How to Compost
Follow our handy step by step guide below, as well as information about getting the right mix, and some insightful video tutorials by composting guru Nicky Scott.
Why should I compost?
Home composting is one of the most effective actions you can take to reduce methane (a highly potent greenhouse gas) and help the planet. You can reduce your waste, reduce the air pollution by not having bonfires and reduce the need to water your garden. You will also increase your plant growth, and their health, by replacing polluting and toxic chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
How to buy a bin?
Visit Get Composting to discover a range of good quality compost bins, water butts, wormeries and accessories at amazing prices. Devon residents can currently get ‘buy one get one half price’ on Blackwall composting bins and huge reductions on other products!
Guide to Composting
Step One – Choose a location for your bin
A compost bin, or heap, is best sited on soil but can work on concrete. It is important to add the right mixture of materials and light sprinklings of healthy soil (or manure), which introduce the micro-organisms required to get the composting process going. Placing the bin in a sunny location will speed up the process, but it will also work in the shade. Place your bin anywhere that’s convenient, but not too close to your house!
Step Two – Start adding your materials
Anything that has recently lived can be composted, but care needs to be taken with certain materials, including meat and fish. The most common materials composted are: fruit and vegetable trimmings, grass cuttings and garden waste. In addition to these, you can compost small amounts of paper and cardboard.
Step Three – Fill up your bin and give it time!
Once your kitchen caddy/container is full, empty this into your bin. Try to get a 50/50 mix of greens and browns, as this creates the best compost. Here is a handy table which has examples of both green and brown materials:
It takes between 9 and 12 months for the composting process to be complete, so just be patient and keep adding your greens and browns to the top of the bin.
Step Four – It’s ready to use!
After 9 to 12 months your compost should be ready. It will have turned into a crumbly, dark material which gives off an earthy, fresh aroma. Lift the compost bin slightly, or open the hatch, and fork out the nice earthy mixture.
Your compost is ideal for garden beds, veg patches, hanging baskets and as a soil improver.
Getting the right recipe
To have a successful compost heap, you need to ensure you get the right mix of both brown dry material (cardboard, leaves, egg shells) and green wet material (garden trimmings, peelings and pulps). It’s important that this balance is kept to prevent your heap from becoming too wet or too dry.
From not the right mix to unwanted visitors, find out how to fix common home composting issues here.
Composting with Nicky Scott
Wormeries
A Wormery is a highly effective food digester that converts ordinary kitchen food waste into compost and liquid feed, all thanks to the Tiger worms that live inside! Although a small amount of garden waste can be added to a wormery, it is best to use a standard compost bin if you have large amounts. They’re not fond of woody thick material either.
If you want a simple way to compost your cooked and uncooked kitchen waste then a wormery is for you. There are even wormeries designed to help you compost your pet poo. For more information about wormeries visit the Wormeries page.
