Composting is the perfect way of turning your kitchen waste into something useful. If you are looking to start a vegetable garden, you should consider composting instead of buying artificial fertilizers. You’ll be getting high-quality organic compost and growing medium for your fruits and vegetables while being assured that the food you grow will be healthy and nutrient-rich. It is a win-win situation. And, to make it easy for you, I’ve created a beginner’s guide to composting to get you started.
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Composting is a process that offers the perfect condition (or environment) for organic waste to break down, decompose, and turn into mulch. During the composting process, microorganisms break down the organic waste into small parts in the presence of oxygen. The basic components of composting include water (moisture), organic waste (kitchen scraps, straws, etc), soil (where microorganisms reside), and oxygen (to help these microorganisms grow and multiply).
The Benefits of Composting
There are numerous benefits of composting. Here are some of the most recognizable ones.
Composting helps produce healthier foods
There are growing global concerns about the quality of food we eat. Many of the processed foods we buy have been grown intensively and genetically for higher production rates and can potentially contain harmful chemicals. Since composting is purely organic, you are assured of the quality of the foods you eat from the onset.
Composting saves on disposal costs
Disposing of rubbish and waste can be expensive – not just in terms of finances, but in terms of the environment as well. By converting the waste from your kitchen into something useful, you will save money and do something good for the environment. There’s more on saving money in our guide to the best vegetables to grow to save money here.
Composting lowers production costs
If you are an avid gardener, you may be forced to buy plant fertilizer or compost now and then. Starting to make your own compost means that you’ll save money that you would have spent on buying these.
Composting helps in controlling soil erosion
Soil erosion is mainly caused by excess water in the ground. Composting provides cover and helps retain water. This allows more water to return to the ground and prevents the topsoil from being carried away.
If you have kids, then composting can be fun (and educational!)
This is one of the fun activities you can do with your whole family. Find some time and teach your kids how to start composting. They WILL learn a life skill!
How to Compost for Beginners
It can be hard to get started composting, not know where to locate your compost heap or bin, and whether to go for a bin or a heap. And while I’ve written before – about the best compost for vegetables that you can buy, and also the best compost bins,
Top PRODUCT PICK
When you buy a compost bin you can one thats quick to compost, easy to use and keep clean and a great deal. This is the best compost bin that meets all those requirements.
I thought it was time to cover how to make compost, so here are a few key tips to get you started composting.
Choose a composting method and location
There are different methods of composting. The common ones are aerobic and anaerobic composting methods. You should also choose whether you will compost inside a bin (quicker and less mess) or create your own compost heap. Choose whether to start your compost indoors or outdoors. (Yes really, you can put your compost bin in the garage or shed! Compost bins are more flexible and can be started indoors at any time. Compost heaps ONLY work if you’ve got a decent amount of space outside.
What do you compost?
Not all kinds of kitchen waste make good compost. The only type of material to make compost should be biodegradable. Examples of good compost material include vegetable scraps, grass clippings, ground coffee/rice husks, crushed eggshells, straw, shredded newspaper/cardboard, wood chippings, and dry leaves. If you use wood chippings, ensure that they are not from treated wood as this may introduce harmful chemicals to the growth medium that you’ll be introducing your future foodstuff too!
What do you NOT compost?
Avoid non-biodegradable material. Cooking fat, bones (they take too long to get broken down), and grease should NOT be added to your composting pile. Do NOT add seeded weeds and treated plants to the compost pile.
Tips for Beginners Composting
You’ll quickly get into composting and looking at what else you can recycle and use in the garden from around the home, but here are some tips and tricks to get you started.
Layer the material well
Layering is very important when composting. It ensures that all the material you have in your compost decays properly and microorganisms breed and multiply fast. You should start the base layer with straw, twigs, dried leaves, or old mature mulch. This is done to ensure that the drainage system is working well. Next, add your organic matter – kitchen waste and garden waste. You can add wood chippings or shredded paper on top. Add some soil as the top layer. The top layer helps in controlling odours.
Always remember to add some water in between layers. Keep the pile moist but not too wet. Ensure you place small items inside the pile so that they can be broken down faster by the microorganisms inside.
Turn your compost regularly
You should keep your pile well aerated. This can be done by turning it with a garden fork (one of my key pieces of garden equipment) regularly (maybe once every 1 or 2 weeks). I much prefer the compost bins – like this one – that you can turn by turning the handle (they’re SO much easier!)
If you’ve created your own compost heap, and it’s not large, then you can poke it using sticks to help oxygen get through. The microorganisms that break down the waste into compost rely on this air to survive.
What issues can I expect while composting?
Most people seem to think that compost is stinky, and a mess. But they’re likely thinking of manure – which is NOT compost. And they’re also thinking of badly compiled compost heaps. (I had my first manure heap at the age of 13, which, when it was well-rotted, made its way to the compost heap – and I can tell you, a manure heap is a stinky pile, but compost, if you do it right, doesn’t smell bad!)
Is a bad smell or odour an issue with composting?
Many people get concerned that their compost heap will smell bad and attract flies, other nasty insects and even rats. A bad smell only happens if your compost is not well-aerated. You can get rid of this problem easily by turning the compost once in a while. Or use a turning compost bin! Composting is also considered messy by some people. In reality, it helps you get rid of the mess and food rotting in your kitchen waiting for rubbish and waste food collection day!
Does a compost heap attract rodents and small animals?
This could be an issue for some people, depending on where you live – small animals – rats or foxes may start checking out your compost heap in search of food. Depending on where you live, you can get rid of this problem by buying an animal-resistant compost bin or by keeping it fresh and simply turning your heap regularly. The hot side of the compost comes to the top when you do this. Small animals do not like messing with a hot compost heap – and of course, the constant aeration means that the organic waste breaks down quicker too.
Space issues when composting
Some people think that they require a lot of space to start composting. This could be true if you are looking at composting large amounts of waste. However, if you are doing it for a small garden, you do not have to worry much about this. You can start composting in small bins or spare a small space in your garden for this purpose. Or, I know I’m repeating myself, a bin – which is very contained!
Weeds as a problem in compost heaps
To prevent weeds from growing in your compost pile, do not use seeded plant waste as composting material. However, if you do, then the chances of such seeds surviving are slim though, especially if you keep your pile hot and moist.
Compost becomes too dry or too slimy
If your compost is too dry, add more green matter to it. If your compost is too slimy, add more brown stuff. Examples of greens include grass clippings, vegetable waste, tea leaves, coffee husks, and plant remains. Examples of browns include dead leaves, twigs, straws, and hay.
What time of the year can I compost?
You can compost all year round. There is no limit to season or the number of times you can compost in a year. During wintertime, consider indoor composting (putting the compost bin in the garage or shed) as it will help you regulate temperature and offer optimal conditions for microorganism growth.
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Final Words on Beginner’s Composting
To me composting is the ultimate in recycling. Relevant waste food scraps, grass cuttings if you have a lawn (or perhaps the neighbours if you don’t), the saving of money by not buying bagged compost. It’s definitely a win for all, the environment included. So do yourself, your garden, your veggies and the world a favour and get started composting today!
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