Hey Alecia,
A lot of you have been wanting to start composting because as you know food waste takes up the most space in
landfill and is horrible for climate change.
When food breaks down in landfill it creates methane which is technically more potent than carbon dioxide.
This a long and informative post, so feel free to save this email and come back to it when you're ready to start your composting journey (we’re actually quite proud of this).
We go over:
If you’ve never composted before, it can seem daunting. But with a little know-how, you can easily learn how to compost — and turn food scraps into “black gold.”
We’ve compiled this guide to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about compost but were too afraid to ask ;)
This guide includes things like:
And if you have any questions after reading, please don’t be afraid to ask! We’re happy to help.
Compost is nutrient-rich soil made from decayed organic matter. Compost is like all-natural fertilizer. It’s become more popular recently, but it’s far from a modern invention. Let’s go back in time together and you’ll see what I mean.
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Imagine you’re a farmer in 2300 BCE, living in Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The days are hot and the rivers flood and give you fertile soil. You farm crops like barley, grapes, and apples.
One day, your neighbor tells you he’s been using food scraps to nourish his fields. You decide to give it a shot, and the next thing you know your grapes are growing like crazy! Amazed, you record this innovation on your trusty clay tablet.
In 2300 BCE, that’s the closest thing you would have had to Instagram. :)
And composting has been around even longer than that, with some
George Washington was America's first composter, but the history of amending the soil to grow better crops goes back to prehistory.
Showing the ancient Scots used it as early as 10,000 BCE. So why is composting such a long-lasting tradition?
When you look at the big picture, it’s easy to see why so many people love compost.
Composting is great for:
Soil and fertilizer are expensive, so using compost can save you money when gardening season comes around.
Compost is full of the nutrients plants need most. And it improves soil quality, water retention, and aeration. (If you have rocky or clay-heavy soil, this can be a lifesaver)
Composting keeps food out of the landfill. Food waste in landfills doesn’t break down properly — it actually produces harmful methane gas. Around 14.7% of US emissions come from food in landfills.
It’s also rewarding and can be so fun!
There’s nothing quite like running your hands through deep brown, sweet-smelling earth you helped create. Now that we’ve gone over the results, let’s get started on the method.
When you’re learning how to compost, you may come across words you don’t recognize. Every hobby has its own lingo, and composting is no exception. So here are the essential composting terms you need to know to feel confident and sound like a pro:
We’re going to teach you how to compost both indoors and outdoors — and either way, you’ll need a healthy dose of browns and greens. First off, “browns” and “greens” aren’t determined by color. They’re actually based on what elements a specific thing contains.
What are browns in composting?
Browns are organic materials that contain a lot of carbon. They’re like the base of your compost pile and help oxygen flow. Browns encourage aerobic bacteria to do their job — and this keeps your pile from turning into a mess of wet, yucky muck. Some common examples of browns include sticks, dry leaves, newspaper, hair & pet fur, wood chips, or ash. (Only natural ash, not the kind from charcoal.)
What are greens in composting?
Greens are materials rich in nitrogen. Nitrogen is a key component of all plants. It helps them turn sunlight into food, so they can’t grow without it. Greens add moisture and nutrients to your compost. And if you use worms, this is what they eat!
Greens are things like food scraps, grass clippings, flowers, weeds, and coffee grounds.
What’s the right ratio of browns to greens?
Balancing the carbon/nitrogen ratio keeps your compost happy. The best ratio depends on what compost method you’re using.
In general, a good ratio to aim for is 4:1, or 4 parts browns to 1 part greens. You should always start with browns first. If you’re using the “cold slow pile” method, you can use more browns than in other methods.
Don’t stress too much about this. Over time, you’ll get a feel for keeping things in balance. If your pile starts to smell or seems soggy, add more browns. If it’s too dry, add more greens.
When many people think about composting, they assume they can just toss anything in. But some materials can cause big problems if you’re not careful. Here’s a rundown of composting do’s and don’ts.
Helpful hint:
Smaller pieces break down more quickly. So be sure to cut, shred, or break things down before adding them to your compost.
Anything that won’t break down or could harm your garden is best left out.
These items can go rancid & stinky in a hurry, and they attract unwanted pests. We recommend avoiding these — and never use them with worms. If you’re collecting scraps to send to an industrial composting site, check to see what they can process.
Now that you know what you can add to your pile, let’s talk about how to get started composting!
This composting method needs attention a few times a week, but it’s much faster than the cold slow pile method.
Your compost will be ready in as little as 4-6 weeks!
Preparing a bin for vermicomposting takes a bit of time. But worms speed up the decomposition process and add extra nutrients to the soil. You can find detailed instructions for a DIY vermicompost bin. Or you can check out our ready-to-use vermicompost
Hungry Bin. :)
The Hungry Bin is a continuous flow system that makes vermicomposting super easy.
Once you have your bin & worms, feed them food scraps regularly and enjoy high-quality compost your plants will love.
Even if you don’t have outdoor space, you can still enjoy the benefits of composting. Setting up a countertop compost bin is easy and a great way to reduce waste.
Bamboozle bins are designed especially for small spaces. They’re simple, stylish, and they work great. And they include activated charcoal filters to reduce odors!
To make your own bin, find a small container with a lid. Drill holes in the lid for ventilation — and add a holder for an activated charcoal pouch, if desired.
Once your bin is ready, simply:
Your compost should be ready in two to five weeks!
Once the timing is right, you can start checking your compost. Check it by gently scraping away the top layer to see what’s underneath.
You’ll know it’s ready when the compost is dark brown, soft, and uniformly broken down.
Finished compost smells rich and earthy, like damp spring dirt.
If your compost starts smelling really bad or rancid, toss the whole pile out and start over. You don’t want to risk harming your plants with a bad batch.
You may find more fruit flies hanging around indoors — their eggs are often hidden in fruit peels. You can get rid of them by leaving shallow dishes of apple cider vinegar around your kitchen.
Avoid letting your compost get too hot (especially if using worms, since this could kill them). In very hot or sunny weather, move your bin out of direct sunlight.
Keeping things at the right temperature and balancing greens, browns, and moisture are the keys to composting success. With a little trial and error, you’ll be a pro in no time!
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We hope this guide has given you all the tools you need to get started with composting at home. Learning how to compost indoors or outdoors takes a bit of practice, but the results are worth it! From ancient Mesopotamia to modern Manhattan, gardens around the world are richer because of it.
If you have eco-conscious friends, why not invite them to try composting with you? You can learn together — and enjoy happier plants together.
We’d love to hear where you are in your composting journey (let us know in the comments!).
P.S. Once you’re ready to get started, don’t forget to check out our
collection of convenient home compost bins.
Now, if you’re already a composting champ, this will be old news to you… You already know that compost is called “black gold” for a reason — it’s a great way to reduce waste and nourish your garden!
So if you’re a fan of compost already, we’d love for you to share the guide with a friend who hasn’t discovered composting yet. The more the merrier, right?
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Can’t wait to hear how it goes for you. :)
Harriet,
Email:
hello@zerowastecartel.com
Phone: +1469-730-0157
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