Composting is all the craze. For those of you who are eager to learn more about composting we are here to shed some wisdom on the process of creating a greener future from our waste material. More specially, a way to decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced in landfills. It’s a win-win sustainable way of disposing of food scraps and garden waste while also creating compost that will bring your plants to life.
Compost is essentially decomposed organic matter that is transformed into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. When left to sit and break down, food waste, yard debris, and paper products turn food waste into food for the microbes in the soil. Instead of tossing rotting apples or spoiled oranges in the trash, food scraps can be added to the soil in your backyard or a compost bin under your sink made from plastic, wood, and steel. Watch as your old apple cores and brown banana peels turn to rich, mature compost over the span of about a year or two.
The process is somewhat involved in order to ensure the waste has proper moisture to survive and prevent drying out. It is essential to choose a spot that is somewhat shaded to avoid drying out or getting too saturated on rainy days. regulate the temperature inside at about 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. When disposing of food waste be sure to divvy up the materials into two categories: “green” and “brown.” “Green” includes food waste such as fruit and vegetable scraps, bread, pasta, rice, and eggshells whereas “brown” refers to things like sawdust, leaves, grass clippings, and shredded newspaper. You should aim for 25 and 50 perfect soft green organic matter while the rest should be comprised of brown waste. However, if your green items are moisture-rich – like watermelons or tomatoes – you’ll have to compensate by increasing the brown-to-green ratio.
The next step in the composting maintenance process is “turning” the pile at least once per week. Be sure to “turn” the material to mix the moisture and introduce oxygen, preventing odors and promoting a quicker breakdown of the pile.