Collecting Compost

So, you just finished gardening and you have a pile of weeds. Instead of pulling out a plastic trash bag, why not dump it into your compost bin? Composting recycles an array of organic materials that would otherwise end up in landfills and be left to produce harmful gases such as methane. These materials prove very useful in naturally fertilizing soil for gardens and farms, as well as putting carbon back into the earth instead of releasing it.

In fact, it is so useful that in 2009 San Francisco, California, signed into law legislation that makes composting mandatory for San Francisco residents. This will be implemented by distributing green bins for composting in addition to the trash and recycling bins his constituents receive. The law hopes to push the city closer to its 2020 goal of sending zero waste to landfills.

Take part in nature’s natural cycle of growth and decay by composting your extra garden materials!

How to compost:

First, purchase or build a compost bin in whichever size you want to use.

Next, make sure the bin has some ventilation or air holes, otherwise microbials that thrive without air will assemble, causing an unpleasant smell. In order to successfully compost and promote the growth of microbial organisms which decay the material, allow for them their essential needs: air, water and food. Proper moisture greatly affects the microorganisms, so make sure the pile remains slightly damp but never wet.

Finally, to provide proper food, make sure that there is a good mixture of live (green) materials and dead (brown) materials.

Dump the materials in your compost bin and continue to add to the container as needed. Because the compost on the bottom of the pile is the oldest and most decayed, this should be taken out for use first. For this reason, some opt for a compost bin that tumbles with the spin of a handle to avoid unevenly decayed compost. Finished compost should resemble soil and the vast majority of the individual ingredients should not be discernable.

What to compost:

Grass/plant clippings

Weeds (be careful not to compost weeds that have seeds as to not let them spread. Dead, brown weeds are always okay to compost, however)

Leaves

Kitchen wastes (peels, teabags, coffee grounds)

Woodchips/sawdust

What not to compost:

Pet wastes

Meat or bones

Chemically treated wood

Pernicious weeds (such as ivy which can withstand the conditions of composting, only to spread later)

Comments

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Compose make great fertilizer that are natural and organic. I gather piles of leaves and use them for tree planting.

Posted by: Sarah Gaugler | May 17, 2012 at 10:23 PM

How many days will it take from green leaves to usable compost? Is it around 2 weeks? 3 months?

Posted by: John Varghese | April 24, 2012 at 07:09 PM

That is surprising that this stuff actually contains toxins.

Posted by: reverse phone lookup | March 31, 2012 at 11:48 AM

Great question, Coley, and the answer is YES! According to eHow, properly prepared and mixed in a balanced compost pile, pine needles can help produce valuable garden compost for soil amendment and mulching within a few months.

Read more: How to Compost Pine Needles | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5649700_compost-pine-needles.html#ixzz1a1ZuTTTM

Posted by: Robin | October 06, 2011 at 01:40 PM

I know that leaves are okay, but I live in an area with lots of pine trees. Is it possible to compost the needles that come down in the fall?

Posted by: Coley | October 06, 2011 at 01:33 PM

Collect all the leaves in the yard except oak leaves. Never waste the leaves that accumulate in your garden. They will make excellent garden compost if you collect them and allow them to rot down. This rule doesn’t apply to oak unless you intend to run the leaves through some type of shredder.

Posted by: | April 18, 2011 at 03:56 AM