Environment Australia, 2001
Composting is the natural breakdown of kitchen and garden waste into an earthy substance that enriches your garden.
OK, so you already recycle your cans, old newspapers, glass and plastic. But what do you do with your apple cores?... and your autumn leaves?... and your toast crusts?
Almost half the rubbish that is sent to tips and landfills every day is stuff that should have been composted. That's too much! Composting not only hugely decreases the amount of stuff we throw away, but can also be used to make your garden grow.
You can do this for almost no cost or even for free! And it's so easy!
It's easy to start. You can buy special composting bins, but it's just as easy (and much cheaper) to use a large wooden box. You can also simply make a compost heap in the corner of the garden, but some Councils don't allow it. Check first.
Remember, when you first make your compost:
- A bigger bin makes it easier to turn the compost later.
- Keep your layers loose! Compost needs air.
- Put the coarsest waste on the bottom.
- For a better result, you can sprinkle manure, blood and bone or lime between the layers too. (Lime is great if your compost starts to pong.)
- Your bin needs a lid. This makes sure your compost doesn't dry out or get soggy. It also helps keep flies and pets out and smells in.
- Your bin should have no bottom so earthworms can get in and out.
Just the thing for lunchtime fruit peel and crusts!
What next?
- Pets and compost don't mix. Keep your pets away.
- Add kitchen scraps and garden waste every day.
- Turn your compost every five days or so, mixing it all up using a garden fork.
- Hope you have a big bin! (If you forget to do this, it's no big deal. It will just take longer to turn into compost.)
- If your compost seems too dry, give it a light sprinkle with the hose.
- If your compost goes soggy or starts to smell, mix it up again immediately!
That's all! In about six weeks, you will have lovely compost for your garden. (It takes longer in cooler weather.)
You will know it is ready if it looks and smells like fresh topsoil. It should be pleasant to handle.
- Seeds - they might grow
- Bones - they smell and attract rats
- Meat - it smells and attracts rats
- Garlic and onions - worms don't like them
- Glossy paper - it has chemicals in it
So what do you do with all this lovely compost once you have made it?
- Topdress your lawn
- Dig it into your garden
- Add it to your potting mix
- Don't put it straight on to plants as it may burn the stems
- Don't feed it to your dog
- Don't leave it unused as it might lose its nutrients
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