Sasha CampbellHealthy compost is made from organic materials (kitchen and yard plant scraps) and other suitable materials that are left to decompose [1]. Afterward, you can use it to fertilize the soil.
There are many benefits to composting. For the most part, it adds nutrients to the soil and improves the soil’s ability to retain moisture. It’s a natural way to support healthy plant growth.
How to Compost at Home
Read on to learn how to turn kitchen and yard scraps into nutrient-rich compost.
Decide Why You Want to Start Composting
You can use compost on your lawns, around fruit trees, as mulch, and even to feed potted plants. If you need compost for all of these, you will likely need two or more compost bins or sufficient space to create multiple piles.
Therefore, ensure that you have enough space to house your compost piles or bins. If you have a yard, that’s good.
Moreover, if you have sufficient space for an outdoor garden where you can utilize your organic compost, that’s even better.
Compost Pile vs. Bin
Which is better? The size of your garden and the available space will determine which option is best for you.
For those with larger gardens, compost piles are often better. They can manage larger amounts of organic material effectively. Conversely, a compost bin is better suited for those with smaller gardens or limited space.
Acquire a bin or tumbler to place your plant scraps. You can either make your own or buy a pre-assembled one.
Alternatively, you can have a compost pile in the back corner of your yard. This is fine if you have a large yard, but be aware that it may attract nuisance wildlife.
Things to Put in Your Compost
Kitchen and yard plant scraps are the primary organic materials to add to your compost pile. However, you can also include other items.
Below is a list of things you can add to your compost.
- Wood shavings
- Paper bags (shredded)
- Grass clippings
- Dried leaves
- Human hair
- Eggshells
- Pine needles and cones
- Corn cobs
- Vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds
- Newspaper (shredded)
- Cardboard
- Aged manure from herbivores such as cows, horses, goats, sheep, rabbits, and chickens.
- Twigs
Can you compost bread? Absolutely. Bread breaks down fairly quickly in compost. However, it may attract rodents and insects, so add it in small amounts and bury it within the pile.
What Not to Put in Compost
Certain waste materials and scraps are not suitable for your home compost. These include:
- Meat scraps.
- Fish scraps.
- Cooking oils and grease.
- Pet waste (dog and cat feces).
- Diseased plant material.
- Weeds with mature seeds.
- Dairy products. You can compost dairy products, but it is best to avoid doing so. They may cause an odor and attract unwanted insects.
- Human feces are considered unsafe for compost intended for use around edible plants. Harmful bacteria and pathogens may be lurking in them [2].
- Sawdust from pressure-treated wood. Pressure-treated wood may contain preservatives that can leach into the soil, so its sawdust should not be added to compost.
The Composting Process
Although there are various composting methods, a simple homemade compost heap is typically set up in layers.
A good compost pile contains a mix of nitrogen-rich ‘green’ materials and carbon-rich ‘brown’ materials. A balance of roughly two to three parts browns to one part greens helps compost break down efficiently.
- Start with a layer of coarse materials at the bottom. Add some twigs, corn cobs, broken branches, etc.
- Next, add about 4 inches of green materials. This includes vegetable and fruit scraps, grass clippings, manure, and coffee grounds.
- Next, you may sprinkle a thin layer of soil on top, although this is optional.
- Additionally, add a layer of carbon-rich “brown” materials. This includes newspapers, dry leaves, straw, hay, wood chips, sawdust, and other similar materials.
- Afterward, add water to keep the mixture moist and accelerate composting. However, do not make your compost too wet. It should not be too dry either.
- Continue adding layers of green materials and brown materials, watering as needed to keep the pile moist. A thin layer of soil can be added occasionally but is optional.
- Place the compost bin in a convenient location with good drainage. A warm location may speed decomposition, but direct sunlight is not essential.
Turn or mix your compost pile every 1 to 2 weeks to introduce oxygen and speed up decomposition. The finished product should look and smell like rich, dark soil.
Most home compost piles take a few months to a year to fully mature. This timing depends on the materials used and how often the pile is turned.
Once the compost is finished, you can use it throughout your garden to improve soil health and plant growth. Not only will your plants benefit from this homemade plant food, but you will also be saving money.
Making Compost Tea
Making compost tea is very easy. For the recipe, you only need two ingredients: water and some of your finished compost.
Fill a 5-gallon bucket with about 1 part finished compost and 4 to 5 parts rainwater or non-chlorinated water.
Stir the mixture well and allow it to sit for about a week. During that time, stir it once per day. After a week, your compost tea will be ready for use.
When ready to use, strain it and use it as is. However, if you are using it as a foliar spray, dilute it with equal parts water and spray it on the plant’s leaves.
There are many benefits to this liquid compost tea. The most significant advantage is that it improves soil health.
Some gardeners use compost tea as a foliar spray. They report fewer disease problems. However, studies have produced mixed scientific results on its effectiveness.
Note: If using compost tea on edible crops, avoid spraying it directly on leaves that will be eaten raw.
See also: Beginners’ Guide to Indoor Composting.
Takeaway
Creating a DIY compost bin is a smart way to reuse fruit peels and vegetable scraps. Backyard composting can boost your vegetable garden, flowers, houseplants, and lawn.
It will also save you a trip to the local plant store to buy bags of someone else’s compost.
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