The Green Parent

Have you ever met a kid who didn’t love jumping into a pile of freshly raked leaves? I certainly haven’t! So with a beautiful fall weekend almost within reach, it’s time to rev up you rakes and get ready for some weekend fun. And after your kids get finished smashing the leaves to smithereens, be sure to add any leftover bits to your compost pile. Composting is the ultimate recycler, turning your yard waste and kitchen scraps into usable (and sought after) plant food. If you don’t already have one, this is the perfect time to get started.

Why Compost?

1. Save Money: Why pay money for plant food and fertilizers when you can make your own with some broken down leaves and newspapers. Composting is not as hard as you think and it can save you a fortune in yard care products.
2. Reduce Waste: Every scrap you put in the compost bin is one less scrap that’s locked away in a landfill.

3. Protect Your Plants and The Planet: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “compost has been shown to suppress plant diseases and pests, reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, and promote higher yields of agricultural crops.” The organization has also found that the composting process can help absorb odors, bind heavy metals, and break down toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Starting A Compost Pile

There are tons of resources out there that cover the composting process inside and out. Basically, to get started you will need 2 types of ingredients:

• Carbon (shredded newspapers, cardboard, and straw)
• Nitrogen (lawn clippings, kitchen waste, and weeds).

Combine them together and before long you’ll have compost. If you’re feeling lazy you don’t need to do anything else (but wait and wait). You’ll have usable compost by next year even if you never touch the pile again. If you’d like things to move along a little more quickly, you’ll need to turn the pile and add a few drops of water every few weeks. If you really want to get the most from your waste, check out a few online resources:

How To Compost.org
How To Make Compost
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Composting Info