Spring is upon us; it’s time to dust-off our green thumbs and prep our gardens for a colorful season. One eco-friendly way you can boost your garden is through composting.
Composting reduces landfill waste, enriches your soil and reduces the use of chemical products.
New to composting? You’re not alone. That’s why we chatted with Karen McKernan and Linda Dowling, Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteers. They share tips and tricks for safe, fun and effective composting.
Some Composting Basics:
1. Combine carbon-rich matter or browns, like dead leaves, with nitrogen-rich organics or greens like grass clippings in the right ratio (about 2:1). Nature will start to break down your organic waste.
2. Some types of composting that can be used to fit your needs are bin containers - closed, open or tumbler. Vermiculture, or, inside worm farm composting. Bokashi which is bacteria composting. And even check out commercial or community composting.
3. Collect kitchen items like tea bags, coffee grounds, and fruit or veggie scraps in a stainless steel canister or sealable bags and store in the refrigerator or freezer until you are ready to add them to your compost pile/bin.
4. Speed up your compost pile/bin with the right ratio and smaller material so that it will break down faster. You can also add a damp sponge and turn your pile to introduce more oxygen.
5. Don’t compost meat, fish, bones, dairy products, oil, pet manures, glossy paper, weed seeds or plants with any diseases.
Local Classes:
Tuesday, April 21st, composting basics will be covered at the Fayette County Extension office:
Call 770-305-5412 ext.7
140 Stonewall Ave W, Suite 209 | Fayetteville, GA 30214
email: uge2113@uga.edu to be added to the email list for upcoming classes.
web-site: http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/fayette/
For More Information On Composting:
Visit: http://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home