Composting: Nature’s Recycling
What is Composting?
Composting is an aerobic process which recycles organic matter, such as leaves and banana peels. Microorganisms– bacteria, fungi, earthworms etcetera– break down the organic matter—such as food scraps— using their bodies’ chemicals. This results in nutrient filled soil or mulch, and, in turn, healthier plant growth.
How does composting help the environment?
When organic waste is placed in a landfill, methane is created. Because compost doesn’t produce methane, it doesn’t harm the environment. So, while both helping the environment and limiting food waste, compost also strengthens the growth of crops in plants.
How to make an “at home” composting bin according to “helpmecompost.com”
Gather both nitrogen and carbon rich materials for your bin into a bucket– accumulate enough materials so that you’re pile can reach around 3 feet high.
a. Carbon rich materials, known as “browns,” are usually dry: these include materials like dried grass, dried weeds, dried leaves, egg cartons, shredded scrap paper and more
b. Nitrogen rich materials, known as “greens,” are usually wet, and you’ll want materials such as fruit and vegetable scraps, fresh cut grass, teabags, manure and more, fall into this category
c. Be aware when adding certain organic materials: things such as dairy products,meat, and bones can ruin your compost
2. Get a bin to make your compost in: you can place it in a flat area outside that’s not too sunny or shaded. Also, a bin with no bottom will allow microorganisms easier access, however you can also drill holes into the bottom– this allows drainage.
3. Layer your organic materials into your compost bin as follows in the words of helpmecompost.com:
a. “Start with a layer of browns, about 2 inches high. Lightly water the layer. Next, add a layer of greens, also about 2 inches tall. Lightly water this layer. Keep alternating layers of browns and greens, ending with a browns layer to keep smells in and flies out,” they said. Additionally, it’s important that the pile has more greens than browns.
4. Throughout your composting journey, make sure the compost remains moist–if it’s dry, add more water–and regularly turn/stir your pile using some sort of garden tool, such as a garden spade.
What does Sydney Youngstedt, 12, think about composting?
Sydney and her family started composting 10 years ago. Created from food scraps including egg shells, and excess fruit and vegetables, Sydney’s compost is used in their garden:
“We use it [compost] in our garden every spring, and I’ve noticed our garden always has the prettiest flowers, and our vegetables overgrow my window,” she said.
Sydney keeps a bucket in her kitchen of food scraps until it gets full– from there they put the scraps into their composting bin. They keep the bin outside and mix it with a large garden fork every once in a while: this makes the materials compost quicker.