Today we’re gonna talk about something I really like, but let me throw in a big ol’ warning right at the start … I’m not one of those eco-preachy types, proper extreme and dramatic. I do think we’ve got some serious problems with the environment, and things are getting worse, but if each of us does a little bit, however we can, I reckon we’ll be alright!
That said, shall we have a bit of fun with composting? Bet some people are already pulling a face! Hey, if you do it right, it doesn’t even smell… pretty? It’s not. But your garden will love it… and the planet too! 🙂
Making your own compost is actually really cool, and seeing that you can chuck a load of stuff from your kitchen together with bits from your garden, and all of it turns into this weird, ugly mix that’s super rich for the soil ….. your plants will go mad for it.
One of the best bits is that you end up wasting less and don’t need to use those factory-made fertilisers. Some of those are really bad for the environment.
Homemade compost, on the other hand, brings loads of good stuff for the plants, helps the soil hold onto water, improves the structure of your garden/beds/pots… anyway, only good things! Just not very cute to look at…!
What you can use
You’ve gotta think of everything in life being about balance – a good compost mix needs both “greens” and “browns”… no joke!
All the green stuff is usually packed with nitrogen. Like: veggie peels, tea bags (the ones without plastic)…
Brown stuff’s got carbon in it … like dried leaves, small twigs, cardboard, shredded paper…
Oh, and coffee grounds, empty toilet rolls…
The main thing is to keep it about 50 /50 ! half green, half brown. Something close to that. Balance, mate… balance in everything!
Now just remember…
no cooked food allowed (meat, dairy and that lot) .. it’s gonna rot, smell horrible, and bring in all sorts of things you don’t want near your house or garden!
Plants that are diseased can’t go in either, and neither can your pet’s mess, alright?
Worth saying … there are some compost boosters out there that really do speed things up, but some of them can be toxic, especially if you’ve got kids, wildlife or small animals hanging around.
Let’s keep it natural, yeah? 🙂
You can compost straight in your garden, or go for those peat-free options. And if you haven’t got much space and don’t mind the idea, worm composting (some folks call it vermicomposting) might be a cool shout.
Bit of a heads up though ….. even natural stuff like chicken or horse manure (depends where you live if you can even get it), they’re super strong and might burn your plants or bring in some weeds. So if you’re using that kinda “material”, go easy, and use it with care!
Lastly, don’t forget to give your compost a good turn every 2 or 3 weeks. Keep it a bit damp, not soaking. If it stinks, you’ve messed up the balance (probably chucked in too much green and not enough brown), so rebalance it.
If it’s too dry, add some green stuff and give it a proper mix! You might need to stir it once a week till it stops being dry and lazy!
