Home Composting in 10 easy steps
At first glance,
composting may seem complicated but once you’ve read this
article, you’ll see how easy the process is, whether you live
in the city or the country. Home Composting in 10 easy steps.
Composting improves the quality of the soil and helps reduce pollution.
- Composting reduces the amount of household refuse produced by Quebec families by 30 to 40%, thereby lessening the cost and the air pollution attributable to residual waste transport and disposal.
- Composting reduces the production of greenhouse gases, which
are released when these organic materials left to decompose in
landfills and come into contact with heavy metals and other
dangerous compounds.
| Nitrogen-rich
matter (green or wet matter) |
Carbon-rich
matter (brown or dry matter) |
Material that should not be composted |
|
|
|
- Get a refuse container or pail that you keep on the counter or
under the sink.
- Post the list of compost matter in plain view.
- Get a compost bin from your municipality or nearby warehouse
store, or better yet, make one yourself using wood (cedar),
wire-mesh, bricks, etc.
- Using a shovel, turn the soil in the selected area. A sunny,
well-drained area is the ideal spot for a compost bin.
- Cover the bottom of the composter with a 5 or 6 cm-layer of
small, dry branches.
- On this bed of branches, place a layer of dead leaves or earth.
This will allow air circulation and improve drainage.
- Layer 2 parts of carbon-rich matter (brown or dry matter) to 1
part of nitrogen-rich matter (green or wet mater).
- Add finished compost, gardening soil or newspaper to keep flies
out of the compost bin.
- Aerate the compost pile using an aerator or a pitch fork once a
week.
- Check the degree of humidity. Add water to the compost until the degree of humidity is similar to that of a damp sponge. Remember that it is always easier to add water than to remove it!
There are plastic compost bins with lids that are specially
designed for use on a balcony.
You can store your “brown” and “green”
materials during winter and use them in the spring.
To store carbon-rich matter, it is recommended to install a storage bin close to the composter. You can make one yourself, using wire-mesh, snow-fencing, assembled wood panels and brick. Because you want to store dry materials only, the bin does not have to be elaborate or insulated against rodents.
To store nitrogen-rich matter, place food scraps in well-sealed containers, for example: paint cans, laundry detergent or cooking oil containers.
To store carbon-rich matter, it is recommended to install a storage bin close to the composter. You can make one yourself, using wire-mesh, snow-fencing, assembled wood panels and brick. Because you want to store dry materials only, the bin does not have to be elaborate or insulated against rodents.
To store nitrogen-rich matter, place food scraps in well-sealed containers, for example: paint cans, laundry detergent or cooking oil containers.
Odours are present when there is a lack of air or an imbalance
between nitrogen (green/wet) and carbon (brown/dry). Rebalance the
pile, aerate, make sure the bottom is not continually waterlogged
and that should do it!
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