Composting 101: Turn Kitchen and Yard Waste into Garden Gold

Municipal composting programs exist, but backyard composting gives you immediate, free access to premium soil amendment. The process is straightforward—nature does the work if you provide the right ingredients and conditions.

What to Compost (and What to Avoid)

Yes: Fruit/vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, grass clippings, leaves, straw, pine needles, sawdust, houseplant trimmings, dryer lint, pet hair, shredded paper.
No: Meat, bones, fat, dairy, diseased plants, weed seeds, pet waste, glossy/coated paper.

Accelerate Decomposition

Chop materials small—surface area drives microbial activity. Layer "greens" (nitrogen-rich: food scraps, grass) with "browns" (carbon-rich: leaves, straw, paper). Maintain moisture like a wrung sponge. Turn weekly for aeration.

Seasonal Rhythm

Winter slows but doesn't stop decomposition. Continue adding; activity resumes vigorously in spring. Insulate bins in cold climates to maintain core heat.

Harvest and Use

Finished compost is dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling. Screen out large chunks. Incorporate into beds, top-dress lawns, blend into potting mix. Reduces/eliminates synthetic fertilizer needs. Improves soil structure, water retention, and microbial life.

Bin Options

Open piles work but attract pests. Enclosed bins (tumblers, stationary) contain odors, deter animals, and accelerate processing. Tumblers simplify turning. Choose based on space, volume, and aesthetics.