Composting has become an increasingly important interest, and one that has been gaining attraction among home owners. People may think, "Well, I don't have a garden, why would I need to compost?" and that is a good question. Because landfills keep filling up, we are inevitably running out of space to store the copious amounts of waste we produce, and continue to keep producing. Composting allows us to actually make something new, and something we can actually use.
Fresh compost is really THE BEST fertilizer when it comes to the growth and maintenance of your plants. Composting provides an alternative way to dispose waste, while producing soil that is rich in vitamins and minerals, to ensure healthy growth among your living friends.
Getting your kids involved in composting can also be tons of fun! Anyone can help, and it gets kids interested and aware of the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Children that learn about composting may view rich compost as a resource rather than something icky and gross. Our Tumbling Composter, found in three different colours, has been known to be easy enough for a toddler to use! Keep on reading to find out what steps are needed to ensure composting is a little easier this season!
1. Aim for small chunks, rather than big ones
Chop, shred, pulverize, rip, pull, tear a part, whatever you have to do to reduce the size of your compost, will aid in the production of the finished product. You can think about it as if you were cooking pieces of chicken. The small pieces would cook and merry a lot faster than the big chunks, and that is essentially what your compost is doing too, it's 'cooking'.
2. Position Your Bin in a Sunny Spot
This may not always be possible in every home, but placing your compost bin closer to areas that gain light will also speed up the cooking process of your food scraps. The higher the temperature in your compost, the better those scraps and clippings will break down and turn into garden gold. Don't worry if you don't have access to sun, your compost will just need a bit more time to cook before being ready to use.
3. Mix, Mix, Mix!
Unless you have our Tumbling Composter, it is important to purchase a compost fork (or any other long utensil) to ensure that the compost way at the bottom, is cooking at the same rate as the compost near the top. Even if you have holes built into your compost bin for aeration, mixing your compost will allow you to start gardening a little bit earlier than your friends, and trust us, they'll be jealous ;)
4. Compost No-No's
Avoid putting dairy products, meat, or bones in your compost bin. These things will be sure to attract pests. Although you may think that pet waste may be a no brainer to place in your compost bin, it is actually very important to NOT do so. The level of heat inside the compost bin is not enough to kill off any pathogens associated with pet feces, and the chance of infection is not worth risk. Avoid large quantities of citrus fruits, as well as garlic, which is a natural antibiotic. Copious amounts of garlic will kill the microorganisms, which are essential for any great batch of compost.
5. Don't Compost Unless it Makes You Happy :)
There is honestly nothing wrong with not enjoying composting. A lot of people would not find it the most enjoyable thing in the world, and it's completely understandable. The way to find beauty in composting, is to try it out for at least one season. As you watch your old food scraps turn into rich beautiful soil, you will have a chance to utilize this great resource to plant all types of things in your front and back yard. If this experience doesn't truly open your eyes to the wonders of composting, comment below and let us know why!
Fresh compost is really THE BEST fertilizer when it comes to the growth and maintenance of your plants. Composting provides an alternative way to dispose waste, while producing soil that is rich in vitamins and minerals, to ensure healthy growth among your living friends.
Getting your kids involved in composting can also be tons of fun! Anyone can help, and it gets kids interested and aware of the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Children that learn about composting may view rich compost as a resource rather than something icky and gross. Our Tumbling Composter, found in three different colours, has been known to be easy enough for a toddler to use! Keep on reading to find out what steps are needed to ensure composting is a little easier this season!
1. Aim for small chunks, rather than big ones
Chop, shred, pulverize, rip, pull, tear a part, whatever you have to do to reduce the size of your compost, will aid in the production of the finished product. You can think about it as if you were cooking pieces of chicken. The small pieces would cook and merry a lot faster than the big chunks, and that is essentially what your compost is doing too, it's 'cooking'.
2. Position Your Bin in a Sunny Spot
This may not always be possible in every home, but placing your compost bin closer to areas that gain light will also speed up the cooking process of your food scraps. The higher the temperature in your compost, the better those scraps and clippings will break down and turn into garden gold. Don't worry if you don't have access to sun, your compost will just need a bit more time to cook before being ready to use.
3. Mix, Mix, Mix!
Unless you have our Tumbling Composter, it is important to purchase a compost fork (or any other long utensil) to ensure that the compost way at the bottom, is cooking at the same rate as the compost near the top. Even if you have holes built into your compost bin for aeration, mixing your compost will allow you to start gardening a little bit earlier than your friends, and trust us, they'll be jealous ;)
4. Compost No-No's
Avoid putting dairy products, meat, or bones in your compost bin. These things will be sure to attract pests. Although you may think that pet waste may be a no brainer to place in your compost bin, it is actually very important to NOT do so. The level of heat inside the compost bin is not enough to kill off any pathogens associated with pet feces, and the chance of infection is not worth risk. Avoid large quantities of citrus fruits, as well as garlic, which is a natural antibiotic. Copious amounts of garlic will kill the microorganisms, which are essential for any great batch of compost.
5. Don't Compost Unless it Makes You Happy :)
There is honestly nothing wrong with not enjoying composting. A lot of people would not find it the most enjoyable thing in the world, and it's completely understandable. The way to find beauty in composting, is to try it out for at least one season. As you watch your old food scraps turn into rich beautiful soil, you will have a chance to utilize this great resource to plant all types of things in your front and back yard. If this experience doesn't truly open your eyes to the wonders of composting, comment below and let us know why!