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Many of us recycle and feel great about doing so. It is a simple way to reduce trash, conserve raw materials, and decrease energy consumption. It is the first step that people take when they choose to adopt a greener lifestyle.
Another way to help the environment is to compost. What is composting? Instead of throwing kitchen scraps or yard refuse in the trash, you can combine these plant materials in a bin or pile. Eventually this waste will decompose into dirt which can be used as a soil amendment in the garden.
In order to compost, you will need a place in your yard to put the compost pile or bin. It is better to either construct a bin or purchase one, since an open pile tends to spread horizontally which is not a good thing if you have limited space.
Next, dig up a little soil where you will place your bin and set it aside. You will use this later to mix into the compost. You can then place the compost bin over this slight depression in the ground.
The refuse that you add to the compost bin will fall into two major categories: greens and browns. Greens are plant materials that tend to be wetter and full of nitrogen This include kitchen scraps (potato peelings, rotted fruit or vegetables, coffee grounds, crushed eggshells), fresh grass clippings, and old annuals. Browns are plant materials that tend to be drier and full of carbon. This includes dry leaves, dry straw or hay, and shredded paper. You will need about equal parts of greens and browns initially.
Please note that the kitchen scraps you place in your compost should not include dairy, meat, oil, or grease. The only exception is crushed eggshells, because it is mainly calcium and breaks down relatively quickly. Also, you should not add animal waste from a cat or dog because it contains harmful bacteria and pathogens. In addition, you should not add diseased plants, weeds that have started to form seeds, or plants that have been treated with herbicides or pesticides.
Once you have small amounts of green and brown materials, you can add them to your compost bin and mix in soil with a pitch fork or shovel. Some compost manuals advise you to layer the greens and browns together so that the materials break down faster. If you have the time, it’s also great to turn the pile once a week during the warmer months to speed up the decomposition process. You can add water if the compost seems dry or you have too many brown materials. If the compost begins to smell bad it’s a sign that there is too much moisture so you should add more browns.
 Once the compost degrades completely, it becomes a great soil amendment for the garden. Because of its fibrous nature, it creates space between small particles in heavy clay soils and increases drainage. At the same time, it also helps retain water in sandy soils. It also adds nutrients to the soil, reducing the need to add chemical fertilizers.
In essence, the process of composting is nature’s form of recycling. It reduces trash and provides a direct benefit to the earth.
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