4 Simple Steps to Composting

I am that category of people who have tried composting several times and in many different ways, and I never did it right. Here are some easy tips for composting correctly!

1) Mix Green and Brown

There is a difference between brown and green compost. Green compost is needed for fixing nitrogen. Green compost is literally what it sounds like - picked weeds, plant clippings, cut grass and kitchen scraps. More examples of this would be chicken manure (no, it is not green, but it has a green level nitrogen). Brown compost is anything that is heavy in carbon. Examples of brown composting materials are leaves, pine needles, wood, bark/mulch, cardboard, paper/newspapers, hay/straw, and dead plants.

2) Proper Ratios

Now that we know the difference between green and brown, we need to make sure they’re mixed properly! Generally speaking, you want a 4:1 ratio when mixing brown and green compost, meaning however much green compost you stick in your pile, you need to then add 4 times the amount of brown. This should be easy if you live in an area where there are trees - or, if you have an Amazon account. We usually have a steady supply of cardboard I can always add!

3) Worms and Dirt!

I am fortunate enough to live in an area where we are super populated with worms. But, if I didnt have a steady supply of worms, I’d grab some red worms and throw them in the pile. Cover the pile with dirt after you’ve added some layers.

4) Water and Wait!

Yes, watering your compost is actually a must if there hasn’t been much rain! Make sure to not over-water your compost (kind of like overwatering your plants). You just want to add enough moisture to the compost to keep the microbial activity higher. Generally speaking, your compost should be watered at least once a week, maybe twice in the hot summer weather.

See? You don’t need any fancy machines or a science degree- it’s a pretty basic process that everyone can easily do!