If you want to take a step toward sustainable living, starting a compost bin is a great idea for your food and other waste. Before you buy or build your compost bin, there are some best practices to be aware of. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the incredible benefits compost bins offer.
Position Wisely
While some people keep compost bins inside, it’s best to find a flat and well-drained area outdoors. A moist area will encourage worms to turn the components into compost. Placing it on an even surface ensures that the bin won’t become too moist or dry due to environmental factors.
Balance Green and Brown
A crucial aspect of having a successful compost bin is balancing your green items with your brown items. Green materials add nitrogen to the compost, while brown items add carbon.
Below is a shortlist to help you understand what the different items are:
Green:
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Grass clippings
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Flowers
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Coffee grounds
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Teabags
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Vegetable scraps
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Fruit remains
Brown:
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Twigs
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Cardboard
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Sawdust
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Dead leaves
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Newspaper
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Hay
You must maintain an equal balance between the two categories. Too many green items will make the compost too wet, and too many brown items, dry it out.
Stay Diligent When Sorting
Sorting the correct materials into your garbage versus your compost can be taxing and annoying. But do not stray from the compost path, or it may ruin your compost bin altogether.
You should be diligent when adding materials to your compost, or it will be unsuccessful. Avoid composting meat, dairy, dog waste, cat waste, oil, fatty waste, dirty diapers, and diseased plants.
Keep It Aerated
To pack the compost with the proper nutrients to make it useful it needs to receive a sufficient amount of air. Make sure you do not pack down any of the materials, or worms won’t be able to enter and compost the materials.
Aerate the soil frequently, turning it with a pitchfork or other tool, which will allow oxygen to decompose the materials so worms can digest them.
Why Compost?
If you’re still on the fence about composting, consider these benefits.
- If you pay for trash pick-ups, you can save money by composting many items.
- It prevents organic waste from being tainted in landfills.
- You can save money on lawn and plant fertilizer.
- The soil in your garden will retain moisture better, saving water.
- Compost can balance soil nutrients and maintain pH levels.
