I’m pretty seriously diving into my job as a dirt farmer this year. I have always composted, but I’m really turning it up a notch. After watching The Greenhorns, I really identified with the farmer who said he wanted to leave his patch of earth better than he found it. Yessirree Bob, I do. If you plan on taking your dirt to the next level {cue the loud music and cheers}, here’s a couple of tips:
Compost is like the i-ching of healthy soil. It’s totally worth the little tiny bit of effort–plus is reduces your overall footprint. Seriously, you will be amazed at how little garbage you actually have after composting {especially if you recycle in your area too}.
There are literally a ton of different methods of composting. You can start simple and just compost your kitchen scraps indoors. This works great if you live in an apartment or in the city, where outdoor space is at a premium.
What to Make Compost In?
If you really want to turn it up a notch, then having a composting bin outside is the way to go. You can cook larger batches this way. If you don’t mind the unsightly aspect of composting, then your can just start yourself a compost pile just about anywhere.
Some people just keep a coffee can in the freezer, fill it, and then take it out to the garden, dig a hole, dump it in and let nature do the rest. I prefer to keep mine somewhat contained at least. This simple DIY pallet compost bin works great, and cost me only a few dollars to make.
There are tons of enclosed compost systems, that are nice because they keep the critters out. My pal Lola has one that is a big barrel that she can spin each time she adds to it, so it is super low effort. Whatever you choose to cook your compost in, make sure it is easy to get to, so you won’t be tempted to just throw stuff away.
Where Do I Put the Composter?
You can put your composter just about anywhere that has, either dirt already, or is in a sunny {or semi-sunny} location that is away from being over watered.
What Should I Compost?
- Kitchen Scraps
- Grass Clippings
- Cardboard
- Prunings {though wood should be cut down into 1″ pieces and be aware, they will take A LONG time to bread down}
- Sawdust
- Chicken, cow, horse, pig manure
- Young weeds {don’t use the ones that have gone to seed!}
A good rule of thumb is to make sure that you get a more or less equal combo of “greens” and “browns” in your compost. Make sure to turn your compost frequently with a pitch fork or shovel to encourage faster cooking times.
How Do I Know When My Compost Is Ready?
Compost is ready when the ingredients all have turned a deep, dark brown color. The mixture will have an earthy smell, as opposed to its previous rotting garbage smell. It may not be perfectly dirt-like–bits of sticks or eggshell may not break down completely, and that’s okay, it’s still usable. Remember, though, that compost can be EXTREMELY fertile {also referred to as “hot”}, so it’s best to spread it out in the beds 2-3 months prior to planting, or allow it to sit for several months before using.
Do you have any composting tips?
~Mavis
Tricia @ Our Provident Home says
Perfect timing! We finished building my compost bin on Saturday. Now to fill it up. Thanks for the tips.
Rhonda says
Coffee grounds, filters and used tea bags can go in the compost pile as well. 🙂 You can even dump in whatever coffee is leftover in the pot, but I usually put that in the fridge for iced coffee in the afternoon.
Anne Figge says
I don’t compost food in my backyard pile because we have a problem with rats in the neighborhood. (We live close to Lake Washington near Seattle.)
I can get a really hot pile going with grass clippings, garden waste and leaves, dried stalks, and cardboard. I compost food in a worm bin, except for dairy, meat, bones, and citrus. Those go to our municipal composting company, Cedar Grove. (We have curbside pick-up.) I also don’t try to compost pernicious weeds like Himalayan blackberry or morning glory/bindweed. Those also go the Cedar Grove because their piles get hot enough to kill any seeds or roots.
sclindah says
You can also put in hair from haircuts of your family! I have a compost near the garden but I also have vermiculture in the garage going on for food scraps from the kitchen. That is like gold and also makes a tea to use as a dressing. You are right, when you eat from your garden you don’t have all of that packaging. I am surprised more people don’t push gardening as an ecological solution to overcrowded landfills. Of course that is just one reason for having great gardens. I love picking and eating!
Krista G says
Crazy compost story. We live on a small acreage. I sent hubby and kids out to do cleanup, despite freezing temps. Kiddos came in and talked about cute kittens….I of course thought they were more ferals to trap for spay/neuter. Then, my son said, no we held them. The kittens had made a home in our compost to keep warm. The super friendly kittens had to of been dumped out here and they would not have survived if not for the compost. Compost saves lives 🙂 and the kittens just found great new, indoor homes.
Wynne says
I wasn’t sure I’d have enough “browns” to match my green kitchen scraps, so I got a straw bale and used that the first year. Mistake–at least for me, with a rotating plastic bin. It was too airy and dried out too fast. Last year I used coir, and that worked beautifully. I feel wrong buying things to make compost, but it’s nice saving the kitchen scraps from the landfill, and I’m sure the homemade is better than what I had been buying.
Nicky Roo says
I’ve been bulking up my browns with free shredded paper i get from an office
Carol says
It’s best to have a closed pile, so as not to attract rats, especially when composting food waste. I know rats are a problem in cities, but they are also in suburbia or more rurally. I compost all kitchen waste in my worm bin (closed wooden box with a lid and hardware cloth at the bottom) and yard waste in closed compost piles. I had to learn this lesson the hard way.
Shan says
I’d like to start a compost pile. I live in the desert so should I have a closed container? I have some pallets bit the article didn’t mention how to enclose it.
Thank you