 Why Compost?
| Composting is an easy and environmentally friendly way to advantageously reuse organic matter that would otherwise be sent to a landfill. Compost can be used as a soil amendment or additive for garden plants, landscaping and house plants for the following and much more: |
- Increase the soil's water-holding capacity
- Provide plants with important nutrients
- Promote growth and higher yields
- Reduce the need for pesticides or chemical fertilizers
- Remediate contaminated soils
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Green Matter |
Brown Matter |
Water |
Breakdown of Organic Matter |
NITROGEN | + CARBON | + H2O | = COMPOST |
COMPOST
Green Matter
Animal manure
Coffee grounds and filters
Fruits
Houseplants
Tea bags
Vegetables |
Brown Matter
Sawdust and wood chips
Eggshells and nutshells
Lawn clippings, yard trimmings, straw
Vacuum cleaner and dryer lint
Clean paper and cardboard rolls
Shredded newspaper
Fireplace ashes |
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DO NOT COMPOST
Pet wastes (e.g. dog/cat feces, litter)
Eggs
Dairy products, fats or oils
Diseased or insect-ridden plants
Clippings from chemically treated plants
Meat or fish scraps
Glossy or unshredded paper
Coal or charcoal ash
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How Do I Compost?
| Steps |
Explanation |
| 1. Pick a container | Options: wire or snow fence bin, cement block or pallet bin, rotating drum, simple pile or 3-bin system. Visit our favorite resources to view pictures and building instructions here and here. |
| 2. Follow a recipe | Start the compost pile by combining the brown matter, green matter and water in layers in the right proportions. Our favorite recipes are here and here. |
| 3. Maintain and toss | Add to the pile as you can and turn it on a weekly basis to speed up the process. Add a little water after turning, if needed. The pile should always be damp but not soaked. |
| 4. Check for doneness | When the heap material has become loose, crumbly and dark in color, your compost is ready to use! |
Need a visual? We think this video provides a great demo. But, we are always looking to improve our resources and highlight local ones when available. If you have a better how-to video, please send us the link so that we can post it here!
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