Composting

What It Is

Composting is part of any complete household environmental strategy. You benefit the earth in more ways than one - not only are you not contributing to landfills, you're returning the goodness of nature back to nature!

Compost holds nutrients from decaying material in a form that is easily absorbed by plants. Leaves, grass clippings and food wastes are suitable for composting. Compost is especially beneficial when combined with manure.

Compost puts your garbage to work for you. Part science, part art - it's all good!

     Advantages

  • Adding compost to your soil increases its softness.

  • Compost can balance all types of soil, from clay to sand, and everything in between.

  • In sandy soil, compost acts like a sponge, retaining water that would otherwise drain below plant roots.

  • Compost makes clay soil more porous so water can drain properly.

  • Applying compost to the top layer of soil prevents water and wind erosion.

  • Compost eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers. The hydration and organisms offered by compost pull nutrients from organic matter and soil, and pass it on to plants.

Worm Composting

Worms are fast workers on kitchen scraps.
Worm composting is suitable for composting fruit and vegetable scraps. The worms eat kitchen scraps, turning the material into valuable organic matter.  Want to build Worm Binyour own worm bin like the one below?  Find out how.  more...


Soil Incorporation


Get building and purchasing information for these composting units:
Holding Units
Wire Mesh Units


Wire Mesh
Snow Fence Units


Snow Fence

Turning Units
Rotating Barrels


Rotating Barrel
Wood & Wire 3-Bin Units
Wood 3 Bin Unit
 

Soil incorporation is the simplest method for composting non-fatty food waste. With time, waste will break down as fertilizer. Incorporate outside the drip line of trees or shrubs, or buried in areas not used for plant growth. Waste must be buried at least 8 inches deep to discourage animals from digging up the waste. Chopped food waste should be mixed into the soil before being buried. When digging near trees or shrubs, take care not to damage roots. Incorporation of meat, bones or other fatty foods is not recommended.


Heaps


The heap composting process is similar to holding or turning units, but heaps require no structure. The heap should measure about 3 feet wide and 3 feet high; its length will vary depending upon the amount of materials used. Turn the pile regularly or not at all. Fruit and vegetable scraps may be added to a turned heap (check with local authorities for composting ordinances). Vegetative waste will attract pests in an unturned heap. To dispose of small amounts of food waste, incorporate with soil. Mix waste with soil to speed decomposition and cover with at least 8 inches of additional soil.