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The Do’s of Composting
by Wil Wood

A great man once said composting is like creating a super soldier of soil. (See the Do-Nots of Composting) By putting your green garden remains, which are high in nitrogen with your brown garden remains, which hold all the carbon, you’ll soon have compost that will transform any soil into the ideal gardening ground. Now, filling a compost bin is not complicated, Trendy Environmental Warrior, so do not panic. Here is a list of things that are Go for compost launch.

Down on the farm Manure is okay for your compost bin. The fresher it is the more nitrogen it provides. So if you live on a farm (you probably already know all this) pig, cow, horse, and maybe even rabbit feces will improve your compost. But remember, birds, cats, and dogs are a big No.
Grass clippings if you wish. Now grass clippings are a green (so says the color) so they provide nitrogen for your compost and are probably one of the most readily available for your bin. But consider this, instead of using these wonderful ingredients for compost—leave them on your yard. This will help keep your lawn naturally fertilized. The choice is yours, compost or yard; grass will always keep you greener
Leaves from the fall Leaves hail from the brown ingredient family and provide carbon. Like grass, you will find them in abundance which is a great way to kick-start your bin. But if you want to take full advantage of the nutrients in each leaf. Keep them dry and don’t pack too much—you want your compost to break down, not pile up.
Egg Shells are bonus! Eggshells are neither a green nor brown ingredient but are good for your compost. Eggshells serve as calcium. (Which is good since we don’t want dairy in our bin) So smash up the shells (uncooked) and sprinkle them in, the worms and your soil will thank you.
Pine Needles in restraint Now this brown ingredient can be a little complicated. If you live around pine trees, you will have an over whelming amount to compost—but don’t. Pine needles don’t break down quickly, and they are very acidic. In small amounts, they are go for composting but if you really want to take advantage of them, use them as mulch for plants like your tomatoes or your roses. (Some plants just love the spice but not all)
Kitchen Scraps! Tomato tops, apple cores, what have you—Your leftovers are good eats for your compost bin. But remember to bury these nitrogen providers, as your neighborhood rodents and flies will bother you if you over whelm the pile. (Also, keep your compost vegan, no meat, no bone, no lard, no dairy)
Hey, It’s Straw (Not Hay) If you need some bulk and some carbon, straw is a your solution. But most will warn you to keep away from hay, as it contains seeds and complications (like fire) you can also use straw as mulch in your garden, to keep down weeds and moisture for your plants.
A cup of Joe If you wake up every morning with a nice cup of hot coffee, or some tea—don’t throw away the filter and grinds; just throw them in the bin. These two are very common household items that serve as a provider of nitrogen.
Wood in every way If you have small pieces of wood, chips, and saw dust. Feed it to the bin. Wood is a…(you guessed it) brown product and extremely high in carbon; it is also a bulky item so it will fill up your bin fast. Just make sure the wood is all natural and doesn’t have some sort of fake treatment plan going on
The Final Ingredient. Worms If you want some rich compost, go out and get some red worms. (Not earthworms)—these little warriors will help break down your compost using a natural process and well, worms are cool. But if you don’t want them around, do not worry about it. There are multiple ways to compost and if you keep yourself armed with knowledge, my Trendy Environmental friend, you will do great.

Click here to read part two, the Do Not's of Composting

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