Transform food waste into garden gold with home composting

STEPS FOR BACKYARD COMPOSTING

This is the second article of a two-part series on Backyard Composting of food scraps and yard waste. We mentioned last week that removing a percentage of household waste and transforming it into garden soil helps to lower our impact on the environment by reducing methane emissions and the amount of trash we dispose of on a daily basis.

HOW TO BEGIN YOUR COMPOST PROJECT

Collect and store your fruit and veggie scraps, grains, coffee grounds, eggshells, teabags etc. in a 2-3 gallon covered container that can live under your sink or, for convenience’s sake, on top of your kitchen counter. If you have room in your freezer, it can be stored there as well.

Find a space in your yard where you have easy access to your yard waste e.g., leaves, sticks, twigs and other carbon materials.

Locate an area to set up your compost pile. An ideal spot would be a somewhat shady and moist area, as compost thrives under these conditions. If you don’t live in a forested area, you can purchase a tumbler or if you are handy, you can build one out of wood, chicken wire or cinder blocks.

Prepare your materials for composting by layering your browns, then your greens. Break apart any larger pieces, like corn cobs and stalks, to allow for easier breakdown.

HOW TO BUILD YOUR COMPOST PILE

I consider myself a rather “unofficial” composter since most of my property is wooded and much too shady for a substantial garden. So I compost mainly to eliminate emissions and reduce kitchen waste. About 35 yards from my house, I have several compost piles going on at once. I layer the greens on a bed of leaves and rake the browns over them. Every two or three days, I repeat this process and also mix my piles to allow for aeration.

If you are using a tumbler or homemade compost bin, start your pile with a 3- to 5-foot layer of browns. This pile will absorb the liquid produced by the greens, elevate the pile, and allow for air to circulate. Always add two to three times the volume of browns to greens. Be sure to turn the tumbler occasionally to ensure circulation. This also helps to avoid odors. If you are using a homemade bin, take a pitchfork or shovel and move the compost around, mixing it up.

If your pile is well-maintained, it should not attract pests and rodents and produce little to no weeds. Bury the food scraps deep into the browns.

MAINTAIN YOUR COMPOST PILE

As the materials in your pile break down, the temperature will rise, especially in the center. It is possible for the temps to reach anywhere from 130 to 160 degrees. High temperatures help reduce the presence of pathogens and weed seeds. Regularly churning the pile allows oxygen to cool the center. Add water to keep the compost damp if it is too hot or dry.

Although it is very unlikely that your backyard pile can cause a fire, the possibility of spontaneous combustion is a reality if the pile is neglected. However, this is more prevalent in Industrial Composting facilities. If you follow the rules of aerating and dampening your pile, you will be fine.

HARVESTING YOUR FINISHED COMPOST

When your compost has cooled down after mixing and there are no visible food scraps, allow the pile to rest and finish decomposing. This is called curing. Allow the pile to cure for a few weeks. The pile will probably shrink to one-third of its original size and the compost will be stabilized.

You are ready to use your compost when it appears dark, crumbly, smells earthy, and does not reheat when turned.

It is our hope that this two-part series will inspire families to partake in a composting project and reap the benefits, all while reducing waste and taking care of the planet. Also, if you like to fish and are in need of bait, look no further than your compost pile.

It is important to note that the Peterborough Recycling Center has a compost bin located by the trash disposal and you are welcome to drop off your food scraps minus any plastic bags. You are also welcome to take from the compost we generate, which is located in the back of the center. Ask an attendant to show you to the correct pile.

Editor’s note: This version is updated from the one that appeared in the print edition.