Composting for Beginners!
- Lenny Jimenez
- Jun 17, 2020
- 3 min read
I’m sure by this time you have heard about composting somehow, maybe at the farmer’s market? At first, composting my seem really intimidating for some but it is actually quite easy once you get a hang of things. By the end of this blog, you’ll know everything to get you started! and you will be one of those people that talks about composting at the farmer’s market :)
What is composting?
Compost is a substance that is generated by the decomposition of natural materials like food waste, leaves, and more that can be added to soil to help plants grow. A compost pile is made up of decomposing things and macro (worms, beetles, slugs, etc.) and microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc.) that help with decomposition. Microorganisms are the main component of decomposition because they chemically help break down the organic materials with chemicals inside them. The main bacteria present are aerobic bacteria. In simple terms, compost is mainly bacteria poop!
Why you should start composting?
Composting can arguably cover all 3 Rs in Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
REDUCE: Composting can help reduce your waste that goes into landfills of course because it will be going into compost instead of the trashcan. Something that you might not expect is that your regular non-compostable waste might reduce some too. I have found that many times I buy products with the end in mind. it is so much more fun and satisfying to buy things that you know you can compost after you use so you will be more inclined to purchase things that come in compostable packaging or come with no packaging.
REUSE: Compost can help you reuse your waste so to speak. Once your waste becomes compost, you get to use it again! Compost is great for your garden or even house plants.
RECYCLE: Finally, composting is a way of recycling natural waste!
What goes into a compost bin?
Now that you know what composting is and why it is a great thing to get started in your own home, let’s dive into what things can actually be thrown into a compost bin. There are three basic ingredients that go into a compost bin.
Browns (high carbon materials): Papers, pine needles, dead leaves, branches, sawdust.
Greens (high nitrogen materials): vegetables, fruits, eggshells, grass clipping, hair, feathers, coffee grounds.
Water
How do I get a compost bin started?
The easiest way to get one started is with some dirt, brown ingredients, and a few green ingredients at first. The type of space you have will depend on what type of compost bin, pile, or box you might want. There are many ways you can set up your composting area. It can be very intricate and fancy or it can be very simple. Below are some easy options you can choose from depending on your limits.
· Small Space/Indoor: You can add some dirt, brown ingredients, and a few green ingredients to a small container and mix them together so the greens are covered. Any container that won't leak will work, you can usually thrift some plastic buckets or buy some at a hardware store. You can store your bin under your kitchen sink.
· Outdoor Garden Box: You can clear a space on the ground and add some wood planks to make a box. Once you have a box, you can add some dirt, brown ingredients, and some green ingredients. The best place for it would be in a shaded area.
· Outdoor Bin: You can get whatever size container you want as long as it is easy to get into it and won't leak. You would add some dirt, some brown ingredients, and a few green ingredients. The best place would be in a shaded area since it would get hot much easier than the box on the ground option.
For all the options, you should keep an eye on it and see if it looks okay. There should not be a strong smell and it should be moist but not wet.
This is a basic guide on starting a compost bin. There are many recipes of compost online that you can try. The question of “Is this compostable?” will pop up all the time, but the answer is online most of the time and if not, try it. If it’s not compostable, it will either not decompose or grow most of the time! Overall, don’t stress out too much about it, learning is the first step. As with most things sustainable, be patient!
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