Composting is a practical and economical way of recycling yard waste by turning yard waste into rich humus. Composting can reduce the amount of yard and kitchen wastes by 80 percent. This will relieve the burden on our landfills while providing the composter with a free source of nutrients for their yard and garden.
Recycling by means of composting makes sense. Whether the bin consists of a single pile in the corner of the yard or elaborate wooden bins, it reduces our costs of purchasing soil amendments and fertilizers.
Mother Nature provides all the ingredients - organic material (grass clippings, leaves, flowers, annual weeds, chopped brush, vegetables), oxygen, moisture and micro-organisms. All we need to do is manage it by having the proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (30:1), turning it to provide aeration and maintaining adequate moisture by not letting it dry out.
Your County Extension Office has publications outlining this process.
Sue Adee, Smith County Master Gardener
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