Finney County Conservation District Composting

Composting

What is Composting?

Composting is said to be nature's way of recycling. It is when organic materials decay and turns into compost (or humus). Compost is a great way to add great nutrients to your soil.

10 Good Reasons you Should Compost

1. Yard and food waste make up 30% of the trash that is thrown away each year. When you choose to compost, you are reducing the amount of waste in the landfills, waterways and water treatment facilities.

2. You will significantly reduce pest problems & your use of pesticides

3. Healthier Plants. When you add compost to your yard or garden, you are adding nutrients that will benefit your plants. Healthy plants from the healthy soil look better, produce better, and have a much greater ability to fight off pests and diseases.

4. Adding organic materials to the soil improves moisture retention.

5. Adding decomposed organic material to the soil feeds beneficial organisms.

6. Compost amends both sandy and clay soils.

7. Compost provides a balanced, slow-release source of nutrients that helps the soil hold nutrients long enough for plants to use them.

8. Composting saves you money. You can use compost as a soil conditioner or mulch, and it will reduce your need to purchase such items.

9. Feeding your plants well will improve your own diet. Plants grown in depleted soils have a reduced nutrient content.

10. Home composting is a valuable tool in educating children about nature and the cycle of life.

How do I compost?

How you compost will depend on the time, and materials you want to put into the process. We will list a brief description of three common ways to compost to see which method works best for your household.

Backyard composting - If you have a yard and a balance of browns (fallen leaves or straw) and greens (grass clippings and food scraps), you have all you need to make compost.

Worm composting (vermicomposting) - If you have a tiny yard or live in an apartment or have an abundance of food scraps, this type of composting is for you.

Grasscycling - If you have grass clippings and don't want to use them in a compost pile, you can leave them on the lawn to decompose. Read about grasscycling for tips, techniques and benefits.

What containers can I use?

Small volumes - Plastic bin that is well ventilated

- Metal or plastic drum with base removed and well ventilated

Large volumes - Rotating drum (in a vessel)

- Enclosure (made from 4x4 pallets lined with chicken wire)

- Open pile - covered with a plastic tarp

What should I compost?

The following list contains items that you can compost.

Greens - good source of nitrogen

Grass clippings - mix well so they do not pack down

Coffee grinds - including the filter

Fruit

Vegetables - all vegetables and peelings

Egg shells - adds calcium

Manure from herbivores - i.e. horse, cow, rabbit - DO NOT USE IF ANIMAL IS SICK

Tea bags

Hair - human or animal, may be slow to degrade

Grains

Feathers

Blood meal - extremely rich in nitrogen

Browns - good sources of carbon

Leaves - improved aeration

Straw - a good source of bulky material

Sawdust - must be from untreated wood

Newspaper

Yard waste - best cut to sizes 2" or less

Paperboard - i.e., cereal boxes, paper plates and napkins - break into small pieces

Dried grasses - good source of carbon

Wood ash - must be from untreated wood

What should you avoid and why?

Diseased plants - disease can spread if pile does not get hot enough

Weeds with seeds or weeds that can sprout from bits of root. Seeds or bits of root may survive and sprout in garden if compost doesn't get hot enough to kill them.

Dog or cat feces - may carry parasites and diseases that infect humans

Toxic chemicals (pesticides, etc.) - will harm or kill beneficial soil life

Charcoal (briquettes) - will not break down in compost

Fats, oils, grease - attracts animals and keep anything they coat from breaking down.

Meat scrap, bones, cheese - slow to break down, smells bad and attracts animals

Treated logs - contains high amounts of chemicals