Embrace Composting It's not as complicated as you might think. Follow the simple steps below and you'll have nutrient-rich plant food in no time.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED » Composting pail » Carbon waste, including dried leaves, non-glossy paper, and lint » Nitrogen waste, including kitchen scraps (except for oily foods such as meat trimmings, olive oil, and peanut butter), manure, and grass clippings » Branches and twigs » Pitchfork » Water » Old carpets or tarp
HOW TO DO IT 1. Use the pail to collect compost materials, keeping carbon ingredients (paper waste, straw, dried leaves) separate from nitrogen ingredients (manure, grass clippings, food trimmings). 2. Once you've got enough to build a 3x3x5-foot pile, build the base of the compost heap with branches and twigs, which will help keep air flowing to the bottom of the pile. 3. Layer compost materials, alternating carbon and nitrogen layers. 4. Once it is built, hose down the compost heap until it's damp but not soaking. 5. Use the pitchfork to turn the heap over every couple of weeks; this will prevent it from becoming slimy. 6. As microorganisms chomp through the pile, they produce heat. Help keep them warm in winter by piling old carpets or tarp over the compost.
URBAN COMPOSTING No yard? No problem! Earth-friendly organizations are helping city dwellers get in on the game by providing a means for donating kitchen scraps to the city's compost pile. The EPA has information on composting organizations in all 50 states.
It's not as complicated as you might think. Follow the simple steps below and you'll have nutrient-rich plant food in no time. 