![]() ![]() However, manure from chickens, turkeys, cows or horses is rich in nitrogen, and can help your compost pile get to proper temperatures, and make very good compost. Avoid pet feces due to concerns about pathogens. ![]() To reduce the potential for pests or odors, avoid meat or dairy scraps and always bury food scraps deep within the compost pile. Coffee grounds and tea bags may look brown, but are actually potent nitrogen sources. Vegetable and fruit trimmings and peels can also provide nitrogen for composting. Green materials such as grass clipping and landscape trimmings are ideal sources of nitrogen for composting. Then leave it to the microorganisms, which will break down the material over time. Simply layer or mix these materials in a pile or enclosure chop or shred large pieces to 12″ or shorter. The easiest compost recipe calls for blending roughly equal parts of green or wet material (which is high in nitrogen) and brown or dry material (which is high in carbon). The four basic ingredients for composting are nitrogen, carbon, water, and air. The key is to blend your feedstocks to achieve a balance of carbon and nitrogen, keep things damp but not saturated, and ensure adequate oxygen deep in the pile. Home composting can be done in an enclosed bin or tumbler, in an easily made bunker, or using a no-fuss pile. ![]() Home composters should not attempt to compost meat, dairy or large amounts of baked goods. Many types of food waste and yard waste can be composted at home, including grass clippings, tree and shrub trimmings, vegetable garden and fruit tree waste, lawn clippings, autumn leaves, coffee grounds, and fruit and vegetable scraps from the kitchen. By making compost, you are creating a valuable soil amendment that you can use to benefit your landscape, boost plant growth and sequester carbon. Organic material sent to landfill creates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to the negative impacts of our changing climate. Home composting is an effective and efficient way to dramatically reduce your waste stream at home, while doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint. ![]()
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