How to Avoid Common Composting Mistakes
Composting makes common eco-sense and it's actually difficult to go wrong with composting. However, some tips may correct myths or misconceptions and at the same time make composting, or breaking down of organic components, go more quickly and smoothly. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Water the pile. Keep your compost pile moist, as damp as a squeezed sponge. This may mean watering regularly if you keep an uncovered pile, especially in the summer. Even lidded containers can be opened to water; just use the spray of a hose now and then but don't overwater. The final mixture should be crumbly.
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Remember the brown ingredients. Sure, the green are easy; you've got lots of grass clippings and plant debris. And all those kitchen scraps, even eggshells. But what about the brown? Shred dry leaves, twigs or hay for the fastest decomposition, and consider adding sawdust or untreated wood chips. You can also add tissue paper, shredded newspaper and cartons to bolster the brown, in moderation.
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Mix. If your set-up makes it difficult to repile or otherwise swirl around the ingredients, settle for a longer composting cycle. The pile will break down, it just takes longer.
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Avoid any bones, fat, meat, oil or cooked food. Also, don't place animal manure in the pile.
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Move the composting bin to a convenient place in the yard, so that you can easily trek the kitchen scraps there, plastic container in hand. If it's not made fairly easy, you may never actually get into the composting habit.
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Tips & Warnings
You don't need to carefully layer the ingredients as long as there is a fairly balanced mixture of brown and green ingredients.
