|
Did you know that about 25% of your trash is compostable? Lawn
clippings, shrub and tree trimming, leaves, and food (except for dairy products,
meats, and grease) are organic health food just waiting to be returned to the
soil. So instead of sending your green waste and food to the landfill and end
its usefulness, recycle the natural way, by COMPOSTING!
There are several ways to begin. You may purchase a composting
bin, make your own, or designate an open area in your yard for a compost pile. A
food scrap container located in the kitchen should be small enough to empty
often to avoid unnecessary odors. Now the fun begins!
Compost needs four essential ingredients:
- Nitrogen (greens)
- Carbon (browns)
- Oxygen (air)
- Water (moisture)
Nitrogen: Any green organics such as houseplant or
flower trimmings, lawn clippings (if you aren't grasscycling), contain nitrogren.
All vegetable and fruit scraps are also in the nitrogen group.
Carbon: Brown (dry) grass and leaves, paper and
cardboard (shredded or in small pieces), plus bread and grains.
Oxygen: The bin or pile must be turned occasionally to
allow air to circulate through the mixture.
Water: Keep your compost mixture moist but not dripping
wet.
Mix: Apply equal amounts of browns and greens, water to
keep moist, and turn occasionally. Make sure to avoid food items that contain
grease and oils, any meat or dairy products, and fish to avoid odors and
rodents. Throw in a few red worms to hasten the composting process along!
Those red wigglers love the warm environment, multiply quickly, make wonderful
compost, and provide great bait for fishing!
After about 2-4 months, a rich, dark soil will replace the
garden and food scraps. Congratulations! With a little effort and lots of
organics, you have made your own compost AND reduced your trash by approximately
25 percent!
For more information on composting, check out these Web sites:
|
