07.13.2016

0800

I have a compost at home and I love adding to it. It’s a great way of how I get rid of my food scraps without adding it to the landfill. Currently I use the Lifetime 65 gallon tumbler, which is large enough to add multiple layers of dry leaves and moist food scraps. The design allows me to rotate the pile so I won’t have to run the pile using a hand tool.

Composting is the process of breaking down or decomposing organic materials for use as an excellent soil amendment. Beneficial bacteria and fungi do their part to return this waste into a form usable once again by plants. These microbes need air, water, food, and heat to thrive. Keeping the microbes “happy” will speed up the process.

There are a few benefits of composting such as:

• Saves landfill space, as well as, time and gas transporting yard waste.
• Improves the soil’s ability to retain moisture, reducing watering costs.
• Provides needed humus and nutrients for healthy plants.

With the Lifetime Compost Tumbler, it:

1. Hides the messy appearance of a compost pile, and takes less space.
2. Easily rotates saving time and effort of turning a pile.
3. Reduces smell by enclosing composting material and providing adequate air supply to maintain desired aerobic microbiological activity.
4. Helps to maintain proper moisture by shedding rain and shielding compost from drying winds.

First I  chose a location on level grass or dirt where drainage won’t affect pavement and a location where it will be convenient to access for loading. This location also has direct sunlight will help heat up the compost, and then I started adding to create my compost pile. I added:

1. KITCHEN SCRAPS: like fruit and vegetable peelings, cores, eggshells, and coffee grounds.
2. LAWN CLIPPINGS: can be returned directly to the lawn with a mulching blade or composted as desired, especially if the grass clippings are too long to be left on the lawn.
3. LEAVES: can be mowed to reduce their size which will speed up decomposition and increase the amount which will fit in the composter.
4. WOOD: such as branches must be chipped or shredded in pieces smaller than 1 inch. Saw dust must be resin free i.e. no particle board.
5. PLANTS: discarded from the garden, straw and hay.
6. MANURES: from herbivores e.g. cows, rabbits, or chickens. Excessive amounts will also increase the salt content of the compost.

But I don’t add:

1. Meat, bones, greases, dairy products, or bread which attract pests.
2. Anything treated with pesticides or herbicides.
3. Black Walnut leaves which inhibit plant growth.
4. Oak leaves and pine needles which decompose slowly.
5. Diseased plants or weeds with seeds.
6. Pet or human waste.
7. Plastic, foil, etc.

Usually the compost is done when it becomes dark brown and has an earthy smell. I then add the compost directly to ornamental plants as mulch or work into soil. The composter can easily be dragged after dumping to make room for another pile. I usually dump the compost directly onto the soil underneath it and then move it around accordingly. I hope more people will consider composting as a means to get rid of your foods scraps as opposed to dumping them in the trash. Check with your local trash collection agency or recycling center, some have donation stations or pick up services for compost and/or foods scraps . Some areas will also pay you for your compost as well.