How to make compost at home

 compost at home

Composting not only reduces litter in the landscape but also improves your backyard. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "compost is an organic substance added to the soil to help plants grow." That is, if large products, beautiful flowers, and a healthy garden begin to store your family's garbage and turn it into "plant food," you will not incur any additional costs.

How to make compost at home - Video 

Follow our guide to composting, which can help improve the planet - and your own home garden - while reducing the amount of garbage you throw away. Experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute share tips and tricks for making compost wherever you live.

Why should I put compost?

Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of garbage your family sends to the landfill. This will not only reduce the amount of methane gas produced by landslides, which is a major contributor to global warming but will also help control the odor of trash in your home. And the biggest benefit? You will leave fertile manure that you can use in your own garden or donate to your favorite cause.

What compost can I put?

Food waste and yard waste can be a huge percentage of your compost - you can add a lot of stuff from your kitchen and garden. But other household items like newspaper and hair are also good to add to the mix.

Food

Fruit and vegetable skins and scrap

Mushroom scraps

Eggshells

Bread, cereals, and pasta

Coffee grounds and some coffee filters

Loose tea and tea bags

 Yard

How to put compost outside?

If you want to make compost in your backyard, learn the do's and don'ts to set yourself up for success. Selen Nehrozoglu, Research Assistant at the New Jersey Agricultural Laboratory in New Brunswick, NJ, shared tips on how to manage your organic waste:

Create a composting zone. If you plan to use a compost bin, make sure it is accessible and has space to open the lid. Nehrozoglu says it is best to use sealable containers for indoor and outdoor compost storage. “For indoor compost, containers with closed lids worked well in my experience,” he says. "They're easy to open and close while holding the scent."

If you want to start a compost pile, select an open area - you need at least 3 square feet of space - and scatter some branches or straw to ensure ventilation and drainage. Use chicken wire or a fence to protect your pile from animals such as raccoons (or even the next-door pet dog).

Balance "green" and "brown" products. Even if you choose a tank or pile, the ratio that helps compost is two-thirds "brown matter" (sticks, dried leaves, or dirt) and one-third "green matter" (food scraps or fresh plants, says Nehrozoglu. Waste). Maintenance is important because “brown” products are rich in carbon, feed on organisms that break down scraps, and “green” products provide nitrogen - important for building the cell structure of your new soil.

“As a general rule, I like to add enough brown to completely cover up food waste,” he says. “I use a spade to chop bulky food waste like melon skins and mix the ingredients together. After mixing, I add a thin layer of brown on top.

Manage humidity. If your pile is not getting enough rain, you should add water through a watering can or hose. Wet scraps can be added when moisture is needed. You are wet, not soaking.

If you live in a very rainy area, cover the pile (a loose tar would be nice) so it doesn’t get too wet, which will kill rot and useful germs.

Turn it into your compost. Your fertilizer also needs oxygen. Without air, your pile will start to rot and smell, so you need to rotate and shake the pile. With the right mix of scrap, moisture, and air, your compost is nothing more than soil dirt. According to Nehrosoklu, mix manually - use Pitchfork - changing scraps every two to four weeks Good.

If you are using a tank, you can choose a tumbler that rotates to mix the compost. Some even include an inner rail that breaks down the manure to help with ventilation. With a dumpling tank, follow the manufacturer's recommendation. Most people recommend rotating your tub once every two or three days.

When turning the manure, check the heat. The center of your pile or tank should feel warm; You need to maintain an internal temperature of 130˚F to 150˚F. When the compost is ready, it stops producing heat and becomes uniform and crumbling like soil.