Composting Information

COMPOSTING AT HOME

 

 

Why

·        To recycle yard & food scraps instead of disposing of them

·        To create healthy fertilizer for your garden

 

Where

·        Anywhere in your yard, preferably in the sun

·        In an open pile

·        In a purchased composting bin

·        In a homemade composting bin:

o       4 Used pallets fastened at the corners

o       Chicken wire

o       Anything that will let air & rain in & through

 

What

·        “browns” – sawdust, shredded brush & branches, leaves, straw, wood shavings, dry grass clippings

·        “greens” – weeds, grass clippings, wood stove ashes, flowers, grain-eating livestock manure, vegetable & fruit scraps, grain product scraps (bread, pasta, etc.), crushed egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags ( leave out meat, fish, bones, or cheese if you don’t want animal visitors)

 

How

·        Place the materials that you have available in your pile

·        Try for at least half “browns” to let the compost “heat up”

·        Layer your materials or mix them up

·        When you have more to add, just pile them on top, or dig a hole in the pile, put them in & cover them

·        Either leave the pile alone for a year or so, or if you want faster results, turn the pile every few weeks to let the air get to the inside

·        When you can’t tell what went into it anymore & the pile is all brown and crumbly –

That’s compost!

 

Who Benefits

·        We do when you keep materials out of the waste stream

·        You do when you use your compost – “brown gold” – as fertilizer for your garden to make the soil healthy & rich!