Eco-Friendly Green Lifestyle

During the cold winter months, when it is difficult to work outside, you can easily turn household garbage into rich compost in your basement or garage. With the help of earthworms, compost can be made in boxes. Read the rest of this entry »

Scoop up a handful of your compost. It should feel loose and crumbly. The compost should be a dark brown color and smell earthy and pleasant. Look closely at the compost in your hand. Some of the organic materials have decomposed completely and turned to humus—the dark uniform-looking substance of the compost. You will be able to distinguish little pieces of straw, cornstalk, or eggshell which have not broken down completely. Added to your soil, this organic matter will continue to decompose, releasing its nutrients gradually. The compost you have made will substantially enrich your garden soil. Read the rest of this entry »

Special compost mixtures can be made to meet particular plant needs: Composts made of oak leaves, sawdust, kitchen garbage, and cottonseed meal can be used for plants which prefer an acid soil, like strawberries or blueberries. Tomato plants grow especially well in compost made from their own residues. Read the rest of this entry »

Chopping and shredding increase the surface area of the compost materials. The smaller the size of the materials, the more surface area exposed to the bacteria and other compost organisms. Compost materials decompose more rapidly when they are chopped or shredded. Chopping and shredding of the materials results in better insulation, less loss of heat and moisture, and improved aeration throughout the heap (there is less of a tendency for the materials to mat or pack down). Turning is easier and the finished compost is more uniform. Read the rest of this entry »

PHOSPHATE ROCK

Phosphate rock is a good source of phosphorus for the compost heap. It also contains minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium. If you have tested your soil and found that it is rather low in phosphorus, add phosphate rock to the compost heap. When the compost is added to the soil, phosphorus is incorporated in balance with other nutrients. A light sprinkling of phosphate rock in various layers of the compost heap will supply enough phosphorus to maintain a healthy soil. Read the rest of this entry »

HAIR

Hair and feathers are high in nitrogen content. Hair is easily gathered at barber or hair-styling shops. To prevent matting, the hair should be cut in short pieces and combined with other materials. Read the rest of this entry »

KITCHEN, GROCERY, AND RESTAURANT WASTE

The various vegetable and fruit trimmings available in households, groceries, and restaurants are rich in nitrogen and other nutrients, including trace elements. If you decide to build your compost heap gradually, kitchen waste can be put in a tight-lidded container until enough has been accumulated for a layer. Sawdust placed in the bottom of the container absorbs the juices of the garbage. An occasional sprinkling of limestone or wood ash helps prevent odor, discourages flies from laying their eggs, and neutralizes the acidity of the raw garbage. Manure or rich soil can be added to give the kitchen garbage a good start on composting. Read the rest of this entry »

Larger compost heaps can be made without an enclosure. It is preferable to build an open compost heap all at once, rather than accumulating small amounts of materials over a long period of time. If your supply of compost materials is limited, build a smaller heap. When you have accumulated more materials, build another complete heap. The first one can be used while the second one is “ripening.” Read the rest of this entry »

Composting methods vary. Your circumstances will determine how you choose to compost. If you live in the city or its suburbs, you can compost in a bin or pit. A compost bin will neatly contain your compost in a small space. If you live on a farm or have a large space in which to garden, a large open compost heap is more practical. On a farm, it is likely that you will continually recycle more materials than a small compost bin can easily handle. Read the rest of this entry »

Wherever you live, it is possible for you to find a suitable place to compost nearly all your household and garden “waste.” As you look around for a place, keep in mind that it is important to find a good home for the organisms which do all the work of decomposing the organic materials for you. Read the rest of this entry »