Composting 101

Are you looking for ways to reduce your household waste?  The EPA tells us that composting organic waste can reduce your household garbage by as much as 30%.  Trying to reduce your carbon footprint?  Carnegie Mellon University states that more than 20 million tons of compostable food waste is created annually.  If that was composted, it would reduce greenhouse gases so much that it would be the equivalent of taking approximately 2 million cars off the road each year.

Do you just want to be a little bit more environmentally friendly?  According to the EPA, almost 60% of landfill waste is compostable.  Imagine if everyone composted just a little bit of that.  If you’re interested in any of these things, and have about 10 minutes of time a week, then composting may be a great fit for you.

There are several types of composting.  The method that is best for you will depend whether you live in an apartment or have outdoor space for a compost pile.

Vermicomposting:

• Vermicomposting uses red wiggler worms (regular night crawlers or garden worms are not suitable for this type of composting) that you keep in a covered bin.  
• Deposit food scraps, yard clippings, and other organic matter into the worm bin.  The worms eat everything, and break it down into a high quality compost that is called castings.  Worm poop for the win!  
• If you want a worm bin, you can easily buy both the bin and the worms online.  One pound of mature worms will eat up to half a pound of organic matter a day, making this an extremely speedy method of composting.  
• Vermicomposting is a great fit for people in urban areas or who live in apartments with no yard space for an outdoor bin.  
• All you’ll need is space for a small bin of worms, and you’ll be all set to go.  As an added bonus, you’ll also have a whole bin full of new pets.

Aerated Windrow Composting:

• This is a very large-scale method that township recycling centers might use.  Often they will offer the finished compost to the community for little to no cost.  If composting on your own is too much for you to take on, you can still get fresh, healthy compost for your garden.  Check with your local township to see if they have compost available.  
• Windrow composting involves creating long “windrows,” which are just long piles of organic matter that are between 4 and 8 feet high, on average, and up to 16 feet wide.  The piles are turned over regularly (this is where the aerated part comes in).  Now that will make a lot of compost!

In-Vessel Composting:

• In-vessel composting is done with those large round rotating compost bins you may have seen at your local hardware store.  
• Organic matter is put into the drum, which is then closed and left to sit.  
• Turn the drum periodically (usually every three to four days) to aerate the mix.  With this method, you will have usable compost in about 4 to 6 weeks.  
• In-vessel composting is very low maintenance, which is excellent for anyone who wants to try it.  It’s also ideal if you don’t want an open compost pile in your yard.  The average turning bin will probably be a little smaller than a washing machine, so you don’t need too much space.

Basic Backyard Composting:

• For this method, you don’t need much except a little bit of space and a shovel.  
• You can use an open plastic bin, or create a box out of some spare lumber.  Whichever type of container you choose, your bin should be at least a few feet deep so you can build up a good pile of organic matter that can easily decompose.  Just like other types of composting, kitchen scraps and other compostable organic matter will make up the pile.  
• Build the pile in layers, using a ratio of 2 “brown” to 1 “green.”  A layer of brown (which is things like dried leaves, shredded newspaper, or torn-up cardboard) will be about twice the thickness as the next layer of green.  The green is composed of kitchen scraps and grass clippings.  
• Once the layers are built up, lay down a loose cover of either newspaper or cardboard on top of everything.  
• Water the pile occasionally since it will need to stay damp to aid in decomposition.  Make sure it stays about as damp as a wrung-out sponge.  
• Keep a shovel or pitchfork at the ready to turn the pile about once a week.  With regular turning, a backyard compost pile will provide usable compost in about 3 to 6 months.  
• Backyard composting can be done by anyone who has some space in their yard for a pile and a few minutes a week to spend watering and turning.

Want to learn more about composting?  Try one of the great books the Mercer County Library has to offer!

Composting Basics:  All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started by Eric Ebeling

In this book, you'll learn what and how to compost, how to make or buy bins, how to build a compost pile and make compost tea, and how to compost with worms.








Secrets to Great Soil:  A Grower's Guide to Composting, Mulching, and Creating Healthy, Fertile Soil for Your Garden and Lawn by Elizabeth Stell
This book explains how to properly use composted plant materials and animal manure to make soil that is perfectly suited to your growing goals.








The Organic Composting Handbook by Dede Cummings

Learn about:

• What you can and can't throw on your compost pile
• How to balance nitrogen and carbon in your pile for quick decomposition and rich compost
• Buying or building the best tools and containers
• Vermicomposting
• How to compost indoors
• Troubleshooting smelly compost, dry compost, and other problems
• How and when to apply the compost to your garden beds

Bokashi Composting:  Scraps to Soil in Weeks by Adam Footer

Bokashi composting is a safe, quick, and convenient way to compost in your kitchen, garage, or apartment, using microorganisms to anaerobically ferment all food waste (including meat and dairy). Since the process takes place in a closed system, insects and smell are controlled. Compared to conventional composting, the bokashi method is quicker, with compost usually ready to be integrated into your soil or garden in around two weeks.






In addition to books, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station webpage from Rutgers University has some helpful information and bulletins for home composters.  Visit their website for online information about composting.

—Megan S., Twin Rivers Branch