A home garden is a source of fun, education, and nutrition for the whole family. To increase the positive impact of a home garden, consider composting. Composting is an easy and earth-friendly way to recycle kitchen scraps, fallen leaves, and annual plants. Keeping organic matter out of landfills returns essential nutrients to the soil, a critical component for promoting a sustainable environment.
A successful compost pile will adhere to an even mix or 3-to-1 ratio of “greens” and “browns.” Greens are fresh, moist materials such as weeds, kitchen scraps, and grass clippings. Browns are typically leaves, shredded paper, or other dried organic matter.
To jump-start a new compost pile, add compost starter or worms. Remove any meat, fats, oils, or other proteins from kitchen scraps before adding them to the compost. Proteins will cause the pile to have a foul odor and is likely to attract vermin. A well-balanced compost pile or bin should not smell; if that happens, add more “brown” material and turn the pile more frequently.
It’s not necessary to commit large amounts of space to composting. There are many varieties of stand-alone compost drums and tumblers, large enough to provide a season’s worth of compost for a typical garden plot, yet small enough to be unobtrusive in a suburban backyard. A rotating drum makes it easy to turn-over the pile and promote breakdown. The composter or compost pile should be located in a dry, shady spot. For faster breakdown, components should be chopped or shredded before being added. A successful compost pile will be damp but not wet, and will feel warmer than the ambient air temperature as materials break down.
Start your composting now, and plan to add 3-6” of compost to the existing soil at planting time, (more or less depending on the soil quality). Additional compost can be added over the course of the growing season to boost plant nutrition and yield.
Happy gardening!
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