What is Composting?

Composting is the natural breakdown by microbes of organic material to a dark, loose and "earth-like" substance.

A composting system confines the organic material and often controls the conditions in the material so that the breakdown is accelerated. A composting system can be started in old garbage bins, wooden boxes, or in a simple heap.

Your Four Step Guide to Creating Great Compost

1. Choose a Site: Place your compost heap or bin in a well-drained area that has some shade. Too much sun will dry out your compost.

2. What to Compost: Compost needs a mixture of rich organic materials such as fruit and vegetable peelings, and fresh grass clippings, as well as nitrogen-poor materials such as dry leaves, woody twigs and paper.

3. Layering: Start with a thick layer of coarse material, such as twigs or mulch. Follow with a layer of garden clippings, food and vegetable scraps, and grass clippings. Add water after each layer to keep the heap moist but not wet.

4. Maintaining Your Compost: Keep your compost well aerated to prevent foul odours or methane. Turn your compost with a garden fork on a weeky basis. Otherwise place garden stakes or pipes through the heap to allow air in.

Within about 6-8 weeks, the compost should have turned into rich soil.

What to add to a Compost Heap

• Vegetable and food scraps
• Fallen leaves (in layers)
• Tea leaves and tea bags
• Coffee grounds
• Vacuum cleaner dust
• Soft stems
• Dead flowers
• Used vegetable cooking oil
• Egg shells
• Old newspapers (wet)
• Grass cuttings in layers
• Sawdust (not from teated timber)
• Wood ash
  

What not to add to a Compost Heap

• Meat and dairy products
• Diseased plants
• Metals, plastic, glass
• Animal manures (especially the droppings of cats and dogs)
• Fat
• Magazines
• Large branches
• Weeds that have seeds or underground stems
• Bread or cake (may attract mice)
• Bones
• Sawdust from treated timber