more carbon producing substances in the mix. While using kitchen refuse, remember that meat will eventually decompose, but can also smell and attract insects. Everything you add to the pile should be chopped for quicker decomposing. Some other excellent organic compostable material includes seaweed, sawdust, tissue, peanut shells, feathers, teabags and coffee dregs. Avoid pet refuse and disposable diapers.
How does one select a site? Selecting a compost site depends on the kind of area you have available, but generally, a sunny spot works well. Use a compost bin or build the pile over grass if possible, to encourage earthworms and other insects to visit it. Remember to turn it over regularly, and keep it moist, especially during hot summer days. If you want to continue composting over winter, you would need to invest in an insulated compost bin.
To collect kitchen scraps, keep a closed container in your kitchen, and remember to top it off with grass clippings, leaves or wood chips. Tip it into your compost heap on a weekly basis. Compost will be created depending on the time and effort you invest in it. Once finished, it has a crumbly texture and should smell like fresh earth. Spreading on a layer over your soil, should serve as an excellent organic fertilizer, especially for your flower beds and herb gardens.
And finally, if you don’t have a garden or even a small patch of grass to fertilize, you may still want to think of composting and donating the final product to your local nursery, garden or municipality.