Composting 101

What is composting?

Simply put, composting is the practice of creating compost.  It's involves recycling organic materials (like kitchen scraps) otherwise regarded as waste products and produces a material called "humus" that is like rocket fuel for your soil!

How do I make compost?

Making compost is like fermenting beer: you need bacteria, air moisture and warmth so the magic - the breakdown of compost ingredients - can happen.

Basic compost requires five ingredients for success:

1. Water

2. Oxygen

3. Microorganisms (bacteria, mold and fungus)

4. Carbon-rich or "brown" materials

5. Nitrogen-rich or "green" materials

Examples of "Brown" Materials are:

• fall leaves, twigs, wood chips or shredded tree bark
• spoiled hay/old straw
• sawdust
• cardboard, egg cartons and newsprint
• egg shells
• paper bags or paper towels

Examples of "Green" Materials are:

• grass clippings
• fruit and vegetable scraps
• coffee grounds
• tea bags and tea leaves
• cut or spent flowers
• soybean meal
• bedding from herbivorous pets
• poultry droppings

Materials to avoid:

• Styrofoam, glass or metal (these materials will not breakdown into soil)
• dog feces, used cat litter or disposable diapers (these materials can cause disease or spread harmful pathogens)
• animal bones, fat, meat, fish scraps, greasy items or dairy products (these materials encourage unwanted visitors and rodents)