More and more cities are developing composting programs, where homeowners can place food scraps in a green bin.
The city collects the green bins and starts large compost piles.
When the materials in the pile are fully broken down, the city then offers the new compost soil either for free or for a small fee.
This new, composted soil is rich in nutrients and eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers in your garden.
The following items can be composted:
Most compost piles should be a square meter to work with.
Use course materials and branches at the bottom of the compost pile to allow for air circulation and to allow extra moisture to drain out.
The compost pile should warm up after 24 hours of starting one.
Rotate the compost pile once a week with a pitchfork, which will let fresh oxygen into the pile.
It is the oxygen and the heat that quickly break down the materials in the compost pile.
It takes several weeks for the materials to completely break down into soil.
You can tell when the compost pile is ready to use when the materials you put into the pile are no longer identifiable.
If you are using a compost bin, check the instructions on the bin.
Some bins have a separate compartment at the bottom of the bin, which allows air to come in.
In this case, you will not need to include course materials and branches at the bottom.
The advantages of bins, especially in urban centers, are that they protect from the weather and keep out wild animals, such as raccoons.
Compost tumblers, which are often the shape of a barrel, also work quickly.
As the name suggests, this type of compost bin has a handle, which allows you to easily turn or rotate the material within the tumbler.
They are often smaller than a compost bin, which makes them perfect for a small family in the city.
You can continue to use your compost pile, bin or tumbler during the winter.
The materials won't decompose over the winter, particularly if the weather is below the freezing point.
Do continue to place compost materials in your pile during winter, as it will start to decompose once spring starts.
Here are some additional tips on how to get the most out of your compost pile or bin: Tip #1: It is best not to include food that has mold on it, as the mold may not be killed off during the composting process.
Tip #2: If you have the time, break down the items to be composted into smaller pieces before you add them to the compost pile.
This will help to speed up the composting process.
The city collects the green bins and starts large compost piles.
When the materials in the pile are fully broken down, the city then offers the new compost soil either for free or for a small fee.
This new, composted soil is rich in nutrients and eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers in your garden.
The following items can be composted:
- Food scraps (do not include meat, bone or fat scraps)
- Egg shells
- Peels (from potatoes, oranges, apples, bananas, etc)
- Old and/or rotten fruits and vegetables (i.
e.
: grapes, potatoes) - Grass clippings, leaves, straw, hay
- Pine cones, needles and sawdust
- Coffee grounds and tea bags
- Soil
Most compost piles should be a square meter to work with.
Use course materials and branches at the bottom of the compost pile to allow for air circulation and to allow extra moisture to drain out.
The compost pile should warm up after 24 hours of starting one.
Rotate the compost pile once a week with a pitchfork, which will let fresh oxygen into the pile.
It is the oxygen and the heat that quickly break down the materials in the compost pile.
It takes several weeks for the materials to completely break down into soil.
You can tell when the compost pile is ready to use when the materials you put into the pile are no longer identifiable.
If you are using a compost bin, check the instructions on the bin.
Some bins have a separate compartment at the bottom of the bin, which allows air to come in.
In this case, you will not need to include course materials and branches at the bottom.
The advantages of bins, especially in urban centers, are that they protect from the weather and keep out wild animals, such as raccoons.
Compost tumblers, which are often the shape of a barrel, also work quickly.
As the name suggests, this type of compost bin has a handle, which allows you to easily turn or rotate the material within the tumbler.
They are often smaller than a compost bin, which makes them perfect for a small family in the city.
You can continue to use your compost pile, bin or tumbler during the winter.
The materials won't decompose over the winter, particularly if the weather is below the freezing point.
Do continue to place compost materials in your pile during winter, as it will start to decompose once spring starts.
Here are some additional tips on how to get the most out of your compost pile or bin: Tip #1: It is best not to include food that has mold on it, as the mold may not be killed off during the composting process.
Tip #2: If you have the time, break down the items to be composted into smaller pieces before you add them to the compost pile.
This will help to speed up the composting process.
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