Here are simple beginner composting tips to get you started with your composting journey!
Now that we have discussed how to start composting as a busy mom, it’s time to perfect our composting techniques.
Follow these tips to help maintain fertile, non-smelly compost and continue the habit of composting, even as a busy mom.
Check out these 5 beginner composting tips to make better compost:
Tip1: It’s all about balance
Maintain a balance of nitrogen (greens) and carbon (browns) to prevent your compost from smelling. I don’t get too technical when it comes to the percentage of greens and browns needed in your compost.
How do you know if you need to add browns? Your compost will be too wet or smell like garbage.
How do you know if you need to add greens? Your compost may seem too dry. If your compost is too dry, it needs more green and/or more water.
Tip 2: Properly store your scraps
Store your scraps in the fridge until it is time to take them out to your compost. You can use a container like this or you can use an old container you already have at home. By storing the food scraps in the fridge, you prevent the food items from smelling.
It is perfectly acceptable to store your food scraps out, but if you’re not dumping them every day, it will start to smell.
The smaller the food scraps, the better. For example, we often cut up our food scraps to help them break down. Keep in mind, microorganisms are doing all the work. Because they’re so small, cutting up your compost into smaller pieces helps break down more quickly. However, this is not a requirement for successful compost.
Tip 3: It’s a long game
Compost takes a while to break down.
According to research, compost can take three months to two years to break down. In my experience, my compost takes about 6 months to break down.
In the spring and summer, compost is breaking down much more quickly. This is because a key component to compost is temperature. When the temperature is optimal, microorganisms are more active. In the winter, when the temperature is lower, microorganisms are less active and compost breaks down more slowly.
Related Post: How to Make Composting Understandable For Kids
Tip 4: No stickers
Always remove produce stickers. These stickers do not break down in the compost.
Personally, I’m very guilty of this. I remove the skin and toss it in the compost without even thinking. I then find myself peeling off stickers or digging them out of the compost after the fact.
Try to remember to remove produce stickers as soon as you get home from the grocery store or farmer’s market. This will prevent you from having to remember as you’re quickly trying to prepare meals and snacks for your family.
Tip 5: Don’t compost these items
Avoid these products in your compost:
- Meat
- Dairy
- Cooked/processed foods. Here are 6 easy ways to reduce food waste.
- Pet waste
- Weeds
You’re working so hard to create organic, fertile soil for your plants, for best results, make sure you’re keeping those items out of your compost.
Don’t forget to download your FREE compost list here!
I hope these beginner composting tips were helpful for you to start your composting journey.
Be sure to check out other related posts on composting below!
Have you started composting yet? Were these beginner composting tips helpful? Do you have any other tips to add? I’d love to hear from you!
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