A Simple Look at Home Composting

Composting is catching on. People are realizing the benefits of adding compost to your garden as well as the environmental benefits of recycling garden and kitchen waste. However, some articles and composting guides seem to give the impression that composting takes a lot of time and effort. That is simply not true. Composting is a process that occurs naturally all the time all around us. The point of home composting is to create the beneficial organic product for our use.

So what is compost? Compost is simply an organic material that is created from decomposed plant matter. When a plant dies, it slowly breaks down into a natural substance that enriches the soil. When you add compost to your garden, you are helping to improve the soil. This is very important because the plants you put in the ground use the nutrients that are found there. Adding organic material to your soil will help to replenish the nutrients and help the soil retain water longer.

Creating your own garden compost is a very simple thing to do. You just collect your garden and organic kitchen waste in a container or a pile and allow it to break down. Now you can add composting enhancers or other things to speed up the process, but nature does just fine on its own. You will want to add garden waste - plant trimmings etc. and lawn clipping to your mix. In addition, kitchen waste such as egg shells, produce waste and even cardboard egg cartons. Just make sure you tear up the cartons first!

Keeping your compost pile moist will help speed up the process as well. Sprinkle it with the garden hose every day or so. You don't want it to be soggy, but slightly moist. The organic material breaks down quicker when there is moisture present.

You can build or buy a container to keep your compost in. Many of the containers rotate so you can spin the compost to mix it well. Mixing your compost will help the compost to process a little faster and it helps to mix all the different types of material together. If you have your compost in a pile, you will need a pitch fork or a turning fork to rotate it.

You don't even need a set container for your compost. If you live in an area where there are no regulations about things like this, just set up your compost pile in a hidden corner of your property. Add your garden waste to the pile and turn it every few days or once a week. In fact, you don't really need to turn your compost. Start a pile with all your yard trimmings and continue to add them throughout the summer and fall. Then, in the spring turn the pile and remove the finished compost from the bottom. If you are only adding the compost to your garden in the spring, this is a great option for creating your own compost.

As you can see, creating your own compost is a very simple process. You can spend a lot of time turning and watering it for a quick turn around on the compost. Or you can just let nature do the work and collect the organic material once a year. No matter what method you choose, making your own compost is good for your garden and good for the environment!

Cecil enjoys working in the garden and tinkering around the house. He uses a folding utility cart to haul his garden tools as he works. He loves the convenience of a garden utility cart to make garden work much more simple!