What exactly is compost?
Compost is an organic material made from other decomposing raw organic waste material, that is rich in nutrients. It can be used instead of fertilizer to help plants grow, and to ensure that all your home-grown fruits and veggies are truly organic.
Why should I compost?
1. It is good for the environment! Composting helps reduce methane emissions from landfills. It also helps prevent pollution from chemical fertilizers and enhances water retention in soil. Did you know that about 1/3 of waste from your household is organic material that does not belong in a landfill? When you separate it out you are doing your part to reduce the volume of trash in our landfills. So, overall, by composting you are doing your part to reduce the impact of greenhouse gasses and therefore effectively reduce your carbon footprint.
2. Enhanced soil quality. Why waste money on fertilizer and expensive soil when you can just make your own! Compost encourages the growth of healthy bacteria and beneficial fungi that breakdown organic material to create humus (not the delicious chickpea paste you eat, a rich nutrient-filled material your plants love to eat). Also coming back to water retention, when you mix compost into your soil it acts like a sponge giving the roots of your plants a moist place to grip.
3. It's fun to watch the process! I have multiple bins at different stages of decomposition and it is so interesting. It’s like having your own science project in the backyard.
What do I need to get started?
First, you need to decide what type of composting you want to do. Indoor or Outdoor. I opt for outdoor composting in bins so that is what I will be discussing in this post, but you can also do it outside in an open pile, or inside in a special bin.
You can buy a compost bin at pretty much any garden or hardware store, or online here. It is important to select one that has slats or holes in it to promote air circulation. The container should not have a bottom so that worms and other organisms can move in. This will also help keep your compost damp.
Next clear a spot in your yard for your bin or pile. Make sure it is a shady spot that gets plenty of airflow, but is somewhat protected from the elements.
What can I compost?
The materials you can compost fall into three main categories:
1. Greens- grass and plant clippings, vegetable and fruit scraps
2. Browns- dead leaves, branches/ twigs, coffee grounds
3. Water- do not forget to add water now and again to keep the pie moist
Make sure you have an equal mix of all these materials. Make sure you mix the compost every two weeks or so with a shovel or pitchfork.
Here is a list of suggested items you can compost:
Fruits and vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, nutshells, yard and grass trimmings, dead houseplants, hay, straw, leaves, sawdust, wood chips, old wine, expired herbs and spices, fruit pits, spoiled organic almond/oat/coconut milk, bread crumbs, stale organic bread or crackers, seaweed, hair, nail clippings, dryer lint, dead floral arrangements
What NOT to compost:
Meat, fish, poop, dairy products, coal, ash, diseased or insect ridden plants, fats, oil, pesticides.
Every time I cook, I set aside all my scraps and peeling that can be composted in a dish or container. After we are done eating, I take a trip out to my piles and dump it in. I also do this when I garden with my cuttings, and every time I deadhead my flowers.
What do I do with my compost? How will I know when it is ready?
As you can see my bins are a bit empty at the moment! That is because I recently used up most of it in my front garden, and for my potted plants on my deck. You will know when your compost is ready when it looks, smells, and feels like rich soil. You won’t be able to tell what anything was that you put into it. On average this process takes anywhere from 3 months to 2 years. The compost I just used was from when we moved into the house about 2 years ago. However, I have used it after about 6 months. I am hoping to have it built back up by next year so I can finish my vegetable gardens. Simply mix your compost in with your soil when planting and watch your plants grow! You can mix more in a bit at a time whenever your plants need more nutrients. Do not forget to mix or turn your compost every few weeks!
Just look at this gorgeous soil!
The proof is in the pudding (or petunias).
I actually grew these from seeds this spring. Aren’t they amazing? Click here to see the step by step timeline of how to grow your own flowers from seeds.
I hope this inspired you to start doing your part to save our environment by composting! I would love to hear about your successes or struggles with composting in your garden. You can contact me through my blog, or by sharing a picture to your Instagram story or feed and tagging me @_sincerelylovely
Happy Gardening!
