How to Start Composting At Home
Composting provides numerous benefits for the environment. It keeps food waste out of landfills, minimizes the need for chemical fertilizers, and improves soil by retaining water and reducing erosion. It also promotes biodiversity. Read on to find out how you can incorporate it into your daily routine, whether you live in a farmhouse, apartment, or city bungalow!
1. Set up your bin(s)
If you’re placing your bin outside, you’ll want to choose a spot on dirt or grass somewhat close to your door to minimize how far you have to travel from your kitchen. You can make your own bin by drilling 8-10 small holes in the bottom of a plastic container (just make it’s at least 2 feet tall and includes a lid), or you can purchase one online or at your favorite hardware or gardening store. The lid will help keep pests out—if you’re making your own, just make sure to drill some small holes in the lid to increase air flow.
If you don’t have an outdoor space, you can still keep a compost pail in your kitchen! (You can also invest in this option if you want a place to keep your scraps until you can carry them outside.) You’ll want to invest in a smaller container that fits on your counter top (stainless steel and plastic work best) and again will want to include a lid. Many pre-made versions also come with activated charcoal filters that act as additional odor barriers.
If you live in an apartment, you can either bring your scraps to a community garden or sign up for a pick-up service. Businesses like CompostNow will deliver bins to you and bring your food waste to local farmers and gardeners. Other options include but aren’t limited to Terra Nova Compost in the Atlanta area, Secondhand Soil in Forsyth County, and Let Us Compost in Athens.
2. Fill it up!
Many people like to put soil or leaves on the bottom of their outdoor compost bins, but what’s most important is to include both brown and green materials.
Brown materials: dry leaves, wood chips, shredded paper, straw, hay, cardboard
Green materials: fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and paper filters, teabags, eggshells, grass and plant clippings
Experts advise leaving dairy and animal products out of your bin (they will start to smell and attract unwanted visitors), as well as fats, oils, and pet waste. Putting a plant you’ve torn out of your garden because of disease or insect problems is also a big no-no—they might contaminate your compost, so it’s best to throw them out with your yard waste.
To keep your compost healthy, you should aim for equal amounts of green and brown waste. Since brown materials are rich in carbon, they feed the organisms that break down your scraps. Green materials add nitrogen to the mix and help build the cell structure of your new soil. You should also make sure your compost gets plenty of air and moisture. The air keeps it from rotting, and moisture aids the decomposition process. If your pile isn’t getting enough moisture on its own, just sprinkle it with water from time to time.
3. Turn, turn, turn
Turning your compost every couple of weeks is essential for its health. Mixing it around aerates the contents of your bin, helping to eliminate foul odors, and it also moves the newer waste to the middle of your compost pile, where microbial activity thrives the most. If you’ve purchased a compost tumbler, this step is self-explanatory; if not, just grab a shovel and get busy.
4. Wait for magic to happen
Good things come to those who wait! Depending on your exact environment, your compost should turn to soil every few weeks. You’ll know it’s ready when it looks and smells like dirt. Once you reach that point, all you have to do is incorporate it into your garden bed. Enjoy!