How to make your own garden compost

Making your own garden compost is not only a great way to naturally fertilize your garden; it cuts down drastically on your trash contribution, keeping our earth clean and green!

Step 1: The Composter

You can buy a composter at most garden centers, or make your own. There are several types of composters out there. However, what I find to be the cleanest & greenest is the simple box style composter. You can build it yourself, or buy one.

A box style composter can be open or closed. If you live in a Sub-urban area on a small plot, I recommend the closed style.

The composter is simply a 4-sided box, it can be built from wood planks and lined with chicken wire to prevent the compost from falling out, or you can purchase a plastic 4 sided composter with a lid and “doors” at the bottom of the box allowing access to the ripe compost.

Step 2: Making the Compost

Making compost is simple. Keep a crock or container in your kitchen for food scraps, and then take them out to the compost pile/box daily.

Foodstuffs that can be used in compost:

• ·Fruit and vegetable peels/scraps
• Egg shells
• Coffee grounds and tea bags
• Bread/rice/pasta/grain scraps
• ·Any vegetarian food scraps

Foodstuffs to avoid putting in compost:

• Meat of any kind
• Seafood or seafood shells
• Bones

I know that the Native Americans used shells & fish for garden fertilizer, the reason I suggest you omit meats & fish is 1) the Odor 2) It may attract rats, and you don’t want that!

Now, you can put some dairy in the compost and it will be fine, but keep the odor factor in mind.

Earth stuff to include in your compost:

· Cool Ashes (acts as a liming agent)

· Leaves/brush

Be careful not to add plants that are seedy, you may risk spreading weed seed all over your vegetable/flower garden! Yikes!

Step 3: The Waiting Game

Armed with this knowledge, simply dump these acceptable materials into your compost box/pile. It will take about 1 year to get a nice, rich compost yield. Always take from the bottom of the compost pile. I recommend dumping your fireplace/fire pit ashes onto your compost maybe 2 -3 times a year to speed up the process. Make sure the ashes are cool!

Composting will rewarded you with a 100% earth friendly, natural way to fertilize your garden. If you live in an area where you have to pay for trash pickup, you will be delighted at how much less trash you produce, and how much money you’ll save! Happy Composting!