Every year, each American throws out about 1,200 pounds of organic garbage that can be composted1.
Doesn't that just blow you away? 1,200 pounds. When you throw out that organic waste where do you put it? In a plastic trash bag that gets knotted up tight? Which means that although it does breakdown and get smaller, it happens inside a plastic bag. Which never, ever decomposes. Now what about those green waste bins that the local cities pick up? Some cities are making an effort. San Francisco
seems to have a good program going, maybe other cities too, though I
didn't find any others to share that had as much detail in their green
waste disposal process. One of the problems with household green waste is that it is quite often contaminated. It may have glass or metal bits- not something you want added to your your local park as amendment. So if a batch ends up contaminated, where does it go? Rumor has it, it goes to the landfill. It does have some purpose: helps with erosion, keeps trash from blowing away, keeps birds and other critters out, and helps reduce odors. All good things, but not what I imagined was happening with my yard waste.
Here are the basics to composting. It really is easier than you think. The key is to keep it simple. Make it easy for you to do or you won't do it. It boils down to this simple equation:
Brown + Green + (H2O + O2) = Black
Ok that looks too fancy. How about thinking of it as:
Brown + Green = Black
That is it at the most basic level. Now the H2O & O2 are very important. Compost needs to be damp- not much more than a damp sponge. If you were to grab a handful and squeeze it, more than a drop or two of water would be too much. Oxygen is vital. Microorganisms need to breathe. Lack of oxygen is a leading contributor to unwanted smells. Turning frequently and adding browns will keep an adequate supply of oxygen.
So what are "browns" and "greens"? Here's a list of a few.
Browns
- Bread and grains
- Brewery waste, hops
- Corncobs
- Dried flowers
- Egg shells
- Fall leaves
- Food-soiled cardboard (recycle if clean, but compost if dirty)
- Food-soiled paper towels and napkins
- Nutshells
- Old potting soil
- Pine needles
- Sawdust and wood shavings
- Shredded newspaper
- Small twigs and wood chips
- Spent plants
- Stale flour, cereal, spices, beans
- Straw and hay
- Wood ashes
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Cornstarch and other organic packing materials
- Feathers
- Flower bouquets
- Fresh leaves
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Grass clippings
- Green plant
- Horse manure
- Manure and bedding from small pets such as hamsters and rabbits
- Pruning and hedge trimmings
- Seaweed
- Tea bags
- Weeds
There are also a number of things you should never add to your compost.
Do Not Add
- Chemically treated wood
- Coal ashes
- Diseased plants
- Meat, bones and fatty waste
- PERNICIOUS WEEDS**
- Pet droppings
- Sand, clay, rocks
- Glossy magazines
- Wax paper
This brings me to methods of composting. I just mentioned two- piles and bins. I have so far found both to be equally easy. I was very lazy about my piles. I turned them every few weeks in bits and pieces. I have one of those things called "The Claw" that I would use to open up a new hole to dump veggie scraps into, and I would occasionally use it just to mix things up. I really didn't fuss to much with the piles one way or another. Piles can take longer to decompose, mostly because they don't get as hot as a bin would. Frequent turning does speed up the process however.
I should mention one of my other "learn as I go" composting mistakes. When we first started digging into our compost (my younger boy is a bug kind of guy) we found big white grubs. I thought they were ok for the compost. Even found sites confirming that they are commonly found in compost. However, when they grow up, they are beetles. Not so good for our grass. The site I linked says they are fruit beetles, but I've found other sites that say otherwise so I have found a organic method of getting rid of them, something called Milky Spore. I have yet to order it and apply it but it is on my List Of Things To Do. Here is a little video of one of our little grubby friends. I also have rouge pumpkins growing in my yard from spreading compost that wasn't, um, quite done composting. *another big sigh*
The other methods are variations on bin composting. One is using something called a Roller. This is great if you'd like a good workout (it gets heavy once you get it filled up) and you also need a good amount of space to move it around your yard. It does work quickly(according to makers) however since the all important oxygen is there in spades.
Another bin like method is using something called a Tumbler. This is a barrel like contraption with a crank on one end. Oxygen is also easily added to this method, however once you have filled this one up you do not add to it until the process is done. It is great for smaller spaces however and because the rate of decomposition is faster than a pile it certainly has some advantages. Or maybe not. Here is a good article that you may want to read before going out and buying a Tumbler.
Finally there is worm composting or "vermicomposting". That my friends will be it's own post altogether. Stay tuned I plan on getting it up in the next week!
1.Recycling Facts