Creating your own compost is a great way to garden in an eco-friendly way. Go over this article to learn more about the different ways to create your own compost.
Starting a compost pile is a popular method. Choose a dry area with some shadows and layer your organic waste. You should throw your food leftover as well as the waste generated by your garden, such as trimmed leaves or cut grass. Bury the food scraps deep into the pile so their smell does not attract stray animals. You should rearrange your layers regularly to aerate the pile and make sure the material at the bottom is turning into compost. The only downside to this method is that some local governments prohibit the use of open compost piles because they can attract animals, and the smell can become an issue if the pile is not properly managed.
If using an open compost heap is not an option in your area, you can bury your waste. Collect your organic waste and bury it eight inches into the ground. The waste will turn into compost within the next two months and will enrich the soil. This is a good option if you are preparing your garden before planting new species, for instance before the spring time. This method might not be an option if your soil is frozen in the winter or if you need to keep adding more compost throughout the gardening season.
If you only need to produce small quantities of compost, you should consider using compost bins. You can easily find bins at gardening stores or nurseries, but keep in mind that you can use a regular garbage bin if your local government allows you to. Choose a large bin and poke a few holes on the top and on the sides so the compost can be properly aerated. Layer your organic waste into the bin and rearrange these layers once a week.
Worms can be used to create compost if you do not have enough room for a pile or a compost bin. You will need a ten gallon bin or container and about a hundred red worms or manure worms. These worms can eat food scraps, waste from your plants and even paper. Fill your container with organic waste, and wait patiently for the worms to eat it. Their castings will be rich in nutrients that can be used to fertilize your plants. You need to monitor your worm bin carefully, make sure the worms are not getting out and keep adding more waste or more worms as needed. This method allows you to produce small quantities of compost but this compost is richer than the material obtained through other methods.
You should do more research on different ways to create compost for your plants, and choose the method that is best adapted to your needs. You will find that producing your own compost is very easy and will really make a difference for your garden.