Composting as a family can be a fun and easy green project that’s environmentally responsible. Not to mention economical- you’ll save on chemical fertilizers, garbage bags (you’ll be throwing away less waste) and soil! And those who compost swear by the nutrient rich soil that can be used in gardens or for planting flowers. Many say it’s the best soil they’ve ever used-producing the tastiest vegetables and fruits that they’ve ever had.
These things intrigued me, so I decided to give composting a try in our house.
However, before the organic materials could break down, I needed to break down what to do…
Learn what you can compost. Composting consists simply of organic materials that naturally decompose. There are green and brown materials. Some examples of green materials are: grass clippings and kitchen scraps like fruit, veggies and coffee grounds. Examples of brown materials include: brown, dried leaves and dried grass. The best composition is four parts brown to one part green.To increase the composting process, it’s best that the materials be small in size because they will break down faster.
Decide how you’d like to compost– indoor or outdoor, or both?There are many articles and books written on the topic of composting. Don’t become overwhelmed. Keep it convenient to what you’ll be composting most. If it’s mostly kitchen scraps -then start with a small to medium kitchen composter with a lid to reduce odors. Note: You will need some outdoor space for your outdoor composter and access to water. And in addition to your composter- you’ll need a pitch fork, shovel and cart.
Give everyone a job. Someone will need to dump the indoor composter into the larger outdoor composter. Everyone will need to take turns mixing your outdoor heap with a pitch fork. Mixing will help to keep the browns and greens in balance,distribute moisture, and add essential air (oxygen) to the mixture. Water will need to be added from time to time. While composting can be simple, it’s important to know what will need to be done to effectively compost, and what role each family member can play.