Simply put: compost is decomposed organic material. It's a natural process that occurs without any assistance! With that said here are a few simple guidelines.
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It’s important to remember composting is good for two reasons; one it’s nourishment for your garden to produce healthier, happier plants. Two, it’s environmentally responsible by reducing the amount of solid waste that would otherwise be dumped into the landfills!
Three things must be provided for successful composting: Food, Water and Air.
Food
The food is divided into two groups the “Greens” and “Browns”. The best combination's of browns and greens are about 4 parts of “browns” and one part “greens”. A good mix of the two helps the pile maintain the right amount of moisture and air.
Green materials are:
- Grass clippings (fresh-greens)
- Kitchen scrapes (fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, tea bags…)
- Weeds
- Green leaves
Brown materials are:
- Brown, dry leaves
- Dried grass
- Straw
For efficient composting you should start with a minimum of 1 cubic foot of your raw material, more is always better.
Water
Once you have your materials together you need to provide water and air.
A rule of thumb for water: the more green material you put in, the less water you'll need to add.
When adding brown material try soaking the material first in water so it won't dry out your compost pile. Basically, your compost should be moist, but not sopping wet.
Air
Air (oxygen) is provided by turning or mixing your compost pile. The more you mix you will help distribute the moisture, keep the browns and greens in balance and adding the essential air needed for composting.
So, go ahead and try composting, remembering it is a natural process that will occur even without your help! The rewards are tremendous, you will end up with the most beautiful soil that you can nourish all your plants with and they will reward you with a beautiful harvest. Make sure you check out out article on starting an organic garden!
