So you want to start composting..... Here are some ideas for beginning your Composting Journey.

I started composting about 30 years ago in 1993 while I was at my first house before I had any children. We composted for years.... then life got busy, and I moved to a different house. The compost system didn't come with us. So there was about a decade of not composting, and not gardening. Fast forward to 2014, and I begin the next chapter in My Gardening Life.

Some Composting Decisions:

When I showed some of my college friends my composting system earlier this year, they cringed when they saw the cockroaches scurrying away from my bin when I opened up the lid. They said “NO WAY!”, they just couldn't handle the insects. I suggest the first two decisions a person needs to make is:

1. Are you alright if insects visit your compost pile? For many prim-and-proper southern Californians, this is a big NO. I understand that and respect where people are coming from. My compost bins are away from where we hang out, and not near any of my neighbors. Well, that is after my neighbor complained about the flies and I move my bins to another area.

2. Are you alright if rats visit your compost pile? No way right….

If you say no to those questions, then you need an enclosed system. You can make one, or you can buy one. While making one is ‘easy’ (for me) since I live a simple life and do stuff like that, it is not easy for a lot of people. I suggest spending $50 or $80 to get started with a Compost System that is pretty clean and very effective.

Two Options To Get Started

I have never used these two compost bins before, but if I was going to get one, I would spend the $80 and get the tumbler. It will just lessen the need for turning, which frankly, is kinda-a-pain-in-the-a**. My wife frowns on any curse words, and my son's girlfriend overheard me say ass at a dinner party we were at and just couldn't believe that word came out of my mouth. I have a reputation to keep up. Anyways... get the tumbler - you won't regret it. If money is tight, get the enclosed bin.

Where to Put Your Compost in the Kitchen

I just use a 'Recycle Bin' that seemed to fit well under the counter. Yes, this is open, and I don't mind, but some people freak out if they see some fruit flies appear hanging out with my ready for the compost food.

Get the Bin On The Right

For another $30 you can have a covered Compost Bin in your kitchen that shouldn't smell or have flies living in it.

Here is Why I Compost

I don't have to buy any garden soil from Home Depot or a Garden Nursery. I literally supply all my own soil to my garden, which makes me feel good (which is important) and also saves me a lot of money (less important, but still important).

We rarely throw any food away - It all ends up in the compost bin. Sometimes I even get a little carried away and put my amazon boxes through my shredder and add them to my compost pile.

I have a 3-bin system which I will post about sometime in the near future.

What Goes in Your Backyard Compost

Common Recommendations for Things NOT TO COMPOST

I don't personally follow some of these guidlines. Like weeds and seeds - if your compost gets hot enough like mine does, it will kill the weeds and seeds. If your does not - that it is good advice. So put your thinking cap on and use these as some good things to consider, but as always, try to understand why you don't do these things, don't just take people's word for it.

Resources

Here is a good guide to Composting:

https://alanharmon.net/assets/documents/composting-how-to-start-nc.pdf

My Annual Compost - April 29, 2023

Here is what I added to my Raised Garden Bed this spring planting. I love seeing the rich compost with the bright green lettuce. You can mix it in the top couple of inches of soil, or just lay it on top - the worms will mix it up.

Speaking of Worms

So this might gross-you-out, or excite you. For me, a good garden loves worms, so that is one of the benefits of a compost pile. I can bring myselt to maintain a worm farm, but my compost pile does a pretty good job of it by itself.

My niece said I am going to live to be 100 years old because I garden. I am not sure if I want that, but if I am blessed to live that long, I am going to try to give myself the best odds at being in good health and a good state-of-mind for that last decade of my life. More on that later..... in another post......

2023-09-16 - Great post!!
(172.119.126.20) - [Post-00051]

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