cupofjoe_84 asked:


tell me everything u know about compost. I’m trying to find a way to make a compost bin that costs me almost nothing, i have some junk wood, i might use it, but i don’t want it to fall apart quickly….thanks

By: Vicki Duong

Composting can be a lot of fun for anyone, from avid gardeners to novices alike. But one of the misconstrued beliefs that arise when people think of composting is that it’s the result of smelly garbage that hasn’t been properly disposed of, which in turn is a recipe for pests and all sorts of other trouble. This myth is exactly that, a myth! Contrary to popular belief, composting is an organic process that creates nutrient rich soil, popularly known as black gold, from leftover food scraps and yard waste. If done properly, your compost should not emit a foul odor, but rather a fresh, earthy smell.

To ensure that you will have a successful compost heap and experience, here are a few things to keep in mind before you begin:

Assuming you live in a city or municipality that does not allow open compost heaps, go ahead and invest in a compost bin or compost tumbler. Having one place to add all your organic matter in to will make the composting process much easier, and in most cases will keep the process on a regularly consistent decomposing speed.

The next step is to start collecting organic matter to place into your compost bin. Food scraps such as cut up pieces of fruit rinds, cabbage leaves, vegetable stalks and coffee grounds make for great composting. Coffee grounds are especially excellent for the composting process because they act as activators, which create heat for your compost pile. Just remember to never add meat and dairy products, bones, fats and oils to your compost; these products won’t decompose properly, smell foul after a couple hours, and attract pests. Yard waste such as non-diseased weeds and plants, grass clippings and leaves are essential for your compost since they’re rich in nitrogen.

To nip the problem of pests, rodents and other wildlife rummaging around in your compost right in the butt, here are a few tips to keep in mind. Generally, animals are attracted by the smell of meat, dairy products and fatty foods; adding these items is like giving an open invitation for wildlife to invade your compost. In addition, you should always be sure to have a tight fitting lid on your bin or tumbler so that none of your compost is exposed.

If done correctly, your finished product should smell earthy and not putrid. Once you have enough organic matter, it’s time to add this rich, black gold into your garden’s soil to prolong a fruitful life for your garden. Remember, it’s all a trial and error process, so be sure to have fun!

leopard gecko lover asked:


i want to start composting but i don’t know how to convince my family to plus can i just use a tote for composting . ,don’t give me websites because i have already looked please answer if you have a compost bin going thanks for the answers
a plastic tote

moonpiggy asked:


My compost bin is full to overflowing and I havent got room in my small garden to start up another one. Its just not rotting down. Has anyone got any(sensible) ideas as to how I can solve this problem pleez??
I know that heat makes it rot down but this weather doesnt exactly help. I’ve got one of those special green bins. I live in Hampshire u.k.

By: Mariam Ma

It’s funny that as humans evolve, things get back to the basics. This is especially true in the environment front. We have learned that if we want a hospitable planet for our children’s future, we must protect the Earth now.

Every grade school child knows the importance of reuse, reduce, and recycle; what better way to help the planet and learn about biology than with composting right in your own backyard garden? It also saves you money as you won’t have to worry about buying commercial fertilizer. It’s all in your kitchen scraps!

How does composting work?

Compost is really the end product of the breakdown of organic matter. Microorganisms feed off organic matter and what’s left is compost.

When people say they want to compost, there are two options. One can decide for a passive process or an active process.

As the name implies, there is little work to be done in the passive process. One just needs to collect compost material such as grass clippings and kitchen refuse and put them in an closed off pile in the backyard. Make sure that the kitchen scraps are well covered with other organic material to avoid animals looking for a free meal!

While little effort is required in the passive approach to composting, it is indeed slow and you might be waiting well over a year or two for complete decomposition.

Active composting requires more work, but not much with the proper equipment. Active composting is just helping nature along by providing the right conditions for the decomposition process. Decomposition is faster when the organic material is kept in a warm, damp and well oxygenated environment. By having a compost bin, not only does it provide a neater appearance in your backyard but it also offers a controlled environment in which to produce your compost. Add a thermometer to a compost tumbler to turn over the compost and it’s got a great mix for composting.

As you can see, the effort involved in composting is not that much but the benefits of using compost are many. The byproducts of microorganisms breaking down organic material provides great nutrients for plants as well as the compost is nitrogen and potassium rich which helps maintain ideal soil condition. Compost also improves water retention in the soil as well as texture and aeration.

Other benefits of composting include the reduction of wastes into our landfill. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, it’s important that our children inherit a healthy planet. And what better way to pass on our gift than by involving our children in the process as well. Every school aged child knows about reduce, reuse and recycle. Composting involves all these steps plus the benefit of watching your garden grow! What a practical lesson for any child.