Composting for Beginner

Easy ways and why you should do that!

com·post

/ˈkämˌpōst/

verb

gerund or present participle: composting

make (vegetable matter or manure) into compost.
"don't compost heavily infested plants"

treat (soil) with compost.
"we turned clay soil into almost workable soil by composting it"

Composting is defined as the biological degradation process of heterogeneous solid organic materials under controlled moist, self-heating, and aerobic conditions to obtain a stable material that can be used as organic fertilizer (Postharvest Technology of Perishable Horticultural Commodities, 2019). You can start to do composting from your household! When you do your chores in the garden or get meals done in the kitchen you’ll have excess waste from vegetables, fruits, grass clippings, or dried branches. These greens and brown materials can be used as a composting.

What is green and brown?

Green: manures, food scraps, green lawn clippings, kitchen waste, and green leaves

Brown: branches, stems, dried leaves, peels, bits of wood, bark dust or sawdust pellets, shredded brown paper bags, corn stalks, coffee filters, coffee grounds, conifer needles, egg shells, straw, peat moss, wood ash.

Why do you need green and brown?

Green materials consist of rich in nitrogen or protein while the brown material consists of rich in carbon or carbohydrate. Both are ideal to create a good compost. The green materials tend to heat up the compost pile and help the microorganism to multiply faster. The brown materials main job is to be the food sources for the microorganism. It also allows air to filter through the file.

Steps to start composting for beginners:

1. Get a bin!
2. Think green and brown!
3. Layer the brown first until a few inches deep.
4. Alternate the layers, think moist and dry.
5. Make sure to turn your compost regularly to allow the air to enter.

Composting benefits:

1. Soil conditioner
2. Recycle kitchen and yard waste
3. Good for the environment
4. Reduces landfill waste