Top 7 Tips for Starting Composting

Fall and winter are excellent seasons to begin the exciting process of composting. Making your own garden soil is the best way to take responsibility for providing the highest quality organic growing medium.

In the simplest terms, composting is an easy and inexpensive way to turn trash into treasure. By composting yard waste, unused parts or pieces of fruits and vegetables, and other organic matter that would otherwise end up in your trash and then our landfills, you can improve the health of your soil and plants at little or no cost. Compost can provide valuable nutrients while improving the structure of garden soil.

Whether you're composting at home or on the farm, the composting process is simple and straightforward. Try it and it will soon become a daily habit. Read on to learn all the composting basics you need to help your plants and the environment thrive.

Composting Basics

Composting can be an exciting process of turning your garden waste into a profit that will produce a bountiful harvest of especially nutritious vegetables. If you eat and garden organically, using your finished compost will eliminate any thoughts of using synthetic fertilizers.

If you've ever walked through the woods, you've probably noticed the sponginess of the ground covered in leaves or needles. In the fall or early winter, you may notice these same or similar raw materials on your property. This means you can start a compost pile quickly, easily, and affordably.

Having a thick layer of leaves at the bottom of the pile will give you a good start, because these leaves decompose and turn into humus quickly. If covered with a small tarp or stored in a trash can, they can also be used later to add fresh amendments (other garden waste, kitchen scraps, grass clippings, etc.) over the next few months.

If you prefer a tidier look, you can also purchase attractive compost bins online or at farm and garden supply stores. In addition to basic compost bins, there are a variety of more advanced models available on the market. Its special features can make composting even easier and faster.

Before you start adding to your pile, be aware that rodents or neighboring cats may want to sort through the pile looking for food. Raccoons, opossums, and other creatures can also be a problem. Building a sturdy, fenced space where you can make your pile is essential. Here are some simple, quick, and inexpensive ideas:

Wooden pallets

If you have access to wooden pallets, it's easy to build compost bins by connecting the pallets together at the edge. You'll always want at least two bins or piles so the older one can age or compost over time. You can fill one square chamber while the second pile can be turned every few weeks as it matures.

Since rodents can be a problem, it's a good idea to line square or rectangular bins with wire. It's best to use a tarp to cover the entire pile and monitor moisture content during rainy or snowy seasons. Heat to accumulate and decompose the pile's contents. On colder days, you may even see a little steam emanating from your compost pile. Don't worry; that just means it's working properly and breaking down the essential nutrients that will nourish your garden come spring and summer.

Compact Compost Bins

These types of composters are easy to fill and empty, and rodent-proof. It has a large top opening and two bottom doors for compost extraction.. This composter is designed for easy rotation to allow air to enter a wide range of materials, enabling rapid decomposition. Quick and easy to assemble without tools.

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Important points to consider

1. Mix the compost regularly with a spade or fork to encourage oxygen-loving bacteria and microorganisms that will accelerate the decomposition of its ingredients.
2. Lightly water the pile regularly to keep the bacterial action alive enough to remain active. Adding mycorrhizae will speed up decomposition and will attach to the roots of the plants in your garden and increase their ability to assimilate nutrients.
3. Animal wastes like manure and bone meal help warm the pile and add nutrients that green matter does not.
4. Adding worms will speed up decomposition. Red hairdressers are the best. They thrive on all vegetable scraps, but banana peels, apple cores, and coffee grounds are some of their favorites.
5. Kitchen scraps (no animal products) such as vegetables and coffee grounds are common additions to a compost pile.
6. Buying organic food and cooking scraps from your table and stove will ensure you're only adding organic compost to your garden.