How to Compost at Home with the Family
This content was submitted by guest blogger, Karlyn McKell from Siege Media
With all the time we’ve spent at home, spending time outdoors is an important way to connect with your loved ones and with nature. Composting is a great opportunity to teach your kids about reducing waste in an eco-friendly fashion and create a healthier environment for your plants.
Recycling compostable waste into soil also helps avoid many of plants’ greatest threats, such as drought, pests, and diseases. Follow this simple guide to learn how to compost at home and start a pile in your backyard.
What should you compost (and what should you not)?
Compost is organic material that decays and eventually forms plant fertilizer that is high in nutrients, which can be used to maintain your plants. Rather than recycling or throwing scraps in the garbage, compost is an environmentally-friendly alternative.
But how do you know which items to compost? Some kitchen scraps can actually ruin your compost or slow down the decomposition process, so it’s important to know what can and can’t go into your pile.
This free kitchen printable separates materials that can be composted from those that can’t.
Materials that are checked off are either “browns” (i.e. eggs, newspaper shreds) or “greens” (i.e. fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds). It’s best to have a 3:1 ratio of carbon-rich browns to nitrogen-rich greens in your compost. Avoid ingredients that can harm your compost, such as meat, dairy, and oils.
Assembling your compost pile
There are many ways to customize your compost, depending on the space you have. You can set up a compost pile in your backyard or a community garden, or you could even start a vermicomposting setup from your kitchen.
Follow these simple tips for a perfect backyard setup:
Find somewhere shady
Too much direct sunlight is not ideal for the decomposition process, so scope out a spot that will provide enough shade. You can also use wooden pallets to create a DIY bin or dig a hole in the ground.
Layer your compost
Once you’ve gathered your organic materials, start layering. Start with a thick layer of browns, and then add a smaller layer of greens. Sprinkle soil between each layer to distribute nutrients throughout the pile.
Add water
Water is important to add throughout the greens and browns so that everything decomposes well. Make sure you don’t overwater, and feel the soil to check that it’s moist, but not soggy.
Aerate your compost
Another important step in decomposition is aerating your compost with a shovel. To ensure that you’re aerating properly, use a shovel once or twice weekly to make sure that your compost stays warm and steamy.
Feed your soil with your compost
It should take two to four months for the organic matter to break down and become crumbly like topsoil. Before using, make sure there aren’t any large materials in your pile and that the compost smells nice and earthy. If this is the case, your compost is ready to be sprinkled throughout your garden!
For even more on how to compost, explore this visual from The Zebra below!
