When you add food scraps and yard waste to soil – it’s what is called compost. Compost is added to soil and works as a natural fertilizer to help plants grow healthy and strong. There are many benefits of composting, one of which: sustainability. Making compost keeps organic waste out of landfills where they release methane and lowers your carbon footprint. It also leads to healthier soil as it helps soil retain moisture and helps suppress plant diseases as well as insects.

To get started- create a compost bin and fill your bin with a balance mix of grass and green yard waste and “brown” materials like leaves and paper as well as food waste. Turn your pile regularly as often as you can- it helps it compost faster. It’s important to NEVER add the following to your compost bin: meat, bones, fish, plastic, oil, fat, any kind of feces, diseased plants, diapers, and cat litter. It is not recommended to add grains, nuts, and cooked food as it takes a long time to break down.

When do you know your compost is ready? You’ll find a layer of good compost at the bottom of the bin, add this to your garden weeks before you plant so the soil can absorb all the nutrients. Let us know how your composting goes!