It’s officially garden season and this year I’m so psyched because we’re officially composting! That’s right! It’s our first summer on our acerage and I have been DREAMING about composting.
So, I got to work and had a large composter built. Now, I’m so excited to see my first pile of dirt in the near future. (Never thought I would say that, haha!)
I always feel guilty when I throw food away if we don’t eat it all or when we have left over scraps. Let’s face it, no matter how much I love how well my Fridge Smarts keep my produce (Pssst! They’re on sale!), every once in a while I find rotting vegetables in my fridge. Plus, kids are famous for leaving vegetables on their plates (you can’t win them all, can you?). So, I was inspired to learn composting so that I could make the most of the little waste we do create.
There’s something so satisfying about composting! With composting, you get the full life cycle. You turn waste into delicious, fresh vegetables all over again! And, did you know that composting helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions? So, are you ready to try it with me?
The Ultimate Composting Recipe
Disclaimer: First time rookie here! I’m learning! Come along with me on my journey. I’ve been listening to numerous podcasts to learn how to compost and start this journey on our acreage.
What I’ve learned so far is that you need to get the right balance between brown matter and green matter. Ideally, you should add three parts brown matter to one part green matter. That’s the BEST compost recipe you’ll get!
But, what are brown matter and green matter?
Brown matter includes:
- Newspaper
- Dead leaves and small twigs
- Egg and nut shells
- Hay and straw
- Wood chips
Green matter can include any of the following:
- Fruit and vegetable scraps and peels
- Plant and grass clippings
- Coffee grounds
- Tea leaves
What NOT to compost:
- Meat and bones
- Dairy products
- Fats
- Charcoal ash
- Diseased or plants infected with insects
- Pet waste
It’s best if you can alternate brown and green matter. Then, every once in a while, you need to stir your compost to promote aeration. You can do this every time you add to your compost pile, or at least every few weeks.
Remember, your compost should get warm. That means the compost process is working! Another pro tip is that your compost should be moist, but not wet. If it’s too dry, you can add some water. Or, if it’s too wet, spread it out in the sun to dry out a bit.
If you want, you can add another element to your composting to speed up decomposition: worms! This is called vermicomposting, and it can be very rewarding.
Need more resources? The Compost Council of Canada is a great resource for those getting started with composting.
Now for some real fun…check out my composting set-up in the video below! I was so excited to dump my first bucket of kitchen scraps into our composter. I’ll keep you posted on my progress!
What about you? Have you tried composting? Tell me your best tips and tricks! Or, if you haven’t tried it yet, what’s holding you back? I can’t wait to hear from you.
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