Composting is a fantastic way to help the
environment, and create compost for your garden. Much of
the organic waste (ie. food) thrown away from the kitchen
can be put into your compost bin, and turned into a great
soil improver.
Ideally your compost bin should be
situated in a sunny position, as the warmth from the sun
will help to break down your compost more quickly -
although if this is not possible, the compost bin can be
situated anywhere.
Your compost needs good aeration to work well, so make sure
you layer your organic waste. Try to put different types of
organic matter into your compost, so have a 5cm layer of
food waste, followed by a 5cm layer of scrunched up
newspaper. This will allow the air to circulate amongst the
compost.
If you have any vegetarian animals, the bedding from these
goes really well in a composter. I must emphasize that your
bedding should be from non meat eating animals, otherwise
your compost bin will smell really bad.
The warmer the composter is, the quicker the compost will
be produced. The black plastic compost bins which can be
purchased are ideal as they really warm up in the sun.
During the hot summer months you could compost within a
couple of months. The bacteria making your compost will
really slow down in the winter months, so you will probably
have to wait for spring to use the compost.
Having more than one composter is best, so when one bin
fills up, you can let the bacteria and worms work on it,
while you start the next bin.
The following are good materials to put on your
compost:
-
Kitchen waste (not cooked meats, as it attracts
rats)
-
Animal bedding
-
Paper
-
Cardboard
-
Grass clippings
-
Garden waste (not weeds, as the seeds may
germinate)
Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't get any
unpleasant smells from composting. If yours does start to
smell, try varying the ingredients you add. Too much solid
waste (like kitchen waste) will cause the compost to be
produced more slowly, causing the smell.