composting for beginners

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15 Comments

  1. Wow, this was so inspiring and resourceful! We are trying to teach our kids to be mindful of what we use and what we waste. This would be a great addition to our home.

    1. Thanks Lindsey! What a fantastic mindset to instill in your kids. It’s so convenient to just throw things in the trash, but we can’t “un-know” something once we’re aware.

  2. Awesome article! This is actually very helpful. I like the 50/50 ratio and just adjusting according to the feel of the compost. I need to do better adding browns-
    But I am always wondering how to really tell if it’s “done”- I probably worry too much but… can it be done if you can still see parts of leaves?

    1. Thanks for the comments, Carol! You can actually use compost any time you feel ready. You can even bury compostable material right in your garden and let it break down there! But that’s not really pretty, is it? (Although it can be covered with dirt and mulch.) And active compost (lots of greens) can release more nitrogen and warmth than your plants want. Browns are generally always safe by themselves; a few brown leaves are just fine. And you can always sift out any larger, uncomposted material if you’re in doubt.

  3. This article is incredibly helpful. We have the basics–a compost bin to turn and a smaller bin under the sink to empty into it, but we’ve not been very good at using either as a family. I think that’s because we’re all a bit intimidated by the fear of doing it wrong. Also, we have flowerbeds but we’re not really gardeners, and I’m not sure what we’d do with the compost. I’m pinning this to reference later. I hope to get much better about composting in the near future! (Also, I grew up in the country with a “compost heap” for yard clippings and spoiled vegetables. We just let it break down. That was so easy–living in a subdivision brings its own challenges!)

    1. Hey Courtney! It sounds like you’ve got a great setup for composting. Don’t be afraid of doing it wrong! Compost is forgiving and will break down no matter what you do (as you learned growing up in the country). Just add a good mixture of fresh & dry (greens & browns) and give the tumbler a spin once in awhile. Voila – black gold. 🙂

  4. So many great suggestions for composting, I personally have free chickens so a lot of my compost goes to my chickens.

    1. Oh, you lucky thing! If you have chickens, you also have eggs. 🙂 And yes – chickens are good eaters, aren’t they? Well done!

  5. Composting is a very important part of sustainable living. I remember to have tried it a few years back. Your post is very informative.

  6. Great information in this article for starting composting. We have been late in starting composting so thank you for the tips and links to some great products.

    1. That’s the cool thing about composting, Stephanie; it can started at any time, and done on large or small scale. Thanks for popping by!