What to

COMPOST

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What's compostable? (and what isn't?)
Learning the basics: "Green" and "Brown"

Like any simple recipe, you'll get the best results if you use the right mix of ingredients to make your compost. The key materials are nitrogen-rich "greens," carbon-rich "browns," water, and air. All of these are essential, but they're easy to mix together for quality compost.
 

Greens provide nitrogen, and act as a source of protein

 for the microbes that are hard at work in your compost pile.

· Green leaves

· Coffee grounds

· Tea bags

· Plant trimmings

· Raw fruit and vegetable scraps

Browns are a source of carbon, and 

provide energy for the microbes.

· Dried grasses, leaves and some weeds

· Straw

· Woodchips

· Twigs and branches

· Sawdust

· Shredded newspaper

· Corncobs and stalks

 

 

· Fresh grass clippings

· Hair

 

Greens provide       nitrogen, and act as a source of protein for the microbes that are hard at work in your     compost pile.

· Green leaves

· Coffee grounds

· Tea bags

· Plant trimmings

· Raw fruit and vegetable scraps

· Fresh grass       clippings

· Hair

 

Browns are a source of carbon, and      provide energy for the microbes.

· Dried grasses, leaves and some weeds

· Straw

· Woodchips

· Twigs and branches

· Sawdust

· Shredded   newspaper

· Corncobs and stalks

As living things, the microbes in your compost pile need water and air to work and live. Water allows microbes to grow and travel around in the pile to decompose materials. Turning your pile each week with a spade or pitchfork will provide air to aid decomposition and control odors.

JUST SAY NO!

· Food with meat, dairy or oils

· Pet feces (dog, cat or bird)

· Diseased plants

· Weeds gone to seed

· Ash from charcoal or coal

While many materials can be composted, there are some items that you should keep out of your home compost pile.   Excluding foods with meat, dairy or oils will minimize odors and keep you pile from attracting scavengers like dogs and raccoons. Since compost is generally used for a soil amendment, you want to keep if free of plant diseases and  unhealthy bacteria.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greens provide       nitrogen, and act as a source of protein for the microbes that are hard at work in your     compost pile.

· Green leaves

· Coffee grounds

· Tea bags

· Plant trimmings

· Raw fruit and vegetable scraps

· Fresh grass       clippings

· Hair

 

Browns are a source of carbon, and      provide energy for the microbes.

· Dried grasses, leaves and some weeds

· Straw

· Woodchips

· Twigs and branches

· Sawdust

· Shredded   newspaper

· Corncobs and stalks