According to the EPA, about 18 percent of methane pollution comes from food waste that ends up in landfills. Composting at home is a great way to reduce your waste and lower your carbon footprint while also creating nutrient rich soil (perfect for that garden you planted back in Week 17).
First, let’s define compost. The Merriam-Webster definition of compost is a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land. In order to create compost, you need 3 basic ingredients: browns, greens and water. Browns (such as sticks, dead leaves and twigs) provide carbon for your compost; greens (such as vegetable and fruit waste, coffee grounds and food scraps) provide nitrogen. An equal part browns and greens plus some water to provide moisture to break it all down will result in compost.
To start a compost in your backyard, you will want a dry and shady spot. Compost bins or tumblers are also helpful for the process. Begin to add the brown and green waste in layers and moisten a bit as they are added. When adding any food scraps, be sure to bury it under 10 inches of compost material to avoid attracting any rodents or vermin. If just starting your compost, this means to bury that “green” under about 10 inches of “brown”. If managed well, you can expect finished compost in about 3 months. You know compost is finished when the material has transformed into a dark brown, crumbly product that looks almost like crumbled chocolate cake.
After you have the finished product, apply it as mulch to your garden, about 3 to 6 inches. You can also add it to potted plants or fruit trees or lawns - wherever you choose to use it, your plants will be happy and will reap the benefits.
Don’t have a yard or enough outdoor space to have a compost? It is completely possible to compost in an apartment by using a compost tumbler, worm composter, or countertop food digester.
To get started, check out this video, Composting for Beginners. For troubleshooting tips and to learn how to build your own compost bin, check out CalRecycle’s suggestions.
Ready to take action?
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