I have to admit, I used to buy compost form the store.  It did not seem very expensive, but it really adds up.  Plus, besides the cost of the composting bin, making your own compost is essentially free!  You never realize how much you can compost until you start!

Because of the plethora of items you will be able to compost, you are going to need a large composting bin.  The bin that I use is the Compost Wizard Hybrid – Rain Barrel and Composter, pictured to the right.  I absolutely love this composter.  It has a container for composting, and then a container to catch rain water.  When you mix the composter, excess water will fall through into the base of the composter and mix with rain water.  There is a screen to be sure that no debris falls through.  You can use this water to water your produce garden, flowers, or even your lawn.  Think of it as a sort of “compost tea.”

Put the bin in a spot in a sunny spot in your yard, as the sun will help break down the materials.  I prefer to keep it near my backdoor so that it is easy for me to throw the leftovers from my kitchen.  When you are filling your composter, you have to pay special attention to what you are going to put in it.  The obvious examples are vegetables and fruits (including corn cobs), but you can also put in leaves, lawn clippings, and prunings that have been chopped into small pieces (to allow it to breakdown within a reasonable amount of time).  Additionally, egg shells, coffee grinds, black and white shredded newspaper (no color pages, please!).  You should NEVER put in pet waste as it contains meat products and often parasites.  Neither should you put in fruit pits and seeds, because they take an incredibly long time to break down.

A easy-to-use and convenient composter is important for motivating an organic gardener to compost.  One of my favorite composters is the EZ Composter with Base.  This composter has a sturdy base and is easy to fill with organic material.  Just rotate the composter on a regular basis to help the organic material decompose.  Once your compost has been made, then empty the mixture in your garden for a great vegetable or flower fertilizer.

A smaller version of the the EZ Composter is the EZ Composter Jr.  This smaller version is perfect for a smaller sized garden and is designed to hold 7 cubic feet of compost.  It also has an easy twist on and off closure that makes it easy to have access to your compost material.  Aeration holes are either end allow the air to penetrate the compost material.  Additionally, this composter is made of a 100% recycled material, so it is very earth friendly.

Another great composter to use is the Tumbling Compost Mixer by Achla Designs.  This standing composter is also easy to load and is made of recycled material.  It holds up to 7 cubic feet of organic material and is designed to provide you with useable compost in about 5 weeks.  The upright style base is easy to turn and the sliding door stays shut securing your compost in the drum.  It is great for providing you with organic compost material anytime you need it.

When creating a compost mixture, carefully choose food scrapes and garden debris to make a healthy mixture for your vegetable garden. Household items such as coffee grounds, tea leaves, vegetable and fruit peelings or leftovers, chopped or ground up corncobs, and even crushed up eggshells make great additions to the compost. In addition, you may want to add garden debris that includes: shredded leaves and newspapers, straw, lawn clippings, or small chopped up clippings from plants.

A composter is not only ideal for helping to keep out animals like mice and rats out of your compost, but it also provides you with a compost mixture sooner. Use a composter like the Tumbling Compost Mixer for easily creating the right fertilizer for your garden. This composter holds a variety of items for your compost and conveniently mixes them up thoroughly. You should have an earth-friendly and usable compost mixture within five weeks.

Composting is great for the Earth and the health of your garden vegetables. To make your compost mixture, use items that are safe for humans, since their composition will be absorbed by the vegetables and eaten by you. For all of your garden needs, check out Backyard Style.

• Plants, algae, and water from a freshwater aquarium contain nitrogen and other micronutrients that speed up the decomposition process.
• Dead houseplants make outstanding additions to the organic compost pile.
• Weeds can be composted, too. Just be careful not to include any weeds that have set seed heads.

HAPPY COMPOSTING!

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