Start Composting Easily

Composting scares many of us the way that baking bread does: It requires us to follow certain rules, use our best judgement, and leave the rest to science (and perhaps add in a few prayers to the homemaking gods for good measure).

The virtues of composting are clear: It reduces waste and gives valuable nutrients back to soil. But the alternative is often too easy—you chop your onion, peel your banana, and slide all the refuse straight into the trash. Still, composting can easily be integrated into your life, whether you have a vast yard or a closet-sized apartment. Even the laziest of us can do something useful with our organic food waste, and we're here to tell you how.

First, the quick and dirty on composting:

Composting is a natural process in which organic matter breaks down into fertilizer with the help of microorganisms in soil (or, as we'll discuss later, earthworms). This resulting soil—which passionate gardeners often call "black gold" and Martha Stewart sweetly describes as having the texture of "crumbled chocolate cake"—is rich in nutrients and will help retain moisture when added to your garden beds or potted plants. Fun fact: The scientific name for that "black gold" is humus.

The right materials:

There are a few things to avoid adding to your compost bin or pile. These include the thick rinds of citrus, fats or lard, ash, pet waste, and dairy. A comprehensive list of what's cool to compost and what isn't can be found here. 

Aerobic composting:

At its most basic, aerobic composting requires only carbon, nitrogen, air, and water. The nitrogen comes from "green" materials such as food scraps, grass, and garden trimmings, while the carbon comes from "brown" materials such as fall leaves, straw, and shredded paper. Keeping these different factors balanced is important—a reliable ratio is two parts green to one part brown, added in alternating layers to create a compost pile.

If you're lucky enough to have a yard, you can easily keep an aerobic compost pile. There are a number of ways to do it, but they all require a few basic tools and practices. Find a dry, shady spot, collect and add your food scraps, and add water, turning occasionally for proper aeration. Cover with a tarp if you live in an especially hot or rainy area. 

If you don't have a yard, but you're still committed to aerobic composting at home, there's hope for you yet—you just need to enlist the help of some industrious worms. Vermicomposting is becoming increasingly popular in urban areas.