How to Backyard Compost!

Jun 12

By: Charles Doering-Powell, Pembroke Hill Sr. and Blog Editor

Composting is one of the best ways to individually and collectively help combat climate change as we know it. It may come as a surprise to some, however, that it’s simple to do at home! Here are 5 ways to get started backyard composting:

1. Get a bin!

You’ll need something to put your food waste/scraps in - a bin, bucket, even a pile in the backyard would suffice.

2. Make sure you know what’s compostable.

Obviously, knowing what is compostable, or biodegradable, is an essential step in backyard composting. To start your compost pile, you need food scraps like banana peels, stalks from leafy greens like kale, and other food waste. On top of food scraps, things like used coffee filters, meat and fish products like bones, muffin wrappers, paper plates, dairy products, and much, much more.

3. Make sure you know what is NOT compostable.

Starting a compost pile in your backyard is a terrific idea, but putting something that is not biodegradable in your pile can ruin the entire process. Some of the things that are not compostable include plastics (this one is a BIG no-no), styrofoam, aluminum foil, artificial plants or flowers, recyclable materials, dental floss, q-tips, and more. Be extra careful when composting by making sure you only put compostable materials in your pile.

4. Maintain your pile.

It may not seem like it, but your compost pile needs to be maintained. You need to add water to the pile every once in a while to keep a moist environment, consistently add food scraps, mix in other soil every once in a while, and make sure to comb through it and mix it around with a rake or some sort of tool.

5. Know where you’re putting the soil you create.

Whether you keep it in your own backyard or ship it off somewhere else, make sure that the nutrient-rich soil that you’ve created has a home where it can be utilized the best. It’s fantastic to compost to cut down on our net methane production, but using the soil to plant a garden, trees, or other plants that help produce oxygen is a step that would put your environmental impact above and beyond.