Knowing composting for beginners step by step can be actually beneficial. In fact, home composting can be advantageous as well as fun. It’s an eco-friendly way to get rid of the garden waste and kitchen (food) scraps, but it’s also great for your garden and plants. Your plants will definitely love compost! So, what should you do when you want to start your own home composting lifestyle?
Be Ready with the Space
It’s true that composting doesn’t need a lot of space. Those living in apartments even use their balconies to hold compost materials. Be advised, though, that compost is its own challenge. The smell, for a starter, will definitely appear. You need to figure out a spot that won’t disturb you and even your neighbors. And let’s not forget about insects or flies.
In general, being ready with the space should be the main composting for beginners step by step that you should prepare well. You don’t need an extra big or even gigantic container to hold the composting materials, but make sure that you have the spot to accommodate the container.
Some people with wide lawns or gardens simply don’t use the containers. They just pile up the compost material and get on with it. Some, however, prefer the ‘neater’ and better-arranged manner. This is where the compost bin or container comes into play. You are free to choose whether you want to have the bin or not but be sure that you are ready for the challenges.
Get a Bucket Ready
The bucket’s function is to collect the food scraps from the kitchen. Once it’s full, simply take it out and throw the contents into the compost container. Make sure that you place the bucket in a place that is easily seen. If you have just started composting, everyone may not have always remembered to keep the banana peels or the potato skins. That’s when the bucket can come in handy. The bucket should also be easily accessed. Once it’s full, you can have your spouse or kids toss it to the composting bin.The Next Step
Once you have the space and the bucket ready, you can start your own composting for beginners step by step journey.- Start collecting the materials.
- Empty your bucket to the composting container (or pile) every day. Think of it as throwing out the garbage.
- Turn the compost pile on a monthly basis. By using your shovel or pitchfork, you need to mix and turn the pile up. This action will help with heating the pile up, speeding the decomposition process up, and keeping away the pesky pests.
- It takes a while for the materials to turn into compost. In general, you have to wait from 6 months up to 2 years. The bottom pile should look like a soil, but the richest and nicest type. If you don’t see any kitchen scraps, then it should be ready to ‘harvest’ and use!
- In general, you should harvest the materials at least once a year. In some cases, you may have to do it twice a year. Just harvest what’s already turned. If some materials aren’t ready for the harvest, simply toss it back to the pile so the breaking down process can continue.
What and What Not to Compost?
Keep in mind that not everything can be turned into compost. Kitchen scraps, like produce trimmings, are the best. Things like potato skins, banana peels, apple cores, celery roots, or onion skins are only some of the examples. You can also include sawdust, garden waste, straw, dead leaves, coffee grounds, fresh grass clippings, and tea bags.On the other hand, some of these things can’t be turned into compost. You can compost leftovers that aren’t plant material, bones or meat, diseased plants, weed roots and seeds, or tougher plant materials, such as wood chips, stalks, or branches.
Conclusion
The hardest part may be starting it off. But don’t lose hope! If you are adamant about doing it continuously, you can make your own natural compost to help Mother Earth. Start with this composting for beginners step by step and see how it goes.Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash