Composting Guide for Beginners

What if most of the stuff you brought home from the grocery store, and did not eat, could turn back into dirt? Composting is the process in nature that breaks down organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, or how I like to call it, upgraded dirt.

If you've never composted before, this guide should be easy to follow to get started.

Here are some basic dos and don'ts of composting:

1. Do designate a compost bin outside your home.

This is going to be where nature does its magic. It doesn't have to be fancy. I chose to purchase a compost spinner bin because I do not want to turn my compost manually but a DIY bin can work just fine too.

2. Do choose an indoor container to collect scraps as you cook.

It's not practical to run outside every time you chop some vegetables or to interrupt your meal prep time to run your organic waste outside. I like to choose a container that I have for whatever reason an aversion to using, like the kind of plastic tub that you buy cold cuts in or a used and washed yogurt container. Just place it next to you while you chop and peel vegetables and place scraps inside of it. The, close the container and stick it in the fridge until it is full, and then take the container outside and dump it in your outdoor compost bin. This will save you trips and keep you engaged in composting by making the whole process easier to stick to. You can even freeze the organic waste if running to the outdoor bin is a turn off for you and then empty your frozen containers once a month.

3. Do keep a ratio of brown and green material in your compost bin.

The general rule of thumb is to aim for approximately equal parts green and brown waste. What is green and brown material you ask? Green organic waste are things like your fruit and vegetable scraps, plant trimmings, garden weeds (non-seed bearing), fresh flowers, to name a few. Brown organic waste are things like wood chips/sawdust, cardboard (shredded), dried leaves/pine needles, newspaper/paper egg cartons, twigs and branches.

4. Don't put meat or dairy products into your compost.

Meat and dairy products will attract pests and will stink. They also might not breakdown efficiently and could introduce pathogens into your compost. Definitely not good if you want to use your compost in your garden.

5. Don't put oily or greasy materials in your compost.

Not only will introducing fats, oils, and greasy food scraps into your pile create a gross, slimy, and unpleasant environment in your compost pile, they can also hinder the decomposition of the compost process.

6. Don't put diseased plant waste, pet waste, or coal/charcoal ash into your compost.

Diseased plant waste and pet waste can contain pathogens that will infect your garden if you choose to use your compost on your food plants. The temperature in the compost bin may not reach a high enough level to kill parasites in pet waste and diseases in plant waste. Some pet waste, like rabbit, chickens, and livestock like cows/horses can be used in compost piles, but dog and cat waste cannot. If you're unsure, do not include the waste in your pile. Ash from coal and charcoal can harm your plants because they can change the pH level of your compost.

7. Don't put non-biodegradable materials or chemicals into your compost pile.

Basically, anything you wouldn't want on your food, do not put in your compost. Your compost should smell earthy, not like a garbage dump. When in doubt, go with your gut and throw it in the garbage.