Composting: Turn Kitchen Waste into Black Gold

Stricter trash limits and burn bans make composting smart. It feeds soil, cuts waste, and feels great.

Two Golden Rules

1. Less water is better. Err dry.
2. Think "greens" (nitrogen: grass clippings, veg scraps, kitchen waste) and "browns" (carbon: leaves, straw, newspaper, wood chips).

Build the Pile

• Collect dry leaves on sunny days; store bagged. Shred newspaper if needed.
• Bin beats heap: retains heat, deters pests. Cheap: chicken wire tube + black liners, air gap at base, cover top.
• Boost with: fine limestone, topsoil, liquid seaweed, rock powders, ~20% animal manure.

Layer Method

1. 2×5-gal buckets browns + 1×5-gal greens. Repeat.
2. Sprinkle limestone, extras, soil.
3. Mist 1–2L water (spray, don't pour).
4. Repeat layers. Mix, fork into bin.
5. Let work. Or use compost activator.

Pioneers used oil drums + lime. Simple works.