Home Composting: How to compost at home

What is composting? Composting is a process by which biodegradable material, such as garden and kitchen waste, is converted, in the presence of oxygen from the air, into compost. During the composting process, good bacteria and insects break down the organic waste using oxygen. The nutrient rich soil conditioner that is produced is then applied to improve the quality of soil What you can compost Home composting is easy.  It is important that you have a 50/50 mix of both green and brown materials in your compost bin. Green materials Cut flowers Fruit scraps and vegetable peelings Garden and house plants Grass cuttings Tea leaves/bags and coffee grounds Young annual weeds Brown materials Shredded branches and twigs Hedge trimmings Paper items which can include scrunched up cardboard, egg boxes, toilet roll tubes, shredded letter and unwanted mail Straw and hay Egg shells Where you can place your bin Place your compost bin on either bare soil or grass.  This will allow helpful worms and other creatures get into your bin and help breakdown your kitchen and garden waste.  Choose a location for your compost bin that is easy to get to all year round making it easier for you to add new materials. How to start composting Place a layer of brown materials at the bottom of the bin, such as branches and twigs.  This will help the air to circulate at the bottom of the bin as more materials are added.  A 50/50 mix of green and brown materials should be added to your compost bin. Compost will usually take between 6 and 18 months to be produced. When your compost is ready it will be crumbly and dark brown with an earthy smell. Why compost at home? It reduces waste sent to landfill It saves money by avoiding having to buy compost It provides a free soil conditioner and helps soil retain moisture It improves plant health and growth and can increase yields of fruit, vegetables, flowers and herbs.