Have you ever considered the idea of composting, but aren’t sure where to begin? While it may seem daunting if you’ve never done it before, learning how to start composting at home is actually quite simple. There are so many environmental benefits— now is a great time to give it a try!
It’s an environmentally conscious way to reduce your waste and one of the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to improve your soil and garden, in turn producing some impressively beautiful, healthy plants all season long. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to start composting at home! Here are some tips to help you get started.
How to Start Your First Composting Bin at Home
To start composting, you’ll want to get yourself set up with a proper storage bin! There are a few options to choose from, each of which has its own benefits, as well as the odd downfall. Two of the most common ones are:
Stationary Compost Bins: You can purchase these at your local garden center or hardware store, or you can make your own. Most that you purchase are made out of dark-colored recycled plastic (the color helps it retain heat). They sit on the ground and are usually open on the bottom as it encourages beneficial microorganisms and worms to come in and speed up the process. You can also build a stationary compost bin from different materials like wood pallets or even a plastic storage container.
Elevated Compost Tumblers: The benefit to elevated tumblers is that you can turn them, which aerates your compost, in turn speeding up the breakdown process. The only downside is that they generally do not hold as much volume as the stationary ones since they are elevated.
Then there is vermicomposting, which utilizes only worms, and can be used either indoors or outdoors.
What Can & Can’t Go In Your Compost Bin
Composting at home cuts your food prep scrap leftovers down to almost nothing, and there are many other organic materials you can put in your compost bin. Everything from fruit and veggies scraps and peels, cooked leftover veggies, black and white newspapers, napkins, paper towels, and coffee grounds will all happily decompose in your bin.
There are a few things that are better left out of a composting bin, though. These include dairy, fats, and any meat or bones as they tend to attract pests and other unwanted critters like rodents. You can toss eggshells in there; just be sure to rinse and crush them first, as it will aid in the decomposition process.
Additionally, even though some of your doggy poop bags or kitty litter may say they are compostable–they should still go in the trash as they can contain pathogens that are not good for humans to ingest. While they are approved for composting in large-scale facilities, they can guarantee that temperatures get hot enough to kill those pathogens, and while at home; you will not be able to tell if that is the case.
As you get started, it can be helpful to create a cheat sheet that can stick to your fridge or somewhere else that is easily visible to act as a reminder of what goes in and what stays out.
What Else Does Your Compost Bin Need?
Most items that come out of your kitchen are considered ‘green matter,’ but you will also need to add ‘brown matter’ to ensure that you are composting properly at home. Brown matter is dry material like dead leaves, shredded newspapers, twigs and sticks, dried grass, paper towel, and napkins. The ideal ratio for a healthy compost pile is four brown to one green–so, if you add one inch of kitchen scraps, be sure to add approximately four inches of brown matter on top of that. This will ensure your compost pile decomposes appropriately and keeps it from becoming too wet and stinky.
If you have an elevated tumbler, turn it regularly to aerate and help your compost break down quicker. If you opted for a stationary bin, you should aerate it by turning using a garden fork.
By learning how to start composting, you will do both your garden and pocketbook a big favor! If you’re ready to get started composting at home, stop by Plant Perfect, and we’ll get you set up with the best bin for your home and yard.