The idea of creating your own compost may not even have crossed your mind. Well, what if we try to convince you to start making your own compost?
So, we should probably start with the why first. Creating your own compost is a way to manage your organic waste at home! Throwing away your organic waste can actually be toxic to the environment since it would accelerate methane release to the atmosphere. Plus, you would need to put the waste into a plastic bag first, which is a redundant act. So, why not eliminate this waste from home and create your own compost!
So, let’s break down the how.
First and foremost, you’d probably want to find yourself a composting tumbler. Yes, you can use a composting bin (or literally any used container big enough for a few liters of waste to be put in), but we suggest for you to consider a composting tumbler instead. The composting process is most optimal when it is uninterrupted by open air (because we want to keep it moist), and it would be a challenge to avoid this if you use a composting bin since you would need to turn and mix your compost. However, with a tumbler, you can turn the compost every few weeks without worrying any exposure to air!
Okay, the next step is to actually start composting. So, let's learn about what you can put into your homemade compost!
There are so many things that you can put! You can pretty much throw away every organic waste you create in the kitchen into your composting tumbler. Even your cooked food too! You don’t need to worry about producing any organic waste anymore and contributing to methane output from landfills. You’ll be composting all that away for your garden!
Here’s a list to start your knowledge on what kitchen waste you can put into your compost:
Corn cobs
Eggshells
Fruits and vegetable scraps
Seaweed and kelp
Tea leaves
Coffee grounds
Table scraps
You can also put in your yard waste, such as:
Leaves
Pine needles
Grass clippings
Flowers and cuttings
On the other hand, there is also a list of things that you might want to avoid in your composting pile:
Dairy products will create odor and attract pests
Fats, grease, lard, or oil will also make odor and attract pests
Pet waste can contain parasites, bacteria, and other harmful pathogens to humans that you wouldn’t want to find in your plating soil
Yard trimming is treated with chemical pesticides, which can kill beneficial composting organisms that you allowed into your composting pile
A quick tip for you to start your compost at home is to start your composting pile on dirt. This would keep your compost moist and would ensure that there would be beneficial insects and worms that would wriggle their way into your compost! During the period where you are still piling your compost on the dirt, you need to make sure to rake your pile to mix them around everytime you add something new. You also need to make sure they stay moist on dry days by adding water to them!
Earth Easy also provides very wholesome and comprehensive content about composting at home. You should check out this link and learn more!
We mentioned that composting at home can help reduce landfill methane emission, but composting brings you even more benefits than just that!
Using your own self made compost will reduce your dependency on chemical compost and fertilizers. There are a lot of reasons why you may want to avoid chemical fertilizers. First, your garden produce will absorb them, and those chemicals can end up in your body. Second, the chemical compounds in fertilizers mean that they will hinder any worms and other beneficial organisms from inhabiting your soil. You need diversity in your soil to create a healthy product, and if you can do it organically by utilizing those beneficial organisms, why use chemical fertilizers? It will make your soil a lot healthier, too, for the long run!
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) even mentions that composting at home can help enrich the soil, help retain moisture, and suppress plant diseases and pests (with the correct compost combination)! Composting at home also encourages beneficial bacteria and fungi to help break down organic material to create rich-nutrient materials for your garden.
We hope this blog can somewhat guide and motivate you to start composting at home. You now know the many benefits that you can reap from home-composting, so why not try?
Happy composting!