Small yard? Just a patio? Anyone can compost
Pick your spot, follow a few easy principles and wait for nature to work
Food scraps and garden waste together are more than 28% of what we throw away, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Composting at home helps to divert some of that waste into practical nutrients for lawn and garden.
There are options for composting, no matter how small the kitchen or yard.
Before getting started, it’s good to know the difference between “browns” and “greens.”
Brown ingredients include dry leaves, plant stalks and twigs. These are the carbon-rich materials that provide food for microorganisms and worms to consume and digest.
Green ingredients include fruit and vegetable scraps, used coffee grounds, eggshells and grass clippings. These are rich in nitrogen, heating up the compost pile and breaking down the materials.
Water and oxygen are needed to complete the process.
Some household waste should not be put in with your compost, including meats, dairy products, “FOG” (fats, oils and grease) and pet waste. Put those in the trash.
The first step in creating a compost pile is to designate an outdoor area for it or build or buy a bin. Sun or shade conditions do not matter, but make sure the pile has good drainage and a water source nearby to keep the compost moist.
One option is to build an enclosure on the ground to contain the pile; cinder blocks, wood pallets or wire work well.
Compost tumblers, sold in various sizes, are also an option. A DIY method is to use a covered plastic trash can or storage container, and drill holes in the lid and bottom to provide air circulation and access for worms and compost-loving insects. This is a good option for small outdoor spaces.
Keep food scraps in a closed container on the kitchen counter, under the sink or in the fridge or freezer. Save grass clippings after mowing, as well as leaves and twigs.
Combine the browns and greens in the compost area or bin, adding water to make it moist but not wet. Then wait for the worms to arrive. Continue to add food and yard waste and check the moisture level, mixing it from time to time. The process can take weeks to months before the compost is ready.
Check the bottom of the pile on occasion. When it is dark and rich, the compost is ready. Mix it into vegetable and garden beds, even around houseplants, to enrich the soil.
You can also top-dress a lawn by spreading a thin layer of compost on the grass instead of using chemical fertilizers.
For people who live in apartments, houses without yards or a property with strict home
owner association rules regarding yards, vermicomposting — worm composting — is an option.
Drill air holes into the lid of a plastic storage container and add layers of food scraps, moistened dry materials (scrap paper, newspaper, cardboard and dead houseplant leaves). Add a pound of worms, available at garden centers and online, and close the cover.
A top layer of shredded paper or sawdust will keep odors at bay. The compost should be ready in a few months.
For a deck or patio area, compact, single-chamber compost tumblers may work. Find them at home improvement and garden stores.