An eco-friendly way turn your yard debris into “black gold”

The evenings are turning cool and the leaves are beginning to turn into a brilliant bouquet of colors. The summer is gone and we welcome fall. But fall is not a time to hibernate indoors yet, there is a lot of work still to be done in our back yards.

Not the least of which is dealing with all those leaves and yard waste. If you’ve avoided composting because,
- you think its too much work and mess
- or you just aren’t sure how to get started.
Then fall is a great time to try your hand at turning this year’s yard debris into next year’s natural fertilizer.

You may already know that composting is the best way to turn those yard clippings, fall leaves and kitchen greens into valuable organic material that your plants will just love. But you may not know that by composting your yard and kitchen waste, you can also reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill by over one-third. So why not get started.

Composting is nature's way of recycling. When you compost, you convert vegetable scraps, leaves, grass clippings and other materials into a useful soil builder. It is an aerobic process that requires oxygen and under the right conditions, microorganisms grow and multiply, converting the original organic material into a more stable, usable product.

Composting is not an exact science though. It’s a lot like cooking, and the easiest compost recipe calls for blending roughly equal parts of organic materials rich in nitrogen, referred to as GREENS (fresh veggie scraps or grass clippings), while the rest can be lumped together as BROWNS (hay, twigs, dried leaves). Some people think a good general rule of thumb is use 2-3 parts brown to 1 part green. Simply layer or mix these materials in a pile, enclosure or bought composting bin. It is maybe best accomplished with the use of a compost bin as the bin helps to keep the pile neat and rodent free, reduces moisture loss, and retains the heat generated in the pile. Experience will tell you what works best for you.

Community composting is the next best option for those who are unable to compost at home. Community owned sites are an ideal way to keep the waste and the finished product close to where it originates. We have a city run composting site in our city where householders can bring garden waste for composting at no charge. The city also collects it in the spring and fall.

Composting is the natural process that decomposes yard waste and food waste to make a brown, crumbly soil additive that is sanitized; stabilized; high in humic substances and that enhances the health of your lawn and gardens. This organic matter improves plant growth by helping to break heavy clay soils into a better texture, by adding water and nutrient-holding capacity to sandy soils, and by adding essential nutrients to any soil. Improving your soil is the first step toward improving the health of your plants.

Fall, by nature, is an exceptional time to begin composting. Dry leaves, grass clippings and woody materials represent a large percentage of total yard waste. Each offers either the carbon or nitrogen components necessary for the decomposition process that takes place during composting. Add air and water, and you’re well on your way to rich, loamy compost.

Composting delivers many benefits. Modern gardeners face strict waste removal ordinances in many communities. Plus, growing environmental consciousness inspires gardeners to minimize their eco footprint while cleaning up the back yard. It is a cost-effective, eco-friendly way to convert your yard debris into “black gold”.

Composting is so easy and enjoyable it can be part of your daily routine. Whether you own or rent, if you aren't composting yet, you are missing out on a great opportunity to reduce landfill waste and feed your garden with a nutrient rich, all-natural, safe fertilizer for next spring’s planting season.

omposting "by the yard"