Composting for beginners
Composting is such a conventional household practice that has been around for years. It is an excellent way to cope with solid waste and turn it into something more useful. When you use microorganisms along with the oxygen to target the recyclable waste, the organic bonds break and you may get loads of humus in return. This can help you save the money that you otherwise would have spent on buying market-made humus and also lets you opt for a pesticide-free fertilizer for your garden.
That’s all about the composting, it may sound easy but if you are a layman to all this discussion, you may come across a hard time. Nothing makes this process more challenging than the abrupt increase in sunlight or wind’s intensity and that’s where you may need some tips and tricks. We have attempted to cover the whole biological perspective of composting, with all the basic science that would let you become a pro at it overnight.
Without further ado, let’s get started:
How does composting take place?
When we start with the composting for beginners, the early steps make the actual difference. Organic bonding is present in materials like wood, vegetables, newspaper, or grass, when microorganisms attack them, the first thing they do is to eat away all these oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen bonds. The question that arises here is where does one get these microorganisms? To cut the chase, these entities are always present in the soil but they do need oxygen and water for survival. They may get this oxygen when you turn the material lying in the compost container and moisture helps them survive and reproduce.
The most important process that lets to the completion of composting is what we call as respiration. Let us tell you that this process releases massive heat and the composting jar may depict the temperature as high as 66 degrees centigrade. We suggest that as a beginner, you have to be rather cautious, keep turning the organic material inside, and don't forget to water it religiously. You may have to jot down the sunlight duration and the intensity of the wind that works best for your material's composting. It does take time but in the long run, all these efforts are worth it.
The period depends on your efforts and the quality of the soil. It may take two weeks or a whole month to pass the beginning stages. One thing that is mandatory in composting for beginners is to maintain the balance, you can't overdo a step otherwise it may do more harm than good. There is this misconception that the stronger is the wind, the better would be the composting. Well, it doesn't always work like that, stormy winds may result in drying out or even dispersing the material. Once the harm like this is done, there's no way back and you may have to start from scratch.
Beginner’s key to composting:
Here, we will be sharing the easiest way to make compost for all the beginners. First of all, you have to choose the right location, it shouldn't be that far otherwise you may not be able to attend it regularly. In the same way, if you keep it close to your home, you may have to bear with the most unpleasant odor and your neighbors also won't prefer that. Some composting agencies can tell you the exact spot that you should choose as your compost site. Now let us introduce you to two types of composting:
Types of composting:
Passive composting:
Passive composting is pretty simple to understand. You don't have to buy any sort of structure or container to support the material. Just take all the ingredients, mix them, and let nature take care of it. This is why experts term it as passive composting. Let us tell you that it may sound comparatively easier, but it does take a lot of time and a little weather change can bring unwanted consequences.
Active composting:
Active composting requires you to take care of the material, check out the progress daily, and note the minor changes as well. You may buy containers that have different bins so that instead of collecting the finished compost every day, you can transfer it to the bottom bin with just a flip. This type brings fruitful results and also takes lesser time. There are even some structures that come with three distinctive bins, first one is for the garden-fresh material and the catalysts, second for the humus that needs more time, and ultimately, the last one for the finished product. This makes the whole stage simpler than before and eliminates all the need for a helping hand.
Hence, with a little investment, you can bourgeon the output and enjoy home-made humus that contains no toxic chemicals or pesticides. Let us share with you our two most favorite composters that you can rely on this season!
Best composters for composting:
This composter is available in two colors, black and blue. It has an eight-sided chamber and the best thing about it is that you don't have to mix the compost using your hand. Just put all the ingredients in the chamber and use the rod that makes it easier to blend all the components. You may just go to the composting site and turn the composter for five to six times every two days. When its summer, it becomes hard to step out of the door but usually composts need you to sacrifice your peace for at least a month. This composter ensures your compost is ready within two weeks, which is pretty incredible.
Since we are emphasizing the composting for beginners, it can be the most premium choice. It is because of the huge holes that let you add clippings from the outside without removing the door all the time. The handles are ergonomic so that turning them won't strain your arms anymore. The dual-chamber design keeps the old compost separate from the new material and hence you don't have to go for the intermittent compost collecting sessions.
Key features:
Dual chambers
8 sides
Ergonomic handles
Best for beginners
When you are hosting a party and have got tons of waste, you can utilize it in the most creative ways. The thing that makes it hard is to sort out the waste items. As you cannot use all the waste for compost as we previously mentioned above. This composter makes all this process a walk in the park. It depicts a 1.75-gallon capacity that means you can work in the kitchen and collect your waste simultaneously for weeks. The concise design makes it compatible to go with your kitchen furnishing. The brief structure makes it easy to clean as well. All you have to do is just wet a cloth and wipe the interior with it.
Here comes the most interesting feature, contrary to the conventional perspective, they have given a lid to cover the opening. This saves the compost from spillage, weather changes, and also from the surrounding insects. Now you may think that this cover can become a hindrance for the incoming oxygen without which, composting is next to impossible. They have figured this out by making the lid soft and porous. This versatility protects the compost inside and also maintains the airflow.
The composter also has a handle that you can use to keep the lid open while you are working. This composter has the potential to become a constant kitchen companion within days. The lid is separable so you would have no difficulty in removing it while you go for the weekly composter collection.
Key features:
Porous lid
75 Gallon capacity
Concise design
Weather-friendly
Best ingredients for composting:
Making compost can be easy if you start with household items like rotten fruits, vegetables, wooden blocks, or old newspapers. We won't suggest you consider meat products since they don't have impressive longevity and can spoil the whole material in a short time. You can use kitchen waste like eggshells, dairy products, or corncobs. If you like to keep your garden updated, you don't have to throw those clippings anymore. Instead, you may use the wasted grass, weeds, dried plants, and flowers to make organic compost.
Coming to the tips, since composting is all about breaking down why not go for worms? As per science, using earthworms can decrease the composting time to 50%. That helps you make more humus in a shorter span. You can either go for the worms that you may have in the garden or purchase them separately for the composting. One big misunderstanding is that beginners freak out when the compost feels warm. It is a good sign that shows you are doing well and compost would be ready in a few days. Lastly, using a cover on the bin can save the ingredients from an excess of rainwater and insects.
Conclusion:
As a final say, composting can be a beneficial step to not go all the waste in vain and turn it into something more useful. The by-product in the form of humus can bring a pleasant change in your garden. It helps you grow fresher vegetables, and in the long run, depicts a direct impact on your budget and life.