Compost is referred to by those experienced in gardening as "black gold." Finished compost is a black nutrient-rich soil that is used to amend the regular soil in gardens to replace nutrients that plants are using as they grow. Compost material can be steeped in a bucket or barrel of water to also produce what is known as "compost tea" for use in watering your flowers, perennials or vegetable garden plants. It is much safer for your plants, and you, than synthetic fertilizers. Here are some tips on how to compost your vegetable scraps properly.
Pick a Spot for Your Compost Pile
You do not need a fancy plastic container to make compost. All you need is a spot in your yard that is out of the way to make a pile that you can turn over on a regular basis using a shovel or a garden fork. If you do try to contain or hide your compost pile, try to repurpose or recycle materials as it does not make sense to increase your carbon footprint when you are trying to take steps to be more earth friendly by making a compost pile.
Do Not Mix Meat and Vegetable Matter
Meat should never make it into your compost pile. It is a powerful attractant to rodents and other wildlife, and it does not biodegrade in the manner you are seeking for a compost pile. It is okay if you are separating out vegetable matter from the meat and a little of the juices are still present. This might occur if you are going to compost something such as leftover beef stew. Remove the meat and as much of the fat that you can, and then throw the vegetables on your compost pile.
Make Compost to Save Your Garbage Disposal
Potato skins grind up into a thick paste and can clog your garbage disposal quickly. Tough fibrous plant scraps, such as celery, can also clog your garbage disposal. If you eat corn on the cob and watermelon, a compost pile is the only option other than the landfill for the parts you do not eat. If you have been abusing your garbage disposal with rinds, seeds and other tough vegetables, a professional technician. Like those at Young Plumbing Corporation, can keep it operating, but simply recycling vegetable scraps by composting them to make fresh soil is best.
Turn Your Compost Pile
Turning your compost pile means to get into the middle of it and mix up the contents using a shovel or garden fork. You can even rake it out and back into a pile using a metal-tined rake if you like. A garden fork works best. It looks like a sturdy pitchfork, and you can use one for other garden chores as well. Turning your compost pile aerates it and gets the outer layers into the center where the real composting begins. You will notice that the center gets hot in a compost pile. Regular turning keeps the biodegradation process going. Not turning your compost pile regularly leads to excess heat, which kills the microorganisms that are actually making the compost.
Keep Compost Moist
If it has not rained in a few days, give your compost pile a soaking with your garden hose, and then turn it. A dry compost pile is not going to break down the vegetable scraps you are putting in fast enough to make the rich, black soil you want. If your compost pile keeps looking like a pile of scrap vegetables instead of turning into fine soil the color of peat moss or potting soil, then give it a drink of water, and turn it more often.
You can also compost other scraps from your kitchen such as egg shells, coffee grounds and tea bags. Grass clippings can also be composted, but you need to turn the pile almost daily. A little more moisture will also help. Grass left unturned can get very hot and begin to smoke. However, compost fires are very unlikely.
How to Compost Your Vegetables Properly & Why It's Beneficial
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