Composting Tips

Starting and keeping a compost bin can take some time and maintenance.  It is good to know what goes into keeping a healthy compost pile that will yield wonderful soil. It can be slow-going in the beginning while you learn how to put together just the right compost pile, but it is very easy to learn!

Have an indoor composting crock

Keep a composting crock in the kitchen, either on your counter or underneath the sink, or wherever works best for you. This way, you can have a compost bin right in the kitchen that you only need to empty periodically. It prevents insects such as fruit flies from getting into your food scraps as well.

Chop materials

It helps to chop up materials as you add them, to help them break down more easily, especially if they are larger items or those that are more solid, such as corn cobs, Halloween pumpkins, etc.

Keep a good ratio

As you add to your compost, keep in mind having a lower amount of brown material (leaves, etc) and more green materials.

Aerate and water

Compost should be regularly turned to help aerate the materials.  This will help them to breakdown more easily, and reduce bad odors from lack of oxygen.  Also keep an eye on the moisture content of your compost, as you don’t want the pile to dry out. Have some tools on hand such as a shovel or pitchfork to help mix the compost pile.

Build quantity

It takes a while to build a large enough pile for the compost to be actively breaking down.

Avoid certain items

Avoid things such as greasy foods, cheeses, meats, dairy, bones, etc. These types of things will not be beneficial to the compost pile and will cause the compost to smell badly, attract pests, and so on.

Use accelerator if you need

Don’t be afraid to use a compost accelerator! This can be helpful especially in the beginning stages of putting together a compost pile, since it takes a while for it to build up and generate enough heat to break down.