Yes, Even YOU Can Compost!

We've heard it many times: people are more than a little squeamish about composting. They're worried about odor, bugs, vermin and just the general "ick" factor. Let us put some of your fears to rest. It's really easy to compost. It really isn't gross, and it is surprisingly satisfying.

First of all, what's the big deal? The big deal is you can divert about a third of your household waste to compost; turning it into rich food for your garden and diverting it from landfills. Wouldn't the organic waste compost just as well at the landfill? The answer is no. For the composting process to work properly, oxygen is needed. Material in landfills is compacted so tightly that biodegradable material does not receive enough oxygen to break down efficiently. Instead of turning into rich nutrients for the Earth, the food waste takes much longer to break down and releases the greenhouse gas, methane, in the process. In the U.S., organic materials rotting in landfills account for nearly 40% of man-made methane emissions. Besides that, our landfills are being filled to the brim; many states have to truck or ship their waste elsewhere. Anything that can be diverted from our over-burdened landfills should be.

The next question the compost-fearful have is, "Doesn't it smell?" Not if you do it right. To break down properly, the compost pile needs to have both nitrogen and carbon rich elements. We'll call these "green" and "brown" material. Green materials are nitrogen rich and enable the decomposing microorganisms to grow. Brown materials are carbon rich and add energy. Green Homes recommends a ratio of about 3-1, brown to green. Too much green material and your compost will smell, too much brown and it will decompose too slowly.

So what should you use to reach this magic ratio? For your brown material, include: leaves, bark, wood chips, chopped brush, shredded newspaper, non-recyclable paper, sawdust, fireplace ash, vacuum cleaner and dryer lint, wool and cotton rags. For your green, use: grass, yard trimmings, fruits and vegetables (including peels), bread, eggshells, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, house plants and manure from vegetarian animals. To keep your compost pile pest and odor-free, DO NOT include the following: Oils, fat, meat, fish, dairy products, bones, cat or dog manure, sickly plants, peanut butter.

I keep a bowl or pot on my kitchen counter, put my kitchen waste in it throughout the day and dump it in the compost bin after dinner.

Now that you are completely sold on the idea, you're probably wondering how to begin. Just follow these easy steps:

1) Find a partially shaded, level spot in your yard, not too far from your kitchen.
2) You can create a pile or use a bin. A pile works as well as a bin, but a bin will prevent things from blowing.
3) Now you just need to start adding your compostable material. (See above.)
4) When adding kitchen scraps, dig a hole in the pile, drop the scraps, and cover them.
5) Every two months or so, turn over the materials and mix up your pile a little with a shovel or pitchfork to make sure oxygen is getting through.
6) In about six months, you will have compost or hummus at the bottom of your pile. This can be used on your lawn, garden and houseplants.

For more detail, check out the information available at Compost Guide. You can find a compost bin for purchase at this super-thorough web site or find instructions on how to make your own compost bin.

The type of composting described above can be done all winter long, the process just slows down in the colder months. However, some of you may be interested in indoor composting as well. There are easy kits that can be purchased for use in your kitchen or pantry. Some can be found at the Compost Bin Store on Compost Guide or at Low Impact Living.

Indoor composting is great for apartment dwellers, those with limited outdoor space, and people who just don't want to bring their waste outside in the winter. Indoor composting can be done with or without worms. (Yes, I did just say that you might actually WANT worms in your house, and, indeed, in your kitchen!) This process is called vermicomposting. The little wriggly guys use their natural taste for organic material and their biological need to then rid themselves of it (read "worm poop") to hasten the composting process and minimize any potential odor.

Green Homes November Challenge: Try Composting! It's easy, it's good for your garden (and the planet) and it's a fun, practical science project the whole family can be involved in! So, start composting and watch your garden grow and your garbage shrink!

CSF