#What is home-composting ?
Home-composting means the controlled decomposition of organic material such as yard-trimmings, shavings of wood, kitchen waste, paper etc. It is a means of recovery of organic matter into compost which can be used for soil improvement or as an alternative to chemical fertilizers.
#Why home-composting ?
- Composting can divert upto 30% of household waste from your garbage bins.
- It is important because when the organic garbage is thrown away in landfills, it breaks down in the absence of oxygen and emits harmful methane gas, increasing the rate of global warming.
- Home-composting also acts as a replacement to the chemical fertilisers you use in your garden, lawns and plants.
- It is an important step in following 3R’s.
#Compost Pile : What all things makes the compost healthy and for best use
A healthy compost should have much more carbon than nitrogen i.e. 1/3rd green and 2/3rd of brown materials.
Carbon-rich matter includes :- stems, dried leaves, peels, bark dust, shredded paper bags, corn stalks, coffee grounds, egg shells, tea grounds, wooden ash etc.
Nitrogen-rich matter includes :- kitchen waste, green leaves, manures, food scraps etc.
#Things which should'nt be used for composting:
- Meat, bones, fish scraps as they will lead to pests, also we can use them if you are using a composter specially designed for it.
- No pet manures should be used.
- Banana peels may contain pesticide residues, so it should be first soaked in water for sometime and then can be used.
#Composters:
- You can DIY a compost bin at your home.
- You can purchase standard composters – bins/digesters.
- Food waste digester is also a good option but that is useful when used at a big level.
- Earthern Pots ( make holes for aeration ).
- Tumblers.
#Steps for Home-composting :-
- Add dry and moist materials in layers and put them in alternate layers. Dry materials include: leaves, wood ashes, sand etc. Moist materials include: tea bags, food scraps etc.
- Activate your manure from time to time i.e. put green manure or yogurt + water mixture so that the process speeds up.
- Keep your compost moist by watering it ocasionally.
- Keep mixing the compost with a shovel or pitch-fork as it requires oxygen to break down. Also, once the compost starts developing, you can add in new materials.
- The compost will be ready by 2-4 months or maybe 6 months depending upon climate and quantity.
#Signs that the compost is ready:-
- There are no food scraps left in the composter.
- It should turn grainy/sandy.
- The bad adour should turn into a nice earthy smell.
Note: You can also make your compost in your garden, if you have one. That will take less time for preparation of compost and no composter will be required for the same.