Backyard Composting: Three Easy Ways

I have written about composting on this blog before. Have you given it a shot yet? Come on. Give it a try.

Composting is an easy way to recycle your yard and garden (and some kitchen) waste. Did you know that composting can divert at least 700 pounds of landfill waste per household per year? And that 30% of your household trash includes yard waste and kitchen scraps. We toss too much and much of what we toss can be composted. Black gold!

Here are three options to consider. Start the process now and you can have humus-rich (free!) composted material for your gardens and containers.

1.   Low Maintenance option. Don’t want to do much work? Then this is the option for you. Simply make an open pile of material in your yard, preferably in an area that will not affect your neighbors. The pile can include both green and brown plant material. It can just be a pile of leaves. Or, a pile of grass clippings. I call this the cold composting option. It is not necessary to add water or turn the pile. If you prefer, contain the material in clear plastic garbage bags. Clear bags heat up better than black bags. Dump or fill and you are done! By next spring the bottom one-third will be ready to use. All material should be useable within a two-year period. Have patience. You will have compost.

2.   Medium Maintenance option. This requires a little more work, but still gives you plenty of time to relax on the couch. Place cardboard or newspaper on the ground. Add layers of brown and green material as you clean up your yard and garden. Add water after each brown-green layer (or wait for rain). You could turn over the pile a few times this fall and before winter sets in. Otherwise, let the layered pile sit until spring. Then you either turn it over by hand or roto-till it to finish the process. Most compost will be useable within the year. I call this the layer cake or lasagna option.

3.   High Maintenance option. Add your yard, garden, and kitchen waste to a contained unit. You can use cinder blocks, pallets, wire, or a purchased unit. I recommend at least three units. In the first unit, add your brown and green materials. Add water and a few small twigs/sticks to increase the air flow. Turn the material two or three times a month. You can also transfer the material from this first unit to the second unit, which automatically adds air. Add some water each time. Then transfer that material to the third unit. Having multiple units allows you to have raw materials in one unit, partially composted materials in the second, and finished compost in the third. A continuous process. Most compost will be useable with the growing season. I call this the assembly line option.

So, there you have it. Three options, from low to higher maintenance; one should suit your life style. The more often you turn or transfer your material, the quicker it will decompose and create black-gold compost for you. The smaller the material, the quicker it will decompose.

Start now. Recycle now. Harvest free compost throughout the year.