Composting at your apartment is easier than you think

Start a compost to reduce waste and amp-up your home garden.

There are numerous benefits of composting for renters, though two of the most common are also the most useful. Composting reduces the amount of trash in your garbage, which means buying fewer bags and dumping less in the landfills. The process also continues the good ‘ole circle of life, creating rich soil for your garden that will feed you again!

So…where to start? Composting requires a few basic tools to get started:

1.       A composting bin For most renters, a compost bin is our best bet. Bins don’t require much space and they’re easier to maintain than a compost heap. Bins are about $45 and up depending on the features that you desire.
2.       Organic materials This is the fun part! The organic materials are the foundation of your compose. Check out this list of materials that are good for composting. Never put meats, dairy, chemically treated materials, or greasy foods into your compost.
3.       Soil or manure Gardening soil is readily available and easy to work with. Manure-based products, such as Moo-Nure, also work wonders. Both help to jumpstart the decomposition process of the organic material while adding even more nutrient rich material. These products should compose about 25-40 percent of your bin. NEVER add human or pet fecal matter to your compost.

Composting is a process. You’ll want to toss everything in the bin, shake it up, and have soil the next day but that isn’t how it works. (Sorry!) Keep adding to your compost, rotate or turn it every two weeks or so, and watch the natural process work.

Once the compost has created nutrient rich material, you can scoop out batches and mix with soil for your garden. Your plants will grow stronger and healthier. Start your composting now to have ample, excellent soil ready for next planting season.

 

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