Composting for beginners is a great topic for anyone to learn about, and now is a great time to start your own compost bin! Why? Because composting is a terrific way to reduce the amount of waste your family throws out. Plus, compost is a fantastic organic fertilizer for your garden plants. Composting is said to improve soil composition and helps with water retention as well. Read on for my best tips for composting for beginners.
Composting for Beginners: Benefits
The benefits of starting and maintaining your own compost pile are pretty endless. So I am making it my mission to spread the compost wealth. Compost saves space at the landfill, provides you a 100% natural, homegrown fertilizer for your garden, and helps to retain water in the soil. There is no reason not to start composting today.
How to Start Composting
The first step in your composting journey is to choose the right type of container for your compost. Any kind of bin works great for composting. Your container can be wood, plastic or wire, but there are definitely advantages and disadvantages to each type of container. I personally have a DIY container made from a wood pallet, and it works great!
Location, Location, Location
After you choose a container, decide on the location of your compost pile. The best spot is an area of your yard that is easily accessible and has great drainage. This means that your compost bin should sit directly on top of the soil. If you need to, clear a spot of any grass or vegetation so the soil is exposed. Set your compost bin right on top.
Layer it Up
Now it’s time for the fun! Start collecting organic material for your composting bin. Good things to add to a compost pile include the following:
- Fruit and vegetable peels
- Old fruit or vegetables you aren’t going to eat
- Grass clippings {untreated with any chemicals or fertilizers!}
- Straw
- Egg shells
- Dry leaves
Never add meat, bones, poultry, fish, human or pet waste, whole eggs or dairy products to your composting pile. Fatty foods like poultry slows down the compost process, and causes a horrific smell. You don’t want that!
If you want your compost to be the best it can be, layer it like a cake. Layer straw, green materials, and brown materials into your compost bin. Turn the layers every two weeks. Depending on the kinds of materials used in your pile, it takes anywhere from a few weeks to a year to fully break down.
Composting: When is it Ready?
You will know when your compost is ready to use in your garden, because “ripe” compost has a soil-like quality. Use your fresh compost as a fertilizer in your houseplants, on your lawn or in your veggie garden. Do you even know there’s even such a thing as compost tea? Compost tea is made by steeping water in your compost for days or weeks, and then using it to water your plants.
How can I keep ants out if my compost
If you turn the pile about once a week or so with a pitchfork, it will help keep them at bay.
The paragraph about choosing a container refers to an article to read, but no link that I can find. Where can I find the article please?
Hey Rona!
Sorry about that! Here is the link to the article: http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/gardening/how-to-compost-and-the-different-types-of-compost-bins
I just do mine on the ground and chern it up about 3 times a week, and add a little dirt every now and then, and I also add Nitro. in early March to promote good bacteria growth..
Nice post…Thanks for sharing!!!
I’m a novice here and like to know how you care for your compost pile in winter months and also what about adding worms to it? What is you thoughts on using ashes for fireplace?
I’m actually a huge fan! It makes the soil less acidic and more hospitable for plants. However, you shouldn’t uses ashes from your charcoal grill. Hope this helps!
I read you can use guinea pig waste as they only eat hay and veg. Is this safe?
Yes, you can compost them 🙂 http://www.compostthis.co.uk/guinea-pig-poo-bedding
Just getting started- why not charcoal from the grill?
There are usually chemical additives that you don’t want to be adding to your compost pile
I recently purchased a house. There is a compost bin. It appears to be packed full of weeds, leaves, etc. and not doing anything. Should I completely empty it out and start over?
I think it would be best! Just to have a fresh start.
My boyfriend and I just bought a home and we both would love to start composting. Is it too late in the year to start? Any advice is helpful!
What’s the best way to do compost if you live in apartment?
Another consideration is a sunny location. Can’t say enough about the benefit of the sun to heat the compost, thus promoting the composting process.