Making your own compost is a simple process with so many benefits! A compost bin will mean less garbage, greater fertilizer for your garden and a greener environment for all of us.
There are numerous compost bins you can purchase. At the farm, I use a tumbling composter largely because it is easier for me to mix (turn) and gives me just the right amount of fertilizer for my vegetable and flower gardens. My composter has a large removable lid so I can leave off or open and sunlight, rain and snow aid in the breakdown for rich fertilizer. Joe made his own open-compost bin with a 3 sided box made out of wood since he has much more to cover on our large property.
We throw in everything fruit pieces and peels, leaves, fireplace ash, shredded newspaper (high carbon) egg shells (great calcium), coffee grounds, grass clippings, and vegetable scraps (high nitrogen) I try to be careful not to put pulled weeds in the composter as if it goes to seed it will spread the weed seeds throughout.
During the summer we try to mix the compost bins at least once a weekend. The best compost will take a full 3 seasons to enrich and be ready to use for next summer’s gardens and lawns. No more trips to the garden store for fertilizer – it’s organic, free and right in your own backyard!
- Barbara