Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1499105
PINCH OF GOODNESS EaRtH FoOd Composting: what it is and how to get started. Composting is an effective, environmentally friendly, and easy way to repurpose organic materials, like food and yard scraps. An effort that requires little work to make a big impact, composting is something that almost anyone can do. Let's dig into the details. W h A t i S c O m P o S t I n G ? Composting is the process of recycling food and other organic waste. When these scraps are placed together in a compost bin, bugs and bacteria cause them to decompose into a dense, dark, soil-like matter, often nicknamed "black gold." A valuable, nutrient-rich soil additive, black gold does it all—increases the water retention of soil, prevents erosion, nurtures contaminated soil back to life, reduces the need for fertilizers and chemicals, and much more. Besides producing a soil superfood and being the best growth stimulator for your plants and crops, there are several more reasons to compost. To name a few, composting lowers your carbon footprint, decreases personal food waste, and cuts down on landfill methane emissions, which improves air quality. W h A t c A n y O u c O m P o S t ? Almost any organic material can be composted. The following can usually be composted in a home or backyard compost station, though more items may be accepted through a neighborhood or municipal program: H o W t O g E t s T a R t E d Here's the dirt on how to make your very own compost bin. The earth, your plants, and your trash can will thank you! 1. PICK A CONTAINER. Dedicate an entire area of your yard to a compost pile if your community permits, or contain compost in a bucket or bin left outdoors in a sunny spot. An ideal compost container should be one cubic yard, or three feet by three feet, and have a tight-fitting lid with holes on the top and bottom for airflow and drainage. 2. ADD THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS. When starting your pile or bin, lay down about four inches of soil. Add a layer of carbon-rich materials (known as "the browns," or yard trimmings, woodchips, leaves, etc.), followed by a thin layer of nutrient-rich materials (also called "the greens," or eggshells, tea leaves, fruits, vegetables, etc.). Always use a three-to-one ratio of brown to green matter. Lastly, top with another layer of brown material and add just enough water to moisten the contents, then mix it all up. 3. MAINTAIN. Turn the mixture once a week with a shovel or another yard utensil to get oxygen moving. Add more soil and water to keep the matter from drying out, and put your scraps in as you get them, making sure to stick to the three-to-one ratio. It can take up to six months to get black gold. You'll know it's ready when the matter is dark, rich, crumbly, and smooth without any identifiable scraps. Once your compost is ready, add it to potting soil, repurpose it as mulch, mix it into garden beds, or use it as lawn fertilizer. If you aren't able or don't want to have your own station, ask a local gardener about donating your composting materials or research other composting opportunities. • Cardboard • Coffee grounds and filters • Eggshells • Natural wood fireplace ashes • Fruit cores • Fur and hair • Grass clippings • Hay and straw • Houseplants • Leaves • Shredded newspaper • Nutshells • Uncoated paper bits • Sawdust • Tea bags • Vegetables • Woodchips • Pesticide-free yard trimmings 21