Gardening FAQ: Composting -GardeningGirl.com

Compost is nature's way of recycling by returning vital nutrients to the soil. Compost is the end product of decomposed organic material like food scraps, grass clippings, leaves, and wood and brush chips. The key to a healthy compost pile is to keep it simple.

Landscape trimmings can be reduced through simple changes in maintenance procedures. Use a mulching blade on your mower and leave grass clippingson the lawn after mowing. This helps fertilize your lawn and reduces waste.Major changes, like choosing native or well-adapted plants, can also reducewaste.

Yard trimmings and food scraps can be composted at home for reuse in landscapes and gardens. Many yard trimmings can be used as mulch to protect the soil, suppress weeds and conserve water.

YES	NO
Grass Clippings	Meat, Fish and Poultry (including bones)
Yard Trimmings (old plants, wilted flowers,small prunings)	Food Sauces
Leaves	Fats, Grease, and Oils
Vegetable & Fruit Scraps	Dairy Products
Coffee Grounds and Tea Leaves	Pet Feces
Wood Chips	Treated Wood (or any materials containing strong preservatives or toxins)
Shredded Paper (Low grade paper not acceptable for recycling)	Non-organics (plastic, metal, glass, etc...)

How Does Composting Work?
Composting provides soil organisms with food, water and air.

Biodegraders - These organisms - bacteria, fungi, molds,earthworms, insects, and other soil organisms - eat the organic materialyou place inyour compost pile.

Organic Material - Organic material high in nitrogen (green) and carbon (brown) materials - feed the organisms living in your compostpile.

Air - The organisms in your pile need air in order to break down the organic material. By turning your pile with a fork or hoe, you build air passages for your pile to breathe.

Moisture - The pile should be damp like a wrung out sponge - not wet. As the pile heats up, the moisture will evaporate, so let rain replace it, or add water during dry spells. Covering your pile helps retain moisture during hot weather.

Time and Temperature - The hotter the pile, the faster the composting. A properly composted pile reaches a temperature of 130 to 160 degrees and will kill weed seeds at that heat level.

Slow and Easy Compost
Ingredients: Mixed yard trimmings and water.
Directions:Put mixed yard trimmings in bin or pile.
Add water as needed. Mix in foodscraps and other materials as generated.
Let sit for 12-16 months.
Prepare forUse: After alloted time, most of the material at the bottom of the pile willbe dark, rich sweet smelling soil. Sift or sort out large undecomposed materials for use in your next pile.The rich soil is ready to serve toyour yard and garden.

Faster Compost
With a bit more effort, turn the pile at least once a month, alternating brownand green material. Shred materials when possible. The pile should reach atemperature of 130 to 160 degrees.

Composting FAQ