As the seasons change and the days get shorter, many of us are looking for new projects in the home. Why not enrich your garden with a layer of compost? Composting is an easy way to make your own nutrient-rich soil, and making your own can be fun and affordable! Composting is also good for our planet by reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Learn more about composting through the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge.
First, you can choose between cold and hot composting. Cold composting involves piling all your organic material outdoors in a container of your choice. After about a year, the food scraps and leaves will break down. However, most people use hot composting to create soil for their gardens in about 3 months. You can also check out composting options from your waste disposal company. Republic Services will give you a discount on your monthly bill if you compost!
To create your hot compost, you'll need:
1. One container or empty area in your yard. If you choose to use a container, you can buy a ready-made compost bin or create one from lumber, wire, or repurposed items.
2. Greens: fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and dried plant material
3. Browns: dried leaves or other plant materials, newspaper, hay, untreated sawdust
**Do not use any meat or dairy products or cat/dog manure
Check out discounted compost bins for Central County and West County residents. Or make your own with repurposed materials. Pleasant Hill residents can enter a drawing to win full-size compost bins or small vermicomposting bins through the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge.
Combine your compost by layering equal amounts of "browns" and "greens." Then, add a little bit of water--the mixture should be damp, but not dripping wet. Mix your compost once a week to allow for oxygen flow and decomposition. You can use a pitchfork, rake, or other garden tools. After a few days, the compost should feel warm, which means that the microorganisms in your pile are breaking down the food scraps!
You should turn your compost pile every few days, and you can continue adding food scraps as long as desired. When the compost becomes dry and crumbly and no longer gives off heat, you can add it to your garden!
If you live in an apartment or are short on space, worm composting (vermicomposting) could also be a good option for you! Worms produce castings that contain beneficial microbes and nutrients, which makes a great soil amendment, and they can eat over half their body weight in organic matter every day. Get started with a how-to guide.
Happy composting!
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