Composting – How to Get Started
If you fancy trying your hand at composting and helping the environment, then hopefully this should be of some use to you.:cheerful:
:leaf: Why should I compost? :flower: Organic waste (anything that will break down) that is sent to a landfill site will not decompose as it is compressed underneath all that other waste! Organic waste needs access to air to get the anaerobic bacteria doing its job. If it is squashed under other rubbish, then all that happens is methane gas is produced, which is a powerful greenhouse gas – and that contributes to global warming! So as well as doing your bit to reduce global warming, by composting you’re providing yourself with a soil improver which will make your plants and vegetables grow better. :leaf: How do I compost? :flower: First of all you need to choose the site for your compost bin. The ideal place is in the garden on bare soil – that way the worms and beetles can get in and help! If your only option is to place the compost bin onto paving stones or concrete, make sure there is a layer of existing compost or soil in the bottom so the worms can colonise. :flower: The next step is to start adding your waste. Keep a small kitchen bin handy and pop in everything from fruit and vegetable peelings to eggshells and paper towels. Don’t compost cooked food, meat or fish. A list of what to compost follows below. Empty this mini bin into your compost bin along with garden waste. If you can manage it, a 50/50 mix of green and brown waste is the perfect combination for good compost. :flower: Next you need to be patient. It will take between 6 and 9 months for the compost to be usable. Once the compost has become dark and crumbly (like thick soil) and has an earthy smell, you can use it. Your compost may be lumpy with bits of eggshell and twigs poking out – this is within the ‘normal’ range. To collect the compost, open the hatch at the bottom or lift the bin slightly and scoop out with a garden spade or fork. Compost must always be collected from the bottom as this is the oldest material. :leaf: What if I don’t produce enough compost for my needs? :flower: Even the most ardent composter will need to buy a bag of compost from time to time. If you need to do so then look for bags that a re labelled ‘peat-free’ or ‘reduced peat’ as they contain recycled materials which again is great for the environment. :leaf: :flower: You can actually compost up to 30% of what goes into your household bin, in the average household this means that over the course of a year there will be 150kg of waste that is not going to a landfill site. Compost items are divided into 2 groups – ‘Greens’ and ‘Browns’. Greens: Coffee grounds and filter papers Comfrey leaves Fruit scraps, including citrus peel Grass cuttings Nettles Old flowers Pond algae and seaweed in moderation Rhubarb leaves Spent bedding plants Tea bags Vegetable peelings, including lettuce and cabbage leaves Young annual weeds, e.g. chickweed and speedwell Browns: Bedding from vegetarian pets Cereal boxes Corn cobs and stalks Cotton thread Crushed eggshells Dry leaves and twigs Egg boxes Feathers Garden prunings, including hedge clippings Natural fibre string Old natural fibre clothes cut into small pieces Pine needles and cones – don’t put in too much as they compost slowly Sawdust and wood chippings Scrunched up corrugated cardboard packaging (in small amounts) Scrunched up newspaper Shredded confidential documents Straw and hay Tissues, paper towels and napkins, unless they’ve been in contact with meat, fats, oils or disease Toilet and Kitchen roll tubes Tumble dryer lint from natural fibre clothing Vacuum bag contents if carpet is natural fibre Wood, paper or lumpwood charcoal ashes Woody clippings Wool :leaf:You can buy a bin and get free tips and advice from Recycle Now. So what are you waiting for? :D Also posted in 'The Garden' and 'Fruit and Vegetables'. :cheerful: |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:05 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.