Composting is one of the simplest and most effective ways to recycle organic waste, reduce landfill waste, and enrich your garden soil. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, composting can be incredibly rewarding. In this post, I’ll walk you through the easiest ways to compost, including the different types of compost you can make based on what you add, and the best practices for making nutrient-rich compost that benefits your soil.
Types of Composting and What to Add
Composting is all about finding the right balance of ingredients so that microorganisms break down organic matter efficiently. There are 4 types of composting: the lazy method (cold composting) , the fast method (hot composting), Black Gold (Worm Castings) and The all compost method (For Meat and Dairy)
Each method has its benefits, and both can be simple to do! Let’s look at both methods in detail.
1. The Lazy Method (Cold Composting)
The lazy method (also known as cold composting) is the easiest and most passive way to compost. If you don’t want to spend much time on it, this is the method for you. Simply add your organic waste to a pile and let nature take its course over time. It’s ideal for beginners who want to start composting with minimal effort.
What to Add:
- Fruit and vegetable peels
- Coffee grounds
- Tea bags (without synthetic material)
- Leaves and grass clippings
Best Practices:
- Minimal Maintenance: Cold composting requires little effort. You can just pile your waste and occasionally turn it to speed up the process.
- Balance: Use the 1:2 ratio of green (nitrogen-rich) to brown (carbon-rich) materials. This ensures proper decomposition.
- Green materials: Fresh fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and grass clippings.
- Brown materials: Dry leaves, straw.
- Shred your materials: The smaller the pieces, the faster they break down.
- Aerate: Turn the compost occasionally to allow air to circulate and help speed up decomposition.
Ratio Example: For every 1 part of green material, add 2 parts of brown material.
Speed: This method takes longer to break down. Expect compost to be ready in 6 months to a year.
2. The Fast Method (hot composting)
Hot composting is a more active method that produces compost much faster. It requires a little more attention and effort, but in return, you can have finished compost in just a few weeks to a few months. The secret? Heat! By maintaining the right conditions, the pile generates enough heat to speed up the decomposition process.
What to Add:
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds
- Tea bags (without synthetic material)
- Grass clippings
- Dry leaves
Best Practices:
- Balance: Hot composting needs the right balance of green and brown materials. Aim for a 1:1 ratio of nitrogen (green) to carbon (brown).
- Aeration: Turn the pile regularly (at least once a week) to maintain airflow and keep the pile hot.
- Moisture: Keep the compost pile moist (like a wrung-out sponge) to ensure the microbes break down the materials efficiently.
- Heat Monitoring: When the pile heats up, it shows that the microorganisms are working. If you stick your hand into the compost and it’s hot, it’s a good sign!
Speed: Hot composting is much faster than cold composting, taking just a few weeks to a few months, depending on the conditions.
3. Black Gold (Worm Castings)
Worm castings, also known as “black gold,” are a nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer produced by earthworms. They are packed with essential nutrients, beneficial microbes, and enzymes that enrich soil, improve plant growth, and promote healthier gardens. This article explains what worm castings are, how to create them through vermiculture, and where to use them in your garden.
Key steps to making worm castings include setting up a worm bin, adding bedding and red wigglers, feeding the worms organic waste, and harvesting the castings after a few months. Worm castings can be used in various ways such as soil amendment, potting mixes, top dressing, and even in compost tea for plants.
It also covers the types of worms used for composting, such as red wigglers, European nightcrawlers, and African nightcrawlers. The article provides cautionary advice on materials to avoid, such as chlorinated water, pesticide-laden organic waste, and certain food scraps that could harm the worms.
Overall, worm castings are an organic, sustainable way to improve your soil and promote plant health, making them a must-have for any eco-conscious gardener.
Learn how to do it here Black gold everything you need to know about worm castings
4. The ALL Compost Method (For Meat and Dairy)
Composting meat, dairy, and other food scraps like fish can be tricky due to odors and attracting pests. The solution? Black soldier flies (BSF). These flies break down organic matter quickly without the unpleasant smell associated with traditional composting.
You can learn how to diy here
What to Add:
- Meat scraps
- Dairy (cheese, yogurt, etc.)
- Fish scraps
- Cooked food scraps
- Grease and fats (in small amounts)
Best Practices:
- Use a BSF composter: These are special composters designed to house and attract black soldier flies, which help decompose these tougher materials.
- Keep it moist: BSF composting requires a more humid environment to encourage the flies to lay eggs and help with decomposition.
- Avoid overloading: Only add small amounts of meat and dairy at a time, as too much can overwhelm the process.
Ratio Example: While the green-to-brown ratio doesn’t apply the same way for BSF composting, make sure the food scraps are broken up into smaller pieces for easier consumption by the larvae.
You can use the mature larvae to feed your chickens learn more here.
General Composting Best Practices
- Choose the Right Spot: Pick a well-drained area with good airflow. It could be in a compost bin, a pile, or even a vermiculture setup (with worms).
- Moisture Level: Your compost should be damp, but not soaked. Think of a wrung-out sponge. If it’s too dry, your compost will take much longer to break down, and if it’s too wet, it will smell.
- Aeration: Turning the compost helps introduce oxygen, which speeds up the breakdown process and reduces unpleasant smells. Aim to turn it every 1-2 weeks.
- Patience: Composting takes time. Depending on the materials and conditions, it can take anywhere from 3 months to a year to produce rich, dark compost.
Troubleshooting Common Composting Problems
- Smell: If your compost starts smelling, it may be too wet or have an imbalance of green materials. Add more brown materials (like leaves or shredded straw) to fix it.
- Pests: If pests are a problem, ensure your compost pile is covered and aerated regularly. With BSF composting, the flies naturally deter pests.
Conclusion
Composting is a simple yet powerful way to reduce waste and enrich your garden. By understanding the types of composting and the materials you use, you can make nutrient-rich compost that helps your plants thrive. Whether you’re composting vegetable scraps for your garden or using black soldier flies for tougher materials like meat and dairy, the process is straightforward and rewarding.
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Read What is Soil Amendment, How to Do It Correctly, and Why You Should Do It
Read Black gold everything you need to know about worm castings
