Composting is something that’s easy to do, good for the environment, good for your yard and garden, and good for your pocketbook. Because it’s a natural way of fertilization, you avoid putting harmful chemicals in the ground. If you begin now, you will be all set for next spring’s planting season.
You can construct a compost bin out of something as simple as chicken wire, or go without a container in a shady unexposed area of your yard. Some general guidelines for composting include the following:
- Almost any food scraps can be composted including fruit and vegetable peels, egg shells, and coffee or tea grounds.
- Meat and fish, either raw or cooked should not be composted since they give off odors and will attract unwanted guests.
- Save the grass clippings from your lawn and add to the pile.
- Add raked leaves.
- Cardboard, including the tubes from paper towels and wrapping paper, as well as non-glossy paper are also beneficial.
- Turn the pile over frequently, and particularly when you add food scraps.
- Toss a couple shovelfuls of dirt into the mix.
- Keep it moist, but not drenched.