Composting has become a relatively new trend that many people are trying out. At the simplest leve
l, composting is taking old food scraps or other green material and using it as fertilizer. But, where do you start? Mother Earth News provides a few easy tips that can help you become a compost extraordinaire.
Contrary to some belief, composting can be done no matter where you live.
Start by creating a compost bin. To create a small compost bin use a 5-gallon bucket and drill a few holes into it. Then, just layer your compost material and some dirt into the bucket. The holes you drilled into the bucket will provide great airflow, so you don't need to worry about a bad odor developing. The handles will also allow you to easily move the bucket around. If you need a large compost bin, you can use wooden pallets or chicken wire to create a circular frame to hold your pile together.
Avoid bad smells. To make sure your compost doesn't develop a bad odor, keep your brown and green materials as balanced as possible. You want to try to obtain a 50/50 split. Coffee grounds, in particular, will help control the odor. Make sure you routinely turn the pile to allow air to circulate throughout the pile.
Use it. Once your compost is complete it's time to use it! You can use it yourself for gardening, bag it up and sell it, or give it to friends/family to use.
Approximately 40% of the food produced in America each year ends up in a landfill. Composting is an environmentally friendly alternative to some fertilizers, and it's also one way to decrease your food waste. Before you throw away your food scraps, consider creating your own compost or offer it to a friend to use in his/her garden.
Learn more about food waste and hunger in the United States.
