Home composting is a great way to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills. Using compost on garden beds and vegetable gardens helps improve soil health, provides a source of organic fertilizer, cuts down on plant disease, increases soil water holding capacity, neutralizes soil toxins, and reduces mineral leaching from the soil. It also provides a fun, hands-on method of science education for children and adults and promotes a sense of responsibility and community involvement.
The key to a successful backyard composting system is to maintain a proper ratio of carbon-rich materials (browns) to nitrogen-rich material (greens). To do this, make sure the pile is layered properly. The first layer should be woody material such as twigs, sticks, and dried stalks. The second layer should be a mix of dry, brown leaves and straw or chemical-free hay. The third and final layer should be a mixture of green, nitrogen-rich materials such as grass clippings, food scraps, coffee grounds, and weeds. A layer of soil is added to inoculate the pile with beneficial soil microbes and to help keep the materials aerated and moist.
It is important to turn your compost pile regularly to speed up the decomposition process and to keep it free from rodents and other pests. In addition, the aeration provided by turning the pile helps maintain moisture levels, especially during rainy seasons when it is easy for compost to dry out.
There are many different options for bins and containers to hold your backyard compost, but it is best to make or purchase one that has slots on all sides to allow for oxygen flow, as well as a lid that can be closed when adding new materials to the compost pile to keep out unwanted critters. Alternatively, you can use a 3 bin compost system that includes a bottom bin to catch the “compost tea” that seeps out of the first bin and can be used as a rich plant and soil amendment.
The most important thing to remember is to keep the pile or bin at a temperature of about 85-90° F. This is the temperature at which microorganisms will begin to decompose the organic matter. It is essential that the materials be kept moist, but not soaking wet, as too much water will choke out oxygen and slow down the process.
