HOW TO: COMPOST
By Sara Schultz
October 2006



When attempting to live more holistically, we cannot expect ourselves to turn completely green overnight. However, one of the simplest and easiest ways to ease our lifestyle toward a more sustainable one is right before our eyes – or, more appropriately, beneath our kitchen sink. A great variety of waste from your own kitchen and garden may be composted at home, saving this material from a one-way trip to the landfill. When yard and kitchen material make up approximately 30 percent of waste produced in the U.S., it seems obvious that we should all be pitching in to do our part.

The ease of composting explains its widespread practice. Anyone can do it with any amount of organic household waste, and it can be as simple or as involved as desired depending on how much organic household waste there is, how fast one wants results, and the effort one is willing to invest.

Before getting started, one must understand a few imperatives. Microorganisms responsible for decomposing the waste require four vital elements: nitrogen, carbon, air, and water. To have a successful compost pile at home, it is important to maintain these elements in order to support the breakdown process. Nitrogen-rich waste such as grass clippings and kitchen scraps should be combined with carbon-rich materials, such as dried leaves and twigs. Water the pile enough to keep it damp, but not overly saturated, as this could hinder the process. Turning or mixing the pile provides necessary oxygen, and of course, the more frequent the turning, the faster the decomposition.

The proper equipment is essential in getting results, and luckily a myriad of composter styles is available today to fit every taste. Tumblers, bins, and homemade styles are among the most common (not to exclude the old-fashioned yet less popular “pile”). Store-bought composters range anywhere from $18 to $180, depending on the type; alternatively, homemade composters can be built with great ease for around $15 or less. Tumblers offer the convenience of turning the compost with the movement of a crank, whereas bins require a garden shovel to mix the compost with essential oxygen.

Decomposed organic household waste yields some of the best possible fertilizer for your garden. The rich, dark, earthy-smelling material is packed with nutrients that improve soil condition and have a wide range of uses for both outdoor and indoor plants. A well- maintained pile can produce this rich compost within about a month during the summer, while the process may require more time during the winter due to dampness and colder weather. However long the composting process may take you to begin, it is likely you will find it a truly beneficial and often enjoyable practice for years to come.

The Envirocycle is one style of tumbler that can be found at Farm Supply for around $180. Keep your compost well-mixed with this convenient piece of equipment.

A homemade composter can be built with 1 in wood steaks standing 4 ft high, chicken wire, and plastic ties. Compost is then scooped out when ready by cutting a door at the bottom of the chicken wire, which can be re-closed.

Bin-style composters typically have thick, plastic sides to help hold in moisture, a lift-up top, and a side door panel for easy compost removal.