Composting 101 – Turning Scraps into Garden Gold
If there’s one habit that benefits both your garden and the planet, it’s composting. This simple practice turns kitchen scraps, garden waste, and other organic materials into nutrient-rich compost — often called “black gold” for the way it transforms soil and plant health.
Why Compost?
Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden. Compost improves soil structure, boosts fertility, and helps retain moisture. It’s also a fantastic way to reduce household waste — keeping valuable organic matter out of landfills where it would otherwise generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
What Can You Compost?
The secret to good compost is balancing greens (nitrogen-rich materials) and browns (carbon-rich materials):
✅ Greens:
Fruit & veggie scraps
Coffee grounds & filters
Fresh grass clippings
Plant trimmings
✅ Browns:
Dried leaves
Shredded paper or cardboard
Straw or hay
Wood chips or sawdust (from untreated wood)
🚫 Avoid composting:
Meat, dairy, and oily foods
Pet waste
Diseased plants
Weeds with seeds
How to Compost
Choose a method: Bin, pile, tumbler, or vermicompost (worms!) — all can work depending on your space and lifestyle.
Layer: Start with coarse browns (like sticks), then alternate layers of greens and browns.
Moisture: Keep it as damp as a wrung-out sponge.
Airflow: Turn your pile regularly to oxygenate and speed decomposition.
Patience: Compost can take 2–6 months to mature. Finished compost is dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling.
Composting Tips
Chop up materials for faster breakdown.
Cover food scraps with browns to prevent odors.
Keep a small countertop bin for easy kitchen collection.
Composting in Small Spaces?
No yard? No problem. A small compost tumbler or indoor worm bin can work wonders. You can also check if your local community garden or municipality accepts food waste for composting.
Ready to Grow from the Ground Up?
Composting is a gift that keeps giving — feeding your soil, reducing your waste, and closing the loop between kitchen and garden. Whether you’re growing herbs on a windowsill or vegetables in raised beds, compost is your garden’s best friend.