What is Composting?
You may have heard of composting, but do you know what it really means? Composting is when organic matter decomposes. During this process, microorganisms feed on the matter. This organic (meaning carbon-based) matter includes grass clippings, plant cuttings, eggshells, and food scraps. After composting, the matter turns into compost, which can be used as plant fertilizer.
Why Should You Compost at Home?
The main benefit is protecting the environment. When we compost, we save food scraps and trimmings from being tossed into the trash. It’s a simple way to reduce the landfill waste we produce and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.
Other benefits include:
- Saving money: by using compost as soil fertilizer, you spend less on buying fertilizer and pesticides
- Healthier plants: You can use your compost to give plants more nutrients, improving their growth in your garden and yard
How to do Composting at Home
Here are some ways:
- Backyard composting
- Vermicomposting (worm composting)
If you don’t have a backyard or lack space for composting, you can also join a local municipal or community composting program. They can collect your food scraps or give you a designated place to drop them off at.
If you can’t find a composting program in your area, you can try starting your own or advocating for one.
Method #1: Composting in Your Backyard
The ingredients you need include a balance of the following:
- Carbon-rich materials (called “browns”)
- Nitrogen-rich materials (called “greens”)
- Water
- Air (for oxygen)
Materials For Your Compost Pile
| Nitrogen-Rich Materials (“Greens”) | Carbon-Rich Materials (“Browns”) |
|---|---|
| Scraps from fruits and vegetables | Dry leaves |
| Grass clippings | Twigs and stalks of plants |
| Coffee grounds and used filters (if made of paper) | Shredded paper (not colored nor glossy) and paper bags |
| Paper tea bags (remove the staples) | Shredded cardboard (without wax, glue, or tape) |
| Eggshells (crushed) | Untreated chips of wood |
What Not to Add
| Materials |
|---|
| Meat, fish, and bones |
| Dairy products |
| Fats, grease, and oils of any kind |
| Large amounts of cooked food |
| Compostable food containers and bags |
| Planted sprayed with herbicides |
| Aggressive weeds |
| Dead plants or plants with pests |
| Treated or painted wood |
| Litter and waste from pets |
| Dryer lint |
| Glossy paper |
| Stickers from fruits and vegetables |
How to Compost in Your Backyard
- Choose how you will collect and store your materials
You can use a container with a lid for fruit and vegetable scraps. For your browns, make a designated area outside for storage.
2. Find a place for your compost pile in your yard and get a bin
The area should be accessible and have good drainage. It should also be near a source of water. Don’t choose a spot near fencing.
3. Break down your materials
Before adding everything to the pile, break or crush the materials into smaller bits.
4. Build your compost pile
To make the bottom layer sturdy and absorbent, use wood chips and twigs. Next, put in your materials, alternating between green and brown layers. Make sure to add 2-3x the volume of brown materials more than that of the greens.
To make your pile circulate air better, turn the compost as you add materials. Water is also important, so add water if your compost is dry. It should be as moisturized as a wrung-out sponge.
5. Regularly check up on your compost
As the materials decompose, the compost will get hotter. It can reach 130° to 160° F. These temperatures keep weeds and microbes away.
Make sure to turn and mix your pile regularly to help with air circulation. If there is a bad odour coming from your compost, it may lack air circulation. Also, keep your compost moisturized.
6. Finish your compost pile
After all visible food scraps disappear and the pile doesn’t get hotter after mixing, it’s time for the curing process. This takes around 4 weeks. After curing, the compost will have be only a third of its size. The compost will be dark in colour, crumble when held, and smell like soil. Sift or pick out materials that are still visible, like fruit pits or pieces of eggshell.
Keeping Pests Away
Keep your pile maintained. Here are some tips:
- Make sure there are no holes or uncovered spots in your bin
- Keep the ratio of brown to green materials consistent
- Keep the food scraps covered/buried in the pile
Worm Composting (Vermicomposting)
This type of home composting relies on worms. Like backyard composting, the materials are simple. But vermicomposting is even more convenient because it doesn’t take up much space and can be done indoors as well as outdoors.
Steps for Vermicomposting
- Get a worm bin. Make sure the bin is in a dark colour and has a tight lid.
- Find a space to put the bin.
If you want to keep your bin in your house, put it in a shaded area, like a closet, the basement, or under your kitchen sink. If you want to put it outside, the garage or a shaded part of your balcony are good places. Make sure to put blankets and heat-retaining materials with the bin to keep it warm in cold weather. The bin should ideally be at 59-77° F. - Gather the materials
Earthwoms
Not all earthworms are good for composting. One commonly used species is the “red wriggler” (Eisenia fetida). Start with 1,000 worms.
Bedding
To make the bedding for your compost, use non-glossy paper, dry leaves, and/or cardboard. Soak them for 10 minutes. Afterward, squeeze water out of it and put it in the bin. The bedding should occupy about half of the bin. Fill the rest with soil.
Food
Give the worms crushed eggshells, chopped produce scraps, coffee grounds, and other similar materials. Do not use food with a strong smell, like lemons, garlic, meat, and greasy food.
4. Start composting
After you’ve put the bedding and soil in the bin, put the worms in. Then scatter their food on the surface. Worms eat about 25% of their weight daily.
5. Finish and use your vermicompost
After 3-6 months have passed, your compost is ready. Unlike backyard compost, there is not curing process. You can use it immediately or store it.
How Compost Benefits Plants
Adding your home-made compost to the soil in your garden or yard yields the below benefits:
- Healthier, more nutrient-rich soil
- Helps soil retain moisture
- Reduces need for pesticides or herbicides
- Prevents soil erosion
Reference:
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
