Composting

One family's trash is another family's treasure.

Backyard composting is a simple and effective way to help the environment and improve your Backyard Wildlife Habitat site. Composting is a natural process that turns organic waste from your yard and home into valuable nutrients for your gardens and indoor house plants while at the same time reducing the amount of trash you send to the local landfill.

March is the perfect time to start a backyard compost pile since many people are spring cleaning their yards. Once you choose a proper site for your compost area and create the starter pile there is little maintenance required. Read on to find out how to create a simple backyard compost pile in your yard!

1. Choosing the site for your compost pile or bin

Choose a convenient place for your compost pile. You are more likely to use a pile that is easily accessible. Choose a level spot near a water source and preferably out of direct sunlight. Do not build your compost pile against wooden buildings or fences because it will eventually cause the wood to decay. Your compost pile should be about 1 cubic yard (3' wide by 3' long by 3' tall). This size will ensure it is large enough to hold heat but small enough to allow for proper aeration.

2. To bin or not to bin

Unless required by local ordinances bins are not necessary for successful backyard composting. Composting bins may save space or look neater but quality compost can be produced using either bins or open piles.

3. What to compost

A mixture of yard waste and select kitchen scraps creates a healthy compost pile. Start the pile with a 4-inch layer of leaves loose soil or other coarse yard trimmings. Always mix kitchen scraps with yard trimmings when adding them to the compost pile. There are two types of materials that can be added to your compost pile - "greens" and "browns." Fresh "green" materials are high in nitrogen and dried "brown" materials are high in carbon. Both types of materials are necessary for the composting process. A good rule to follow is one part "greens" to three parts "browns.""Greens" are fresh plant materials and kitchen scraps such as: green weeds and leaves houseplants fruit and vegetable scraps and other kitchen scraps such coffee grounds (and filters) tea bags stale bread and egg shells. Certain types of manure (cow horse pig chicken and rabbit) are also considered "green" and appropriate for your compost pile."Browns" are dry and dead plant materials such as: straw dried weeds and leaves wood chips sawdust and shredded newspaper.

4. What NOT to compost

There are many items that should never be added to a compost pile or bin. These items may attract pests produce a bad odor or transmit diseases to humans pets or wildlife. Avoid adding these items to your compost pile: chemically treated wood products diseased plants weeds with seeds exotic invasive plants human wastes pet wastes or used cat litter meat/fish scraps or bones oil grease fat dairy products.

5. Maintaining your compost pile

Compost is created by billions of microbes (fungi bacteria etc.) that digest the yard and kitchen wastes you place in your compost pile. In addition to the nutrition you provide through the compost ingredients you must also maintain an adequate level of air and moisture in the pile for these microbes. You will need to "turn" the compost pile every few weeks to circulate the air and distribute the moisture. The pile can be turned with a pitchfork or shovel. Don't be surprised by the heat generated from the pile or to see worms living in it - both are part of the natural decomposition process. Ideally