A Beginner’s Guide to Composting
If you are looking to improve the state of your garden over the coming months, then getting into composting is one of the best ways to do it. Because, when you break down leaves, grass, and natural food waste like egg shells, and fruit scraps, you get a dark soil that is so rich in nutrients. And the good news is that it needs little help from you, as it will happen naturally. The leaves that have fallen over the autumn, will be doing that on the ground. But to make the compost the most vitamin-rich, then a little intervention from you is needed.
As a site like Growing Organic will tell you, soil and compost are the keys to having gardening success. So how can you make sure that you are going to get the best compost possible? Here is a quick beginner’s guide to composting; it is simple, easy, as good for the environment.
Set Up Your Bin
There are plenty of containers or bins out there that you can use for composting. However, you don’t need to necessarily get one. If you have a space for the compost to be piled up then just use that. A smaller yard, or one that wants to look more orderly might need to set up a bin, though. A container can also be beneficial if you don’t want to have birds or pests making a home in it. You could make up your own out of wood, use an old garbage can, or buy a large container yourself. The size is up to you and how much compost you want to make.
You won’t need anything too specialized when it comes to your compost bin, but a few tools will help you to make the most of it. Gloves are a must, so that you can get your hands in and mix it all up. A pitchfork is a good idea too to help you to turn the compost, mix it, and reach right to the bottom of the bin. Having a wheelbarrow in the yard is helpful for filling up your compost pile with, especially after mowing the lawn. You can also get screens to place on top of the pile to prevent birds eating the scraps, as well as to sift the different items in the bin.
When it is all set-up to go, you can start adding to the pile. But what can you add to the compost bin? The things that you should be adding are things that are all natural. So scraps of food from fruit, vegetables, and eggshells. Things like meat, processed foods, and cooked foods shouldn’t go on to the compost. Paper that isn’t glossy can go on compost, as well as garden waste like leaves, sawdust, and grass clippings are all fine to go on the compost pile.
From there, it is a bit of a waiting game to get the good stuff. Just make sure that you check on it, mix it, and add to it regularly.