How To Use A Compost Bin

T he common compost bin often gets overlooked in a world where convenience is king. It seems like too much work – wrestling with worms and decaying greens, trying to keep everything just so – for something that might not even yield tangible results.

But anyone who understands how to use a compost bin, who's ever had a garden or grown their own food, knows the immense satisfaction of nurturing life from the earth.

In fact, according to a poll, 57 percent of respondents in this survey claimed that they believe in returning nutrients to the environment and therefore composting is essential.

This hobby has several benefits. Let's find out the ins and outs!

What Is A Compost Bin?

It's not just a pile of rotting food in your backyard (although that technically is composting!). A compost bin is simply a container – often made of plastic, wood, or wire mesh – where you can control the composting process.

You can buy a bin at most hardware stores or even make your own. Just ensure it's large enough to hold a significant amount of compost (at least a few cubic feet) and has some ventilation to allow air circulation.

Why Compost?

You can do a lot with composting - it helps the environment, your yard, and even your indoor plants! 

Reducing Carbon Footprint

Composting is nature's way of recycling. When you compost, you're essentially giving new life to something that would otherwise be discarded. By doing this, you're helping reduce your carbon footprint and do your part in the fight against climate change!

Improve Soil Fertility

Compost is packed with nutrients that plants need, like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Adding compost to your soil helps to improve its quality and structure, making it more fertile and better able to retain moisture. This results in healthier plants that are more resistant to pests and diseases.

How To Compost

Now that you're aware of all the fantastic benefits of composting, you're probably wondering how to get started. It's not all about carelessly tossing your food scraps into a pile and waiting for the magic to happen.

There is more you should know:

Getting A Bin

Well, of course, you'll need a home for all that compost! Several different compost bins are available on the market, or you can make your own. When choosing a bin, the two most important aspects to consider are the size of the container and the air circulation. Your bin can be placed anywhere in your yard – just make sure it's in a spot that gets some sun and is close to a water source.

Picking The Right Materials

You can compost just about anything that was once alive, including fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and filters, eggshells, nutshells, leaves, grass clippings, and even newspaper (as long as it's not glossy).

However, make sure you don't compost meat, fish, bones, dairy products, and fats. These items can attract pests, create unpleasant odors, and slow down the composting process.

The Right Ratio

The key to prosperous composting is maintaining the proper ratio of ingredients. You should have about three parts of brown material to every part of green material.

Brown materials include dead leaves, twigs, and paper, while green materials are things like grass clippings and fruit scraps. This ratio is important because the brown materials provide carbon necessary for the composting process, while the green materials provide nitrogen. Too much of either one will slow down the process, so you must find the right balance.

Adding water to your compost pile is also essential, as too much moisture will cause it to rot, while not enough will make it too dry and slow down the composting process. The ideal moisture level is about as wet as a wrung-out sponge.

Turning Your Pile

Once you've added all your materials to the bin, it's time to turn your pile. It helps to aerate the compost and speeds up the decomposition process. You should turn your pile every few days using a pitchfork or other garden tool. After a few weeks, you'll see your pile shrinking as the materials decompose. Once it's about half the size it was initially; it's ready to use!

Composting can be fun (if you cover your nose) and easy, and it's a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. We hope this guide helped you gain some grip on how to use a compost bin! So, go out there and start composting!