A guide to composting at home.
Why should you compost?
It’s simple. Your food scraps are not rubbish or “waste”, they are a valuable resource that should never, ever be sent to a landfill. You wouldn’t put your money in the rubbish bin would you? We feel the same about food. Organic matter breaks down naturally in compost and becomes fuel for your soil so you can not only grow delicious food but also sequester carbon and help to reverse climate change.
What is composting?
Composting is nature’s own recycling system, turning your food scraps into microbe-rich soil that will then help grow your (or your neighbour’s) veggies. With the massive amount of food scraps being sent to landfill, it’s a no brainer really, but there are a few key factors to get yours cooking just right. There’s lots going on in a good pile of compost, but it doesn’t actually need to be complicated.
Firstly, if you’re new to composting, decide what form yours is going to take.
Getting started - A compost bin vs a compost heap?
To get started you need to create a dedicated composting space in your back yard, there are many ways to do this, so long as your compost has contact with the earth
Bin
You can buy ready-to-go compost bins from Mitre 10 or Bunnings, but you can also make your own. If you’ve got any pallets or timber lying around they can be made into a basic box structure. If you’ve got a big bucket with a lid, cut the bottom off and drill or poke some holes into the sides and you’re good to go. Compost needs good airflow, and a connection with the earth beneath to attract soil life.
Heap
If you’ve got nothing to work with for a bin, or fancy the simplest approach, a heap will do fine! Just make sure you’ve got something to cover it with to lock the moisture in, like a hessian sack or a piece of cardboard, repurposed plastic or old carpet.
What can go in the compost?
Start by making sure you have the right ingredients, you will need a mix of kitchen scraps and garden waste. Hot Tip: You can freeze your kitchen scraps until you’re ready to add them to your compost (and save them from going to landfill in the meantime).
Nitrogen (Green):
Fruit and vegetable ends and peels
Leftover meals and food scraps
Eggshells
Citrus can go in, though it does take longer to break down
Fresh grass clippings
Carbon (Brown)
Shredded paper or newspaper
Shredded cardboard
Wood chips
Dried tree leaves and prunings
Shredded compostable packaging
Can I put meat and bones in my compost?
The short answer is yes. However depending on your composting set-up meat can attract rats, so you may want to avoid this at home. For a smell proof, rat-proof composter check out CarbonCycle NZ.
How do I get started?
Really good compost requires a recipe, you can think of it like a good lasange - layer and repeat. To ensure your compost works effectively you need to layer your carbon and your nitrogen inputs, and the method is simple:
Start with a big thick carbon (brown) layer at the bottom of your chosen compost
Add your nitrogen layer (food scraps)
Repeat this process every few days or as needed
Every time you add a new layer, give the compost a quick turn with a spade or pitchfork and a small sprinkling of water
About once a week you want to give your compost a really good turn with a spade
How do I know my compost is working?
Composting at home typically takes a few months before you can get it into the garden to though you will begin to see healthy compost at the bottom of your heap or bin. You’ll know it’s ready to harvest when it has an earthy smell and a damp, crumbly and warm feel. We call this black gold and it’s full of microbes ready to liven up your soil or gardens. Worms are a great sign of healthy compost - they’ll be attracted to the bacteria and microbes.
When is my compost ready?
A home compost usually takes between 3 and 6 months until it’s ripe to be harvested. Your compost will mature at the bottom first, and you can leave the newer stuff above to keep doing its thing.
You can use your homemade compost to raise seeds or lay it straight on your garden bed. If you don’t have a garden, share it around - Sharewaste helps people swap scraps and compost.
Composting is far, far from storing a smelly pile in the garden. It turns food scraps into black gold, helping to grow plants and draw carbon down from the atmosphere. Plus, when you get the recipe right, it’s completely addictive.
Happy composting everyone!