There are always a lot of food scraps in daily life. For example, potato skins, fish bones, and banana peels. The pity is that this waste cannot be transformed into something really useful. We compost these food scraps into nutrient-rich soil, which is eco-friendly. So how do we compost at home on our own? This article will tell you what composting is, the basic preparation for composting, and how to do it.
What is Compost?
Composting refers to the degradation of organic substances such as waste paper, plastic bags, and food scraps into water, carbon dioxide, and humus by microorganisms at a certain temperature and humidity. Microorganisms play an irreplaceable role in the composting process, turning organic matter into inorganic matter that makes the soil more fertile. Compost can produce these nutrient-rich soil lumps, which promotes good growth of plants and flowering of flowers.
Composting also remediates the soil. For those compacted soils, composting is a key way to improve this soil problem. Under the action of microorganisms, composting makes the soil looser and more fertile.
Basics for How to Compost
Materials
- Compost pile: At first, we need to find a compost pile. In general, a compost bin is the better choice.
- Compost materials: We need to collect food scraps from the kitchen and gardening cuts in the yard and put them in the compost pile.
What can be composted?
Most organic matter can be composted. In addition to the food scraps mentioned above, some other organic items can be used for composting. As follow:
- Eggshell
- Grass clipping and leaves
- Shredded newspaper and cardboard
- Coffee grounds and tea residue
- Woodchips
What can’t be composted?
Obviously, not all organic matter can be composted. We should be very cautious about materials that are harmful to the composting reaction, and remember not to put them in the compost pile to avoid damaging what should be good compost.
Raw meat, seafood, and dairy products are not appropriate to throw into compost piles, as they may attract flying insects and mice. If you throw these things into compost, you may end up with a pile of sticky rot instead of useful fertilizer, and rotten compost contains chemicals that are harmful to plants. Additionally, don’t add dog or cat waste to a compost pile, which contains some pathogens and other dirty things that eventually cannot be completely broken down.
How to Compost at Home?
As a beginner, you can follow the following 4 basic steps to compost.
Step 1: Make a compost pile or bin
Composting is much easier to achieve if you have a yard in a house. You can dig a hole in a shady spot in the back garden, or prepare a compost bin. If your pet dog is naughty, it may pee and poop in your compost and even destroy your compost heap. A compost bin with height and fenced barriers avoids this well.
Therefore, you can make a space in the garden or prepare a box as your composting device to make the first step of composting.
Step 2: Collect and shred compost items
Once the first step is completed, the next step is to collect and shred the items ready for composting. For kitchen scraps, you can prepare a dumpster to hold. For paper, you need to tear the newspaper and cardboard into small shapes, ensuring the degradation easier.
Step 3: Fill with prepared compostable materials
Now comes the significant step: fill with the prepared materials. Put the straw and dry grass into the bottom, which contains abundant carbon elements. Then throw the fruits and vegetables into the bin. Don’t add too many fruits and vegetables and control the ratio of brown matter and green matter to 20:1.
Step 4: Monitor composting process
Composting needs a certain condition: suitable temperature, humidity, and enough oxygen. If your compost bin has a large number of grass clippings and dry leaves, you need to water them when it is a sunny day. Although the other two factors can be difficult to control, we can monitor the process of compost. If you find that the straw and grass blades disappear relatively quickly, and there are still many fruits and vegetables, you may need to add some hay to help the remaining material completely degrade. Therefore, regularly observing the composting process is a crucial step in ultimately ensuring the smooth completion of the compost.
After understanding the basics and basic steps of composting, I am confident that you can successfully start your first composting experience. From now on, let the food scraps and household waste of your life become fertile soil in your garden, and let them help you build a beautiful yard.
