The Green Revolution is all about encouraging people to live in such a way that we protect the earth. One of the key ways in which we can do this is in how we deal with our waste. A simple, yet very effective idea is to start a compost heap rather than throw your kitchen scraps in the bin. And it’s pretty simple to do too. Here are some important tips for building a thriving compost heap that you need to know.
WHAT CAN I PUT IN MY COMPOST HEAP?
Before you decide to establish your own compost heap let’s take a closer look at what you can put in the compost heap.
When it comes to compost you get green material and brown material. The green material (like grass clippings) is rich in nitrogen while the brown material (like wood, brown leaves, and cardboard) is carbon-rich. You need to keep a good balance between these types of materials. This way it will break down effectively into a deep black compost.
All kitchen scraps can be added to your compost heap with the exception of the following items. These should NOT be added to your compost heap:
- Cooked food
- Diseased plants and weeds
- Dog and cat faeces
- Cooking oil
- Meat and fish products
- Dairy products
- Citrus
- Onions
A THRIVING COMPOST HEAP NEEDS CARBON (BROWN) AND NITROGEN (WET)
Adding kitchen scraps daily to your compost heap is a good start. But what you really need is for that organic matter to decompose. For this to happen, you need both carbon and nitrogen in your compost heap as mentioned above. Some of the items you add to your compost will be higher in carbon and some will be higher in nitrogen. Generally speaking, wetter items (eg: veggie peels) are higher in nitrogen and drier items (eg: egg cartons) are higher in carbon.
It’s critical to try to keep a good balance between your carbon and nitrogen. A good, simple rule of thumb is to aim for a 50:50 ratio between the green and brown material you add to your heap. This will enable the material to decompose effectively.
Aside from this, it’s important to keep your compost heap moist but not too wet. You will also need to turn the compost regularly.
Ultimately though, it’s so worth it to establish your own compost heap. It’s an excellent way to deal with your kitchen waste while producing beautiful, rich compost which will help your garden flourish! And best of all, it’s an earth-friendly way to deal with your kitchen waste.