Get the Most Outta Compost

Fact

According to the U.S. EPA, food scraps account for 14.1 percent of the 243 million tons of waste Americans produced in 2009. Yard trimmings were 13.7 percent. Both types of waste can be composted to not only reduce waste, but also create mulch for richer soil and healthier gardens.

Get Started

Composting has never been easier. It can be done regardless of how much space you have, or where you live.

Invest in a kitchen composter to either store food until you move it to a larger pile outside, or to breakdown food waste right in your cupboard.
Make a list of what can go into the composter, so visitors will know the rules. Composting guides generally sort matter into two categories, according to what they contribute to the process: green (nitrogen) and brown (carbon). This covers many items in your kitchen, including food scraps, expired flower arrangements and toothpicks.
Be diligent! Water and aerate your pile to ensure it doesn’t rot.

Become a Pro

Now that you have the basics covered, you can help your friends and neighbors with the composting process.

Pack up your mulch and give it as gifts, along with a “how to” compost card.
Donate your mulch to a local school or community garden. Encourage them to post a sign talking about the garden’s green initiatives and composting.
Purchase a kitchen composter for friends and family and give the gift of recycling.

Back to Tip Garden

Terry Clark

posted on June 30th, 2011 at 1:56 am

Here in San Antonio we have are experiencing a severe drought, so my compost pile is not composting. So, I shoveled up the leaves and not completely composted clippings and put them on top of the soil in my flower beds as mulch. It seems to be working well. The plants begin to wilt every other day instead of every day!

As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.

14 Archived Comments

Larry Fine

posted on January 28th, 2009 at 10:41 am

I’m looking forward to your weekly green tips.

Larry Fine
Pat Overbey

posted on January 29th, 2009 at 4:46 am

I have been composting for twenty years noe with the snow & ice i can’t get out to the distant corner of our yard so I keep a large bucket on the deck and take it back when i can. Where can I get cost etc. of kitchen composter? Thanks
JMU's Dog Pound "Ms. D"

posted on January 31st, 2009 at 4:22 am

I believe in composting; but have never heard of a kitchen composter. Please inform us “the reader” about where such things can be purchased. I use to live in a house with garden & compost bin. Now live in an apartment building; but would love to compost my scraps again.
Raquel Fagan

posted on February 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 am

Thanks for the comment “Ms. D”,

If you’re looking for more kitchen composting resources and info, look no further. We have all you need in our Composting While Cooking: A Guide for the Kitchen article. There are some great links to kitchen composters for small spaces, as well as a list of what can go in them. Have fun recycling your organic waste!!
Bob Haddock

posted on March 25th, 2009 at 5:27 pm

I would like to start composting but have not been successful at finding the ” Magic Formula” for grass clippings and leaf pieces put into a homemade 55 gal. plastic barrel.
Ellen Keefe

posted on April 16th, 2009 at 11:15 am

Empty coffee cans can be used to gather kitchen scraps until you make the trip to the backyard compost bin. For apartment dwellers, vermicomposting (composting with worms) would fit the bill. An inexpensive plastic storage container is all you need; use shredded paper for bedding, and throw your scraps into the bin. It doesn’t smell and is very educational for kids. Search the internet for easy plans.
Harony928

posted on June 18th, 2009 at 4:21 am

If u have a cat and buy the cat food by the container, that is a great N-door composter, I got mine from my neighbor.
I also use them 2 store thing around the house, comes with a tight lid, my neighrbor was just throwing them away, U can even put holes N the bottom and plant herbs or veggies N them.
I just love things I can find dual things 4. Please excuse any type O’s.
Doreen Pollack

posted on October 7th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

Composting can become as natural as throwing something into the trash. Just think of it as a different receptacle! Getting it ‘right’ is the challenge for many people. But I find if I mix up the browns (dry) and greens (wet) at about a 1:1 ratio, keep it moist and aerated by turning it weekly, I get great humus as an end result. I just took two 5 gallon buckets out of the finished product this weekend to amend the garden bed. It is usuallu too much water and not enough air that causes the problems folks have with the composting.

Happy Digging all, The Garden Goddess, PHX, AZ
nanny

posted on December 12th, 2009 at 6:08 am

I have been composting for about 8 months in a big barrel outback. All seemed to be going good but….now that it is so cold here in Wyoming, the compost is frozen solid and I can’t turn it. Is this a problem? Or should I just keep adding stuff and turn it as soon as it thaws?
Lisa

posted on December 30th, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Green Irene,

Has kitchen composter. It looks awesome and no smell and don’t have to use worms…

I can’t wait to get mine. Looking so forward to it.

Hope this helps,

Lisa Cowart
Lisa

posted on December 31st, 2009 at 6:47 am

I got a composter last xmas and have been using it but not turning it as regularly s necessary. Is it still good? ASnything I can do to remedy the situation? Wht do you use to turn it? I have a itchfork and it is tough to turn…….I think I ned some help!
Joseph

posted on August 20th, 2010 at 5:44 am

I hope someday to get a Kitchen composter and other composting Equipment. I have kept four places in mind. http://www.naturemill.com/pro.html which is Nature Mill that has a kitchen composter. Also http://www.earthmachine.com/the_earth_machine.html which is The Earth Machine and can be used anywhere! Also https://www.compostumbler.com/ this is Compost Tumbler which you can store many things.
Dale

posted on March 9th, 2011 at 9:38 am

There’s really no magic for comosting,I have a large bin/pile,mind is 10′Lx5′Wx4′T.I started with hay on the bottom of the dirt,about 1 inch thick and then leaves and some fresh cow manure and more leaves.
(I started mine in the winter,so I didn’t have any grass clippings).I have had my pile for over 20 years now and put all kinds of curbside leftovers in there,mostly leaves and grass clippings ,and sometimes manure,cow, horse, or sheep,also some worms.I only water mine about once a month and turn it 2 times a month.Other than that I let nature do the rest.
Katie @ Imperfect People

posted on March 9th, 2011 at 6:06 pm

Just dumped my compost in the garden today getting ready for spring! Can’t beat free AWESOME fertilizer.