Spring is in the air! I know many of us were done with those blah winter months a few days into winter, so lets get out there and play in the dirt!
Benefits of Composting
Growing your own food is not only good for you, but gardening, in general, is also good for you. It's therapeutic! To get out there, plant, and step back knowing that soon enough you and your family will be enjoying fresh veggies from your hard work, is one of the greatest feelings.
One of the best things I did for my garden was to add compost to the soil. Compost not only provides nutrients and beneficial bacteria to your soil, but it also assists in retaining water for your plantings, saving you money on your water bill. And composting at home really is easy. It had to be, because as a busy mom, wife, caregiver that worked full time, there was not much time for "extras" for me to add in to my day. There are really no extra steps required that you technically don't already do. And while composting is wonderful for your plants, it also helps in the home as well. I kept an old pickle jar under my kitchen sink, and in that pickle jar went all my veggie scraps that were not being used for cooking, egg shells, coffee grounds and filters, and tea bags. Once a day or every other day, I'd take the jar and empty it out into my compost pile when I'd go out to water my vegetables. Cover up the scraps you just added (called "greens) with "brown" matter (dead leaves, pine straw, etc.) and call it a day. I found that we didn't have as much stinky garbage, as most of the things were being put to good use outside and not left to rot in the garbage can, and that the garbage can didn't fill up as quickly, which saved us money in the long run.
Cost Effective?
A compost "bin" doesn't have to be expensive, either. It can be anything from a hole in the ground surrounded by chicken wire, to an elaborate set up that will cost you a little bit more. I was lucky enough to get my hands on an EarthMachine, which I was very grateful for, and has worked well for me. However, I have read articles on Mother Earth News where some gardeners (after their full harvest) dig trenches directly into their gardens, places their scraps directly into the earth, and cover it up as they go, allowing the scraps to decompose over the winter season. There are also plans online where you can make your own compost bins. Depending on how handy you are, my suggestion would be to do an online comparison on what it would cost to make your own vs. buying one, and that will make your decision much easier.
Concerns
Composting itself does not require any special cares or cautions. The main rule of thumb that worked for me is the 50/50 rule. Basically meaning that whatever you put into the compost in "green" matter (Household scraps, house plants, etc.), you should also put in the same amount in "brown" matter. Once a month I'd wet the pile a bit while watering my garden, give the pile a turn with a shovel, and that was it!
One main concern that most people unfamiliar with composting have is that compost piles smell bad and attract pests. I can tell you from experience that if you are doing it correctly and following the 50/50 rule of thumb, compost piles do not smell bad at all. I also never had a problem with a pile attracting unwanted pests, as the heat it generates was usually enough to discourage pests from living in the compost pile.
If you're interested in trying your hand at backyard composting, the website below has some great tips:
http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/dos-and-donts-backyard-composting.html
http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/4-diy-compost-bins-you-can-build-one-day-video.html
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