Composting is one of the easiest ways to dip your toes into homesteading. What is composting? Composting is nature’s way of recycling. You take your kitchen scraps, yard waste, and other organic materials. If you have farm animals, you can even add manure. Let them break down into rich, dark soil. This soil is packed full of nutrients. Instead of tossing out things like vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells, you pile them up. Let nature do its thing, and in a few months, you’ve got homemade fertilizer for your garden. Turning organic material into compost rather than sending it to landfills, you’re helping reduce your carbon footprint.
Failures and Successes of Composting
My husband and I have been dedicated to composting for over a decade. Our journey began with a simple composting bin. However, it required regular turning—a task I struggled to keep up with (failure one). Let’s face it: I can barely remember my name most days. Remembering the need to turn decomposing organic matter is even harder. 🙂
To simplify things, my husband made a bin from an old plastic food barrel. He equipped it with a handle to make turning the compost easier. This solution showed promise, but as the compost accumulated, the barrel became too heavy to rotate effectively (failure two).
Ultimately, my husband opted for a more straightforward approach. He began piling our organic waste in one spot and used a front-end loader to turn the compost. We even started incorporating materials cleaned out from the barn and chicken coop. Success!!
You don’t have the space for a large compost pile or a tractor. That’s okay. You can start with a composting bin.
I keep a stainless steel composting bucket with a filter beside my kitchen sink. Whenever I have veggie scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea grounds, etc., I transfer those scraps to a larger bucket on my back porch when it gets full. Then, it gets taken out to the pile (composting bin). If you are using a composting bin or a small pile, you will want to turn it with a shovel.
Why Should You Compost?
Initially, what comes to mind is reducing your carbon footprint. Composting cuts down on the biowaste in landfills. It can also provide rich, nutrient-rich soil for your plants and garden. You control what goes into the compost pile( soil). Some of those “ready-made” bags in most gardening stores have herbicides and chemicals you may not want in your soil.
Composting is easy. First, pick out a place in your yard designated for your compost pile or to place your composting bin. Then, pick out a composting bin. You can buy ready-made composting bins, repurpose a trash can, or make your own (DIY). There are many options to fit different budgets.
Unlike an open compost pile or heap, a compost bin speeds up the decomposition of organic matter. Through proper aeration and moisture retention, the nutrient-rich compost is ready for use in your garden earlier. Because the compost is contained in the bin, it’s a cleaner way to compost. As I mentioned before, this method did not work for me because of the weight. However, that doesn’t mean it will not work for you.
Active vs Passive Composting
In active composting, organic materials are regularly turned to promote oxygen circulation and maintain moisture levels. This process can be done manually with a pitchfork. Alternatively, a tumbling composter or other mechanical systems can be used to aerate the compost. On the other hand, passive composting is a low-maintenance approach. The compost remains undisturbed, which results in a longer time frame for it to break down.
The Greens and Browns of Composting
There is a clear line between what you should and should not compost. This ensures proper decomposition. It also prevents attracting unwanted guests such as rodents, birds, insects, and wildlife. Before we begin composting, I want you to know about the greens and browns of composting and finding a balance. What are the greens and browns? It’s the type of organic matter you use. It’s recommended to keep the green and brown items equal. For every dry piece (browns) of waste you have, such as leaves, paper or straw, make sure to balance it out with something organic (greens), like lettuce, or vegetable scraps. For healthy compost, it takes a balance of carbon-rich (browns) materials and nitrogen-rich (greens) materials.
| Greens (Nitrogen Rich) | Browns (Carbon Rich) |
|---|---|
| Vegetable Scraps | Straw, Hay |
| Fruit Scraps | Paper, Newspaper |
| Coffee Grounds | Saw Dust, Wood Branches |
| Tea Bags | Dead Plant Clippings |
| Grass Clippings | Dry Leaves |
| Green Leaves | Tree Bark |
| Corn Husks | Wood Ash |
| Egg Shells | Pine Cones |
| Manure | Bedding for pets (wood shavings) |
| Cotton | |
| Hair/Fur |
To get started;
- Pick a spot for your compost pile or bin–somewhere with good drainage.
- Put items like branches and other large objects at the bottom to allow airflow.
- Layer your greens (fruit and vegetables scraps, coffee and tea grounds) and browns (leaves, straw, paper). Alternate layers: six inches of brown materials, two to four inches of green materials, repeated as necessary. Your pile should be at least 3 feet square to generate enough heat, for good decomposition.
- Be sure not to put any meat scraps, seafood, fats (like grease, oil or butter) no dairy, leftovers or any prepared foods, plants treated with pesticides, or diseased plants, and no human waste.
- Keep your compost damp but not soggy.
- Turn the compost every week or so to help it break down faster.
In a few months, you will have rich compost to mix into your soil.
How Often To Turn Compost
On average, I would recommend turning (mixing) your compost pile at least once a week. Do better than me, and set your reminders to alert you to turn your compost. lol The compost needs to be aerated for the microorganisms to break down your compost. The more turns and air your compost gets the hotter the pile gets, speeding up the decomposition process.
How Do You Know When The Compost Is Ready
How do you know when the compost is ready? If you are using a composting bin and the weather is warm. It should only take a couple of months before the compost is ready to mix into your soils.
If you are doing passive composting, it may take almost a year before the compost is ready. It also depends on the organic materials. Different organic materials decompose at various rates. For example, apple cores or banana peels decompose in a little over a month. However, an orange peels could take six months. Fibrous, woody yard waste such as plant stems or sticks may take even longer.
The compost will become a nice, rich brownish-black in color, crumbly, and it will smell like fresh soil (earthy smell). The organic material should not be recognizable, and the new soil should be cool.
Composting is a simple, natural way to reduce waste and give back to the earth. Whether you’re working with a big backyard or just a small bin on your porch, every little effort makes a difference. In just a few months, those kitchen scraps and yard clippings will transform into rich, healthy soil that can help your garden thrive.
