Composting Basics: Elevate Your Garden with Easy Wins

Written by Brandon Webb

Published: February 23, 2024

Let’s break down the composting basics, making it accessible to everyone.

With the growing concern over environmental sustainability, many of us find ourselves looking over the pile of kitchen scraps and yard waste, thinking about the age-old problem of waste.

The process of turning this “waste” into something useful for our gardens seems tough, filled with ideas of needing a green thumb or great, open spaces.

Yet, composting offers a simple yet helpful solution, transforming scraps into gold for our gardens.

TL;DR

We aim to:

  • Introduce composting as an easy, sustainable way to turn kitchen and yard waste into valuable soil.
  • Discuss essential “greens” and “browns” for a balanced compost pile.
  • Guide on selecting a location and setting up a compost bin.
  • Offer tips for troubleshooting common composting problems.
  • Highlight the environmental benefits and personal satisfaction of using finished compost in the garden.

What is Composting?

Composting basics is nature’s process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil known as compost.

It’s a key ingredient in organic amendments, enhancing soil health by adding nutrients, improving texture, and encouraging beneficial microorganisms.

For me, the process of composting started small, mixing kitchen scraps with yard waste, amazed at how it reduced my household waste and contributed positively to my garden.

Composting Basics Fig 1

A worn gardening trowel plunges into fertile soil, a testament to the fundamental role of composting basics in enhancing soil health.

Materials Needed for Composting Basics

To start, you’ll need a balance of nitrogen-rich “greens” like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and grass clippings, and carbon-rich “browns” such as dry leaves, twigs, and shredded paper.

It is important to avoid meats, dairy, and oils, which can attract pests. Initially, I kept a small bin under my sink for greens and a larger one outside for browns, finding this system efficiently minimized my trips to the compost pile.

Setting Up Your Compost Pile

Choosing a spot for your compost pile or bin requires consideration of accessibility and drainage.

I opted for a corner in my backyard where it was out of the way yet easy to reach. Bins can range from simple wire frames, to enclosed tumblers, to worm-friendly vermicomposting bins.

My first bin was homemade, crafted from pallets, which allowed for ample air circulation, an important factor in speeding up the composting process.

Composting Basics Fig 2

Crushed eggshells scatter across the ground, providing a calcium-rich addition to the composting basics for garden enrichment.

Building Your Compost Pile

The art of composting comes down to layering your greens and browns, maintaining moisture, and making sure you have good air flow.

I learned the hard way that too little air could slow down the process in a big way. A good rule is to aim for a ratio of 3:1, browns to greens, to keep your compost healthy and odor-free.

Regularly turning the pile speeds up decomposition, something I do with a garden fork every few weeks.

Troubleshooting Common Composting Problems

Composting is not without its challenges. An overly wet pile can become smelly, while a dry pile decomposes slowly.

I’ve addressed these issues by adding more browns to soak up excess moisture or watering the pile during dry spells. Keeping the pile covered helped me maintain the right moisture level and deter pests.

Harvesting Your Compost

The reward for your patience comes when the compost is dark, crumbly, and smells like earth—a sign it’s ready to enrich your garden. It took my first pile about five months to reach this stage.

Screening the compost to remove larger, uncomposted materials was a final step before mixing it into my garden beds, providing my plants with a nutrient boost.

Composting Basics Fig 3

Fresh green shoots of an onion plant emerge from the earth, where organic compost has nurtured the soil for robust plant growth.

Conclusion

Composting Basics is an effective way to recycle kitchen and yard waste into a valuable resource for your garden. It’s a simple step towards living more sustainably, with the added benefit of reducing your household waste.

Whether you have a large backyard or a small outdoor space, composting is feasible and rewarding. I encourage you to start your composting adventure; it’s easier than you think and your garden will thank you for it.

Incorporating composting into your gardening practices not only benefits your plants but also the environment. By reducing waste and enhancing soil health, you’re contributing to a greener, more sustainable world.

About the Author

About the Author

Brandon Webb

Brandon is a dedicated citizen scientist with over a decade of hands-on gardening experience and the founder of the Soil Society.

He empowers individuals to lead sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyles by promoting soil health and regenerative gardening practices.

Combining scientific rigor with holistic methods, Brandon educates a diverse audience through workshops, educational resources, and community advocacy, aiming to combat climate change and enhance well-being through soil regeneration.

Brandon’s practical approach to gardening helps others achieve healthier plants and more productive gardens while fostering a deeper connection to the environment.