Find out how you can compost all sorts of items to both recycle and reuse for the benefit of your gardens and our environment.

What is Compost?
Compost is a dark, earthy material which results from the natural decomposition of organic matter.

Why Compost?
To produce an excellent, free, soil conditioner, which will improve your soil and the plants growing in it. To reduce waste; by composting kitchen and yard waste, you can reduce your householdﾒs garbage by one-third to one-half.

What to Compost
DO ADD:
Nitrogen-rich green materials:
Fresh grass clippings
Plant trimmings and remains
House plants and cut flowers
Fruit and vegetable scraps,
tea bags,
egg shells,
coffee grounds (you can keep these in a covered plastic container in your kitchen until ready to add.)

Carbon-rich brown materials:
Dry leaves
Straw
Woodchips
Sawdust (add in very thin layers)

DO NOT ADD:
Meat,
Bones,
Fish scraps
Fatty foods including cheese, butter, oil, and salad dressing
Dog and cat feces
Diseased or insect-infested plants
Pernicious weeds such as crab grass Weeds with mature seeds

HOW TO COMPOST:
Containers:
Although containers are not essential, they are recommends. An open pile can be unsightly and is more likely to attract pests. There are many different containers to choose from. You can buy a commercial model or build one yourself. Containers with two or more sections have some advantages. You can aerate the material by turning it from one section to another. Also, the material in a full section can finish materials to another section. The ideal size for a container is between 3 ft. square to 5 ft. square.

How to Avoid Attracting Animals and Flies
Use a container with a tight-fitting lid, hinged at one side and with a latch at the other. When adding food waste, either dig it into the existing compost immediately or cover it well with soil. Line the sides and bottom completely with heavy-duty wire mesh.

No-Fuss Composting Recipe
If you want to compost yard waste only, and youﾒre not in a hurry, try thisﾅ Add yearly waste to your bin as it is available over a period of several months or even years. Allow rainwater to moisten the pole. In one year to 18 months the material at the bottom and centre of the pile should be composted. The uncomposted materials at the top can be used to start a new batch.