Beginner's Guide To Composting

Home composting is brilliant for the environment because it improves the health of your soil by adding organic matter. It also reduces the need for fertilizers by attracting beneficial organisms to the soil. So, it is a win-win! What is compost made of? It is made of decomposed organic material rich in nutrients for garden soil. Essentially, it is broken down kitchen scraps and brown waste such as cardboard. The great news is you don’t need a large garden to start composting; you can use your small garden or even balcony. We have compiled this beginner’s guide to composting so you can begin making top-notch compost that your plants will love.

Table of Contents

Where And When To Compost
What To Compost In
What Materials To Compost
You Are Ready To Begin
Maintain Your Compost
Harvest Your Compost
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Where And When To Compost

Choosing the right spot for your compost is crucial. Positioning your compost container in a partially shaded area, ideally directly on the soil, is best. You want to choose a place with little temperature changes and moisture, as the micro-organisms that turn the waste into compost prefer controlled conditions. Once you have selected the perfect spot, you can start composting no matter the time of year. The whole process of composting from start to finish takes about 4 to 6 months, so keep that in mind if you are looking to use it in your garden for spring.

What To Compost In

Now that you know where you will be composting, you must decide what to put your compost in. Composting containers come in all shapes and sizes, so choose the one that is right for the area in which you will be using them. It is best to select a bin that is one cubic meter or more, as smaller containers don’t work as well as larger ones. However, a small cardboard box will work brilliantly if you are working with a tiny space. When your box is full of kitchen waste like veg and fruits, dump it into some soil and wait until it is fully decomposed. Once that has happened, you can use it around your garden or with potted plants.

What Materials To Compost

Composting requires a mixture of nitrogen (green material) and carbon (brown materials).

Some examples of green materials are:

Kitchen scraps like unused veggies and fruits
Shells from nuts and eggs
Coffee grounds and organic tea bags
Garden scraps like weeds, old plants, and grass clippings

Some examples of brown materials are:

Dry shredded paper and cardboard
Napkins and paper towels
Dead Leaves

You should avoid the following items when composting:

Animal waste
Fish waste
Diseased plants
Coated paper
Meats and Grease

You Are Ready To Begin

Now that you have everything you need, you can start composting! To begin, layer your brown and green materials in your chosen container. Place a layer of brown materials followed by a layer of green, and so on.

Maintain Your Compost

Mix your compost regularly with a shovel to keep it healthy and active. This will help aerate the compost and speed up the decomposition process.

Harvest Your Compost

You will know your compost is ready for harvest when it is dark and crumbly, with a sweet earthy smell. This process takes about 4 to 6 months, so keep checking your bin as the time approaches.