If you’re a gardener, or passionate about creating a more sustainable world, you’ve likely considered how to make compost at home.
No matter your motivation, composting enriches your garden’s soil and gives your food waste a new life. It embodies sustainability while being budget-friendly, meaning you can jump right in using what you’d normally toss in the trash after dinner.
We know some eco-friendly choices may feel challenging at first, so this blog post will equip you with the essentials to start composting.
Click here if you’re ready to jump straight into the steps.
What’s compost?
Compost is the result of the natural decomposition of organic matter, such as leaves, grass clippings, food scraps, and other organic materials. This process makes compost nutrient-rich soil for plants and animals, boosting soil fertility and keeping plants healthier.
The mixture is also beneficial for bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms.
Composting is crucial for waste management. It allows you to reuse food scraps and gardening waste, offering a better alternative to using organic material for landfills because composting reduces methane emissions.
These are the steps to start composting:
Step 1: Get your compostable ingredients
To get healthy compost, you’ll need a mix of “greens” and “browns”. Greens (like veggie scraps and fresh grass) produce nitrogen, and browns ((e.g., dried leaves and cardboard) produce carbon. These elements will balance your compost. And don’t stress about the names, greens and browns come in all colors!
Here are some examples:
Greens 🌱
- Fruit and veggie scraps (apple cores, vegetable peels, etc.)
- Coffee grounds/filters and tea bags (remember to remove any staples)
- Grass clippings and fresh plant trimmings
- Eggshells
Browns 🍂
- Dry leaves
- Cardboard and paper (shred it first!)
- Straw and small branches
- Wood chips and wood ash
- Chopped up twigs
- Dryer lint
- Paper towels or napkins
📌 What to avoid: Meat, dairy, and oily foods. They’ll make your compost stinky and attract pests. These include pet waste, meat scraps, whole eggs, bones, dairy, fat, leftovers, diseased plant material, or weeds.
Step 2: Get a compost bin
There’s no wrong way to compost, so you’ve got options here:
Outdoor Compost Bins
This option is perfect if you want to keep things tidy and hassle-free. It keeps everything organized and contained, so you don’t have to deal with an open pile or a messy yard. Our Compost Bin has a 220-gallon capacity, giving you plenty of space.
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Compost Bin$30.00
Pile it up
If you prefer a natural approach, why not create a cozy little compost pile in a corner of your garden? You can use a tarp to keep everything neat, or just let it blend in with nature.
Compost tumblers
If you’re looking to speed things up, a tumbler is a fantastic option. These rotating bins make mixing a breeze and really help your compost break down more quickly.
Step 3: Time to layer it up!
Layering your ingredients is important because it creates the right balance of materials and airflow to speed up the breakdown process and reduce odors.
Before starting, remember to chop up your ingredients. Smaller pieces decompose more quickly than large ones. For example, grind up leaves before you add them to the pile instead of putting them in whole.
Start with a base of your browns and continue with your greens. Alternate every layer as you add materials to balance the nitrogen and carbon ingredients. Over time, these layers will start to break down and create a rich, dark compost.
The ideal ratio is three parts brown ingredients to one part green.
If it looks dry, sprinkle a little water to keep it moist but not soggy.
Step 4: Give it a stir
About once a week, give your compost a good stir with a pitchfork or shovel to draw air into it. This speeds up the decomposition and keeps things smelling earthy and fresh.
No time to stir? Don’t worry! The compost will still break down on its own, it just might take a bit longer.
Step 5: Water your compost
Compost needs moisture for microorganisms to grow so they can do their work and break down the materials. If it hasn’t rained in a few days, add some water to your pile or bin.
Step 6: Time to wait
In a few weeks to a few months, you’ll notice your scraps turning into dark, crumbly soil. That’s your compost, ready to enrich your garden.
Once your black gold is ready, mix it into garden beds and containers, or use it to topdress around your plants or shrubs to improve the soil.
Congrats on working on a greener world!
Composting is more than just good soil. It’s a step toward a more sustainable lifestyle, reducing what goes to the landfill and helping your garden flourish. And you can’t deny there’s something satisfying about watching your trash turn into something beautiful 🌱
So grab those apple cores, toss in some leaves, and get composting. Your garden (and the planet) will thank you 🌎💚
