Green Products

One of the keys to composting is aeration. The bacteria need oxygen to carry out the aerobic respiration that creates rich compost. One way to aerate your compost is with a pitchfork or a compost turning tool. If you keep your compost in a tumbler, however, all you have to do is turn the container. Since most compost barrels can be expensive, you may be interested in building your own for much less money and an hour of your time. But, I have found, that though many want to make their own compost, a lot of them do not even know which ones you should use to create a rich compost that can give you the many benefits of making your own. Here is a list of things you may use and then go ahead and freely compost away. Remember, home composters like tumbler composters are NOT garbage bins.

• table scraps
• fruit and vegetable scraps
• crushed egg shells
• shredded leaves (for faster breakdown)
• thin layers of grass clippings
• disease-free garden plants ONLY
• lawn and garden weeds that have not gone to seed
• shrub prunings (please be reminded that wood prunings break down slowly)
• straw and hay (without seeds)
• green comfrey leaves (excellent activators!)
• flowers and cuttings (make sure you chop up long ones)
• seaweed and kelp (rinse first)
• wood ash (only from clean materials and only sprinkly lightly)
• chicken manure (another excellent activator!)
• coffeee grounds and filters
• tea leaves
• paper and cardboard (avoid using glossy papaer and colored ink)
• chopped up corn cobs
• natural dryer lint
• sawdust in layers to avoid clumping
• wood chips (sparingly!)