Knowing how to do basic composting will save you buying more fertiliser than you need to, Saving dollars, at the same time enriching the soil which in turn holds more moisture and produce better quality and healthier flowers, fruit and vegetables - to say nothing of the use of kitchen waste to help the environment.

Any one can build a compost heap, no matter how small nor how much material is available.

Environmental Impact

A growing number of Americans shudder in horror at leaving their children and grandchildren a legacy of overflowing landfills and contaminated water sources. That is why experts predict that within the next decade, composting will be as widespread as recycling cans in households and industries across the United States.

Our environmental choices have grown so limited that more and more states have been legislating measures to reduce waste that ends up in public landfills. Did you know that the kitchen and yard waste of American households makes up 30% of the nation's total waste? If we practice basic composting we could cut close to a third of the volume that ends up in our shrinking landfills.

If we do not put more effort into utilizing waste more efficiently, inevitably our children and grandchildren will be faced with catastrofical environmental problems. Who would wish to do when we can take steps to avoid that now. It just does not make sense.

Learning a few basic principals about compost and composting is easy and wise. It is in everyone's interest and that of the whole earth and everything in it and should be treated as an ongoing necessity and duty.

Practicality

It just doesn't make sense to spend on fertilizer when you regularly throw away material that you can use as a better substitute! Using compost is one of the best things you can do for your soil to improve it's texture, composition, aeration (especially for clayey soil), and water-bearing qualities (particularly for sandy soil).

Even basic composting can improve fertility and plant health many times over. Your garden's health depends on its soil's microorganisms, which composting feeds in a natural way. Composting can help you completely do away with commercial plant fertilizers.

How to Start

Find a semi shaded, out of sight spot in the garden Start by digging a hole, constructing an enclosure with mesh and stakes, using a barrel, old 44 gallon drum or old garbage bin to pile up compost. To have the heap enclosed away from birds or animals scavenging around and scattering the material, is then avoided.

Materials for starting can be, dry dead weeds, twigs, plant waste, vegetable and fruit scraps from the kitchen,alternating old dry with green material in layers of 3 or 4 inches with a sprinkling of water,and some soil on that. also Farm manure, not domestic manure, if possible as it hastens the composting process. Processed food scraps, meat, fat or dairy products other than egg shells, should not be used as these may encourage rodents. It is advisable to avoid using Anything with peanut butter or mayonaise as they attract scavengers and rodents. Turn the heap, top to bottom, every couple of weeks.

Your compost will be ready for use when everything is broken down into a nice dark soil so give it a try. The benefits to you, the land, all creatures great and small, are there to be enjoyed.


MJG is an avid gardener who has made compost for many many years