I guess I’m a compost nerd. I enjoy checking on my compost as much as I enjoy checking on my garden. The blacker it is, with more things crawling it, the better. Reasons to compost are many. Not sure how to compost? Read on.
Why you should be composting
To save the world, of course.
Compost to complete the nutrient cycle
All living organisms are just clusters of cells and microbes that perform various functions. When these organisms die, they begin to decay and take on new roles and new forms.
Compost to feed your garden
Those microbes that we just spoke of – your garden soil microorganisms and the plants that grow in them, LOVE these.
Compost to cut down on waste
Why waste your waste by throwing it in a landfill? Organic ‘waste’ like food scraps and veggie cuttings provide SO much nourishment for the next generation of garden and landscape vegetation! Put your waste to work and make sure you’re composting.
How to compost and grow your own dirt
Save your food scraps
Keep a container in the kitchen dedicated to storing compost. As large or small as you wish, though the larger it is, the fewer the trips to the main composting area.
Mix food scraps with plant clippings
Whether from indoor plants or yard waste.
Think green and brown
Make sure you mix plenty of ‘green’ with plenty of ‘brown’. This allows the nitrogen (green) to interact with the carbon (brown) and do its break-down thing.
Add poop for added benefit
Chickens, rabbits, and cows produce great poop for compost.
Mix it up
Turn things every few weeks. Air flow helps the microorganisms do their business and keep your compost smelling fresh.