Composting is one of the best ways in which you can recycle the natural waste. Instead of disposing off organic waste as well as leaves and grass, composting is a much better option to generate fertilizer for your lawn or farm.

The process of composting is not as easy as it seems. Today, we will delve into each and every aspect of composting including how to prepare compost? So that it becomes easier for you to create the organic fertilizer for your needs.

What is Composting?

Compost is decayed natural and vegetable matter which works as a fertilizer for the soil. The technique of composting involves dumping organic material as well as vegetables and plants and their skin amidst different layers of soil. Over a period of time, they decay in the soil. This creates fertilized matter in your soil which can be used for growing plants as well as trees. This matter provides immense nutrition to the soil.

Basics of Composting

Now that you are familiar with the definition of compost, it is time to look into the procedure how to compost?. We will go into the basics of composting which will help you get the answers to questions like How do you start a compost pile?, What not to put in the compost?, How to compost step by step, How to make compost fast.

Things needed for composting

You have to 1st and foremost look into the things which you need for composting. These things include:

Compost Bin

Organic matter

Refer our guide on Best Compost Bin

What can you put into the compost bin

Many people are confused about the things which you can put and cannot put into the compost bin. You need to keep in mind that any of the organic ingredients like vegetables, fruits, leaves, weights, grass can be easily put into the compost with. However, no meat or infected plants should be put into the compost bin.

Layers in the compost bin

You need to also keep in mind that when you’re filling up the compost bin, it should be done in different layers. We will highlight some of the layers in which you can organize the compost bin.

• First layer

The 1st layer should be of plant material like dried leaves and other organic matter.

• Second layer

The 2nd layer should be of green material like vegetables as well as grass. Thereafter, you have to alternate these 2 layers.

You need to also keep in mind that you have to always look into the quantity of the organic matter and thereafter take a call. The larger the quantity of organic matter, the more time it will take to break down.

With the help of these basics, you will be able to create the compost material quite easily.

Types of Composting

The type of composting technique will be dependent on the place in which you are creating the compost. We will highlight 5 different types of composting.

1. Compost Bin

A compost bin can be a plastic bin or it can be a permaculture pot. You need to take into account the quantity of organic matter and thereafter take a call.

2. Turning bin

As the name itself suggests, turning bin can move upside down. This ensures that the contents are easily aerated. This will speed up the process of decomposition.

3. Pile method

Pile is normally not dug into the ground. It is just present exposed to the ground. It is directly exposed to the air. Owing to this very reason, the decomposition process is on the faster side. Also, it is generally good enough only for the smaller organic matter.

4. Sheet composting

Sheet composting can be considered similar to the traditional technique of composting. You will be spreading the organic material over the bed of the garden. Thereafter, you will be putting leaves over it. You will be creating such alternative layers. Since it is spread over a larger area, the layers will be pretty thin. This will directly fertilize the soil.

5. Pit composting

As the name itself suggests, pit composting involves digging up a pit and putting the organic matter into it. The arrangement of the organic matter is the same. Only, instead of spreading it over the ground, it is put in a pit. This is good enough if you’re having a smaller area. Also, it can fertilize a smaller area. You can either keep it in the ground or if you’re taking it out, you have to spread it over the farm or over the lawn.

As you can see, when you’re looking into the methods of composting, you have to look into these 5 methods and thereafter take a call. The method which you choose will also be dependent on the amount of area which you have. It will also be dependent on the amount of organic matter which you want to decompose.

What to Compost?

Once you are familiar with the process of composting, you will have multiple questions in mind regarding what should constitute the organic matter. In this section, we will delve into the details of what can be included in the compost heap and what cannot be included in composting. We will attempt to answer questions like What not to put in the compost?, How to compost step by step, How to make compost fast, How to make a compost heap.

Some of the things which can be easily included in the compost heap include:

Leaves

Clippings of grass

Brush trimmings

Organic manure

Dogfood

Catfood

Herbs and spices

Organic food matter

Some of the other things which can be included but which require a longer period of time to decompose include:

Sawdust

Tissues

Cardboard

Woodchips

Corn Cobs

Pine needles

Shredded newspaper

As long as you’re making the compost heap out of these materials, composting at home will become much easier for you. You will be able to create the fertilized matter pretty easily.

What Not to Compost

At the same point in time, it is important to understand what you should not compost.

1. Inorganic material

You should never an include plastic, aluminum as well as metal into the compost heap.

2. Infected plants

Similarly, you have to avoid infected plants when building the compost heap.

3. Glossy papers

Even though newspapers are fine but glossy papers should not be included in the compost heap.

4. Cooking oil

You need to understand that cooking oil can actually slow down the composting process. This is the reason why you have to exclude it from the compost heap.

Similarly, meat products, as well as dairy products, should be avoided by putting into the compost heap as well. You should always limit it to the organic matter excluding meat as well as oils.

Composting Benefits

Most of the people by now actually know the benefits of composting. Now that you are aware of how to compost, it is time to look into some of the detailed benefits. These include:

Reduction in greenhouse gases: Owing to composting, the production of methane is reduced drastically. This is because if the decomposition happens in the open air, it will lead to the release of methane which will increase the greenhouse gases resulting in global warming.

Improving soil quality: You need to understand that normally when it comes to improving soil quality, you can use chemical-based fertilizers. However, with the help of compost matter, you will be able to do so quite naturally.

Cleaning up the soil: Owing to the decomposition, the soil is cleaned up of other impurities as well.

Preventing soil erosion: The density of the soil can be easily increased with the help of compost. This is the reason why soil erosion is prevented as well.

An affordable way to fertilize the soil: With the help of compost, soil can be fertilized affordably. You do not have to invest money in expensive fertilizers.

As you can see, the number of advantages of composting are plenty.

Simple Composting Methods

There are quite a few methods which you can adopt for composting. Once you have decided the materials from which you have to create the compost heap, questions like How to make compost from kitchen waste, How to use compost bin will be easily answered. However, when it comes to actual composting, you might not know that it can be done indoors as well. That is why many of the people actually ask about the specific techniques of composting. The techniques which we will highlight below will shed some light on the answers to the questions how to compost in an apartment, how to compost at home, how to compost food.

• Trench compost method

In the trench compost method, you will be burying the organic matter underground. You can easily include things like potato peels, leftover vegetables, green vegetables and even bread. In order to collect all of this matter over a period of time, you can keep a garbage bin in your garden or kitchen. Once it is filled, you can take it to the garden and put it in a ditch. Thereafter, you can cover it with garbage and put soil over it. You have to leave it for at least 6 weeks in order to lead to decompose. Also, decomposition will not occur during the winter. This is the reason why you have to avoid creating compost during the winter.

• Disposal composting

Disposal composting consists of 2 different cylinders. The cylinders are often made from tiles. You have to 1st fill the 1st one and once it is fully filled, you have to start with the 2nd one. You need to keep in mind that instead of using tiles of metal, it is a much better idea to use the organic material. With the help of 2 cylinders, you will always have compost material ready if you are able to plan the composting on a regular basis.

• Vermicompost

Vermicompost involves letting the worms decompose the garbage. Also, it is a good idea to opt for this technique in the garden. You have to dump of the compost material like normal. After that, you have to release worms over it. The worms will be able to decompose the material at a faster rate.

• Indoor compost

Indoor compost requires a waterproof container in which you will be able to dump all the compost matter. Thereafter, you have to cover it with soil. You have to use the alternate layer architecture like we just explained above. From time to time, you have to also stir in order to ensure that it is aerated.

Thus, whenever you’re looking into the composting methods, these are the few which you should look into.

Tips for Successful Composting

In order to successfully compost, it is important to follow a few tips. With the help of these few tips, it will become easier for you to become successful in creating the compost material.

1. Chopping the organic matter into smaller parts

In order to accelerate the procedure of decomposition, it is important to chop the matter into smaller parts.

2. Aeration

Either, you have to arrange for aeration or you have to stir the compost matter regularly. When you are able to do so, it will become easier for you to increase the pace of decomposition. With the help of Best Compost Bin, Best compost tumbler, best yard waste bags you will be able to aerate the mixture easily as most of them contain holes. If there are holes need of stirring is eliminated. This will introduce the air into the compost matter on a regular basis.

3. Rodent resistant bin

You need to also understand that apart from a waterproof, you have to choose the bin which is rodent resistant. This automatically makes it easier for you to avoid contamination of the compost matter due to rodents.

You have to follow these few tips on a regular basis in order to create proper compost matter.

Avoid Common Mistakes Composting

When you’re thinking about how to compost, it is also important to avoid certain mistakes. Once you are able to avoid these mistakes, it will become easier for you to create the compost matter quite easily.

• Adjusting the moisture level

You need to keep in mind of the moisture level is on the higher side, it will lead to the spread of bacteria as well as fungus. This is the reason why you have to avoid extra moisture while preparing the compost heap.

• Avoiding high-density compost heap

You have to always keep space between the different layers of compost. This will ensure that there is plenty of space for air in the heap.

• Amount of nitrogen

You need to keep in mind that if the concentration of nitrogen is on the higher side, it will slow down the speed of decomposition. That is why you have to check the quantity of nitrogen before dumping the compost heap.

If you really want to create compost for your garden and are wondering how to compost, it is important to follow this guide. You need to take a few precautions which we mentioned. Only once you are able to take these few precautions, you will be able to create fertilizer naturally for your garden or for your lawn. This will also ensure that you are able to save money on chemical-based fertilizers.

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