But back to the task at hand: composting. You’ve probably heard of composting, and may have even taken a stab at it already. Whether you have acres of farmland or you share a rooftop garden with the other residents in your apartment building, you (and the environment) can benefit from composting!
Benefits of Composting
- -Compost is free, easy to make, and good for the environment because it offers a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers.
- -Essentially a soil conditioner, compost adds nutrients to your plants and helps soil retain moisture.
- -It’s a great way to recycle: as much as 30% of your household waste can be composted.
- -Composting introduces beneficial microscopic organisms into your soil, which can help aerate it and break down organic material for your plants. They can also help ward off plant disease.
- -When you compost, you’re helping to reduce landfill waste. Currently, it’s estimated that one-third of landfill waste is made up of materials that could have been composted.
What to Compost
Material |
Carbon/Nitrogen*
|
Info
|
table scraps
|
Nitrogen
|
add with dry carbon items
|
fruit/veggie scraps
|
Nitrogen
|
add with dry carbon items
|
eggshells
|
neutral
|
best when crushed
|
leaves
|
Carbon
|
leaves break down faster when shredded
|
grass clippings
|
Nitrogen
|
add in thin layers so they don’t mat into clumps
|
garden plants
|
-
|
use disease-free plants only
|
lawn/garden weeds
|
Nitrogen
|
only use weeds which have not gone to seed
|
shrub prunings
|
Carbon
|
woody prunings are slow to break down
|
straw/hay
|
Carbon
|
straw is best; hay (w/ seeds) is less ideal
|
green comfrey leaves
|
Nitrogen
|
excellent compost ‘activator’
|
pine needles
|
Carbon
|
acidic; use in moderate amounts
|
flowers/cuttings
|
Nitrogen
|
chop up any long, woody stems
|
seaweed/kelp
|
Nitrogen
|
apply in thin layers; good source for trace minerals
|
wood ash
|
Carbon
|
only use ash from clean materials; sprinkle lightly
|
chicken manure
|
Nitrogen
|
excellent compost ‘activator’
|
coffee grounds
|
Nitrogen
|
unbleached filters may also be included
|
tea leaves
|
Nitrogen
|
loose or in bags
|
newspaper
|
Carbon
|
avoid using glossy paper and colored inks
|
shredded paper
|
Carbon
|
avoid using glossy paper and colored inks
|
cardboard
|
Carbon
|
shred material to avoid matting
|
corn cobs/stalks
|
Carbon
|
slow to decompose; best if chopped up
|
dryer lint
|
Carbon
|
best if from natural fibers
|
clean sawdust pellets
|
Carbon
|
high carbon levels; add in thin layers to avoid clumping
|
wood chips/pellets
|
Carbon
|
high carbon levels; use sparingly
|
*Stay tuned for “Composting with communEATi Part 2” for why this is important.
You can also add a layer of garden soil to your compost to help mask any odors and allow microorganisms in the soil to accelerate the composting process.
What Not to Compost
- -Meat, bones, or fish scraps, which will attract pests
- -Perennial weeds or diseased plants
- -Pet manures in compost that will be used on food crops
- -Banana peels, peach peels, and orange rinds, which may contain pesticide residue
- -Black walnut leaves
- -Sawdust with machine or chain oil residue from cutting equipment
So now that you know a little more about how composting can benefit your lawn, garden, and the world, why not give it a try? On Friday, we’ll have another blog featuring directions on how to get your own compost pile going, indoors or out. In the meantime, don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more gardening know-how and how-tos!
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