A Beginners Guide to Composting in Your Backyard
Composting your kitchen and garden waste is a great way to reduce the amount of waste you dispose of in your garbage bin. By composting your own waste in your backyard, you can accomplish two great outcomes. You can generate a free source of rich compost to help improve your garden, and you can also help to reduce global warming in the process.
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How does home composting help to reduce global warming?
When sent to a landfill, organic waste is compressed under tonnes and tonnes of other waste types. The organic waste therefore does not have enough access to air, which restricts the waste from being able to decompose properly. Instead of decomposing, methane gas is produced which contributes to global warming.
Each year, food waste in Canada creates some 56.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions, according to the report. Food in landfills also creates methane gas, which is “25 times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide,” the report says.
~excerpt from article on CBC news
The Compost Bin
The first step to start composting at home is to get a compost bin. You can either purchase a compost bin or you can make your own. Compost bins can be bought from the majority of garden centres or even on Amazon like this Tumbling Composter here. The government funded Recycle Now Home Composting Campaign also sells discounted compost bins.
The next important step is to decide where to position the compost bin, which can affect the overall quality of the compost that is produced. For best results place the bin in a well drained area which has good access to sunlight. The drainage will enable excess water to drain out of the compost and placing the bin in a sunny spot helps to speed up the composting process.
What can I put in my compost bin?
There are lots of everyday waste items from your garden and kitchen that can go into your compost bin. These are broken down into Greens and Browns. Greens are the type of items that provide moisture and nitrogen and are quick to rot. Items classed as Greens includes:
- Grass cuttings
- Vegetable peelings
- Leaves
- Fruit
- Tea bags
- Weeds
Browns are waste items that take longer to rot but provide pockets of air, along with fibre and carbon. This includes items such as:
- Cardboard boxes
- Newspapers (scrunched up)
- Toilet roll tubes
- Egg shells (crushed)
- Shredded paper
- Twigs and hedge clippings
What can I NOT put in my compost bin?
- Cat or Dog poop (or human poop!)
- Some tea and coffee bags
- Citrus peels and onions
- Fish and Meat Scraps
- Glossy or Coated Paper
- Sticky labels on fruits and vegetables
- Coal Fire ash
- Sawdust from treated wood
- Large branches
- Synthetic fertilizer
For more information on why you shouldn’t add these items to your compost, please read this article on Smallfootprintfamily.com
How do I make a good quality compost in my backyard?
To make a good quality compost it is important to use a good mix of both ‘green’ and ‘brown’ wastes. It is simply a case of monitoring the compost and adding more waste depending on the look of the compost. For example, if it looks too dry add more green waste, and if it looks too wet add more brown waste. Every so often it is also a good idea to mix or turn the contents of your compost bin with a garden fork to add air.
How long will it take for my compost to be ready to use?
This will vary depending on the mixture of waste that is placed into the compost bin, the surrounding conditions and the weather. In general it should take between 6 and 9 months for your finished compost to be ready to use.
Can I start composting any time of the year?
The short answer is yes, you can start composting any time of the year. Even if your winters get very cold.
Heat and sunlight keep bio-organisms and bacteria active and alive, according to Planet Natural, and their wellbeing is imperative, so they can effectively break down whatever you toss into your compost pile. Winter’s shorter days and chillier conditions can freeze the breakdown process within your compost heap; however, you don’t need to completely stop composting during the winter.
According to Epic Gardening, winter’s freeze-thaw cycles are actually advantageous for your compost pile’s breakdown process, which means your waste will decompose faster at the start of spring. There are a few ways to prepare for winter, though, that will help your compost keep alive and thrive throughout the chilliest season of the year.
Posts Related to Beginners Guide to Composting in Your Backyard:
- 7 Factors Needed for a Good Compost Pile
- What is Mulch and Why do I need it in my Garden?
- 7 Organic Gardening Tips for your Best Tomato Crop Ever!
- What is Lasagna Style Gardening?
- Improving Your Garden Soil, Naturally
- Why Are Earthworms Good For My Garden?
- 8 Ideas to Make Your Homestead More Sustainable
If you are looking for even more information pertaining to composting in your backyard, I would suggest the following books:
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