Making compost is free, easy and green. Compost energizes the soil food web, which is made up of microscopic bacteria and fungi, along with earthworms, crickets, and many other life forms. Many fungi form partnerships with plant roots, making it possible for vegetables to feed themselves more efficiently. Research shows that compost enhances the ability of tomatoes and other vegetables to stand up to common diseases and may improve their flavor and nutrition, too. Compost also helps the soil retain moisture. Through composting you enhance your garden’s ability to grow healthy plants while reducing your volume of trash.
There are many types of compost bins and drums. But if you want to go the cheap rout any enclosure that you can get into at with a shovel or fork to turn the material will do.
This is a picture of a raised bed that I used as a compost bin over the winter months. As material was available I put it in the bed then in the spring I took off the uncomposted material and this is what was I was left with. A good seven inches of good compost!In order to get a good end product, The experts advise that you use equal parts brown material,(such as dead leaves etc.) green material (fresh grass clippings etc.) and water. It is also essential to turn or aerate the pile to ensure oxygen gets to all parts of the material.
According to the EPA it is safe to compost all of the following materials as long as they have not been treated with pesticides or herbicides and are in their natural state.
