How to Create Compost!

Getting Ready for the Garden Season?

Are you thinking about starting a garden? Are you wondering where to start? Well, there is no better place to start than where you will be planting your garden- the soil! The best way to make sure that you have healthy, nutrient dense soil is to apply compost to the area you’re planning to put your garden. 

How to Create Compost

The best materials for starting a compost pile are a mix of “greens” and “browns,” which are mostly the scraps that come from your home. So not only will you be making the best compost for your garden, you will be saving space in your garbage. Some “Green” materials you could throw into the compost would be: vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, etc. “Brown” materials would be: fall leaves, thin twigs, shredded newspaper, straw, etc. Materials to avoid placing into your compost pile would be cooked food, meat, bones, dairy products, fats and oils, and diseased plants. 

To make the best mix you should aim for a ratio that is ⅔   brown materials and ⅓  green materials. Compost contains the three predominant nutrients needed by garden crops which are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It also contains traces of other essential elements like magnesium, iron, zinc, and calcium. 

Materials for Composting

The best place to put your compost would be in a compost bin. There are ones you can buy at our local businesses that are called tumblers. These make it easy to turn your compost weekly. A cheaper option is to use an old storage bin. The reason why some put their compost in tumblers or bins is because the smaller the compost pile is (ideally it should be around one cubic yard) the faster it will decompose. As well as it needs to be turned and it would be easier to do that if the compost is in a more manageable sized pile. In addition, adding water to your compost pile is important. You want to keep it moist but not soggy to help with the decomposition process. Keeping your compost contained will also ensure it will not be impacted by weather conditions. 

How long will it take?

The length of time it will take for your compost to be ready depends on what materials you are putting in the compost pile, how often you are turning it, and how big the compost pile is. According to the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), it can take up to 3 weeks but it is more likely that it will take up to 3 to 6 months to be fully decomposed and ready to spread over your garden area. 

Why is it important to compost?

Composting has many benefits. It improves soil health by enriching soil with nutrients and microorganisms that help the plants retain moisture, and resist disease and pests. It reduces waste and the need for chemical fertilizers because compost is a natural fertilizer. It reduces methane emissions because the waste you are using for your compost doesn’t end up in a landfill which emits methane. Composting also helps prevent soil erosion because the soil is healthier therefore it takes water longer to infiltrate the soil. Also, it promotes sustainable agriculture by leading to healthier crops and larger yields. And lastly, it’s cost-effective. It is a cheap and easy way to reduce waste and make your upcoming garden the best one yet! 

If you do not have the time for composting but want to reduce the waste coming out of your home, we have two great compost collection companies right in the Belgrade/Bozeman area. There is Yes Compost which is a curbside collection company that operates out of Belgrade and their services are for Bozeman, Belgrade, and Big Sky. Then there is Happy Trash Can which operates out of Bozeman. Their services are for Bozeman, Belgrade, and Livingston.