1
Two parts brown, one part green
Browns feed carbon, greens feed nitrogen. Too many greens and it stinks. Too many browns and it just sits there.
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Easy
Composting Basics
Your kitchen scraps are gold. Let's turn 'em into food for next season's garden.
What you need
- •A bin, tumbler, or a simple pile in a corner
- •Greens: fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, fresh grass
- •Browns: dry leaves, shredded cardboard, paper, straw
- •Water and air
- •A pitchfork, shovel, or sturdy stick to turn it
Step by step
2
Chop it small
Smaller pieces break down faster. Tear cardboard, cut up melon rinds, crush eggshells.
3
Keep it damp, not soggy
It should feel like a wrung-out sponge. Dry pile? Add water. Slimy pile? Add browns.
4
Turn it every week or two
Air keeps it cooking. A warm center means the microbes are doing their job.
5
Know when it's done
In 2 to 6 months it turns dark, crumbly, and smells like clean earth. Mix a couple inches into your beds or pots.
Grandma said
"Feed the dirt and the dirt will feed you. Everything comes back around."
Garden coach
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Watch out for
- Adding meat, dairy, or greasy food - that brings pests
- Composting pet waste
- Letting it dry out completely
- Never turning it