Composting At Home - Easy & Rewarding
Published: November 18, 2010
Learn how to compost at home with these easy and possibly fun methods.
Easiest Compost Pile
Rake leaves in a mound. Wait. Leaves will turn into beautiful crumbly brown compost in a year or less. Use to mulch favorite plants. A four foot by four foot pile is a good size. It retains moisture easily, but isn't so big materials will get compacted.
Mow Leaves Into the Lawn
Mulching fall leaves directly into the lawn with your mower is easy and helps return needed organic material. It gives fertilization when lawns need it most, in the fall. Just make sure you can see the lawn poking through the leaves, and remember to sharpen your mower blade before spring as it will dull it.
A great way to avoid raking. Parks have used this method for years with great results.
Fancy Three Bin Model
Top of the line - features two bins to turn active materials back and forth into, and a holding bin for finished compost. Nice. Find free complete plans at: www.oregonmetro.gov
10 Second Wire Bin
Buy ten feet of wire fence and secure with three chain clips. You can unclip for easy access. Some like to unclip, set up next to the pile, and turn materials into the empty bin.
Grass Clippings - Direct Compost
Your lawn wants it's clippings back. It craves the nitrogen and 20 trace minerals given off as the clippings decompose into your soil. Mulch directly into your lawn. A year of clippings easily equals one application of store bought nitrogen, and it's free. Get your blade sharpened each spring for smoother mulching.
If you mow your grass three inches high it has more surface area to produce stronger roots. It also shades crab grass seedlings, killing them before they can get established.
Mortarless Block Bin
Stack blocks so air can move through them. Not using mortar means you can move the pile if you want. Some like to grow vines along the outside to make it pretty.
Five Pallet Bin
Screw together three sides, leaving the front fourth panel chained or hinged so you can get at it for turning. Try a bottom pallet to create air movement in the pile.