A Quick Guide to Compost Gardening

The word "composting" is nothing new in the world of eco conscious individuals and urban gardeners. It is simply using your table scraps as fertilizing material for your outside plants.

For those of you who may not be as eco savvy as others, composting does not sound very pleasant to the ear. In fact, to some people the word "composting" only gives them very unpleasant images of rotting fruits and vegetables. The process also seems incredibly complex and intimidating.

Fortunately, with the help of the internet and lovely books such as The Complete Compost Gardening Guide anyone can learn and partake in the eco friendly act of composting. So instead of tossing your carrot peels and apple cores with the rest of the garbage, use these tips to start your own natural garden in the backyard.How does composting work?

The word "composting" is nothing new in the world of eco conscious individuals and urban gardeners. It is simply using your table scraps as fertilizing material for your outside plants.

For those of you who may not be as eco savvy as others, composting does not sound very pleasant to the ear. In fact, to some people the word "composting" only gives them very unpleasant images of rotting fruits and vegetables. The process also seems incredibly complex and intimidating.

Fortunately, with the help of the internet and lovely books such as Deb Martin's The Complete Compost Gardening Guide anyone can learn and partake in the eco friendly act of composting. So instead of tossing your carrot peels and apple cores with the rest of the garbage, use these tips to start your own natural garden in the backyard.

How does composting work?

Compost is made by natural organisms- such as worms and bacteria - by feeding on organic material and breaking it down. This compost then serves as a natural, non-toxic, and earth friendly fertilizer for your plants.

Why is composting green?

Composting gives the nutrients that we don't use from food and puts it back into the soil. It also reduces the amount of waste in a landfill.

How do you start composting?

If you plan on using compost outside you will need two parts wet waste (like vegetable scraps) and one part dry waste (newspaper) in addition to air and water. In the area in which you plan to compost, combine all the ingredients and dampen them until they are as moist as a squeezed out sponge. Afterwards, make sure to stir and turn the ingredients to circulate air and keep the process moving (this will prevent the dreaded rotten smell).

How can city slickers and urbanites compost if they don't have a lawn or garden?

Easy! Thanks to the idea of urban gardening anyone can grow their own organic food and plants. Urban gardening simply uses any container you can find and plants seeds in it. Afterwards you can place the container on your windowsill, fire escape, or even the roof. Even people in Manhattan have managed to grow their own roof top organic gardens with the help of urban gardening and composting.

Where can you find more information?

I already mentioned the wonderful book The Complete Compost Gardening Guide. In addition the author's of the book also run CompostGardening.com. Here you will find varying composting methods, guides, and simple rules to remember when starting your own compost garden.

Compost gardening is an excellent way to reduce waste, help the earth, and save money on fertilizer. It also reduces your exposure to the harmful toxins and chemicals found in fertilizers. So the next time you find yourself with some table scraps consider starting your own compost garden.

Sources:

Green Goes Simple

Compost Gardening

The Complete Compost Gardening Guide