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Organic gardening is a rage nowadays, and we can understand the why. With more and more people pushing to live a sustainable life, a lot of homesteaders are growing more crops without using synthetic products and chemicals. One of the must-have if you are starting to embrace organic gardening is to incorporate all-natural compost to your garden bed. While some gardeners are blest with naturally healthy and well-balanced soil, some are struggling with how to keep their garden soil condition healthy without using commercial fertilizers. Well, good thing there’s what we call as ‘home composting,” which is an organic way of making your own compost minus the harmful chemicals.
Compost bins are perfect for backyard composting
If you are into DIY projects and would love to pursue organic gardening, then making your own compost for home use is highly suggested. Here are the basic things you need when making your own compost at home:
- Organic materials (such as kitchen scraps, dried and shredded leaves, or animal manure)
- Water sprinkler
- Pitchfork
- Compost thermometer
- Compost Bin
These five things are what you need to start composting. Now that you know the basic materials to be used, let’s discuss the best product to use for your compost bin.
Use a pitchfork to turn your compost at least once a week
Top 5 Best Compost Bin Amazon Reviews
Here are the five best compost bin for outdoor organic gardening:
Home Composting: 6 Easy Steps To Follow
Others find it tedious to tend to their garden, that is why they resort to buying commercial compost and wood chips to enhance the soil condition. But making your own compost is still the best option if you want nothing but the best for your plants. Not only is home composting practical, but it also guarantees you that the compost you use is safe and 100% organic. If you are curious as for how home composting is done (especially for beginners), then this article is the perfect read to give you the basic know-how.
Freshly cut leaves can also be used to make organic compost
Here are the six easy steps to follow if you want to give home composting a try:
1. Gather Enough Materials For Your Compost Heap
A compost heap is a mountain of organic materials which can be used as organic soil improver after the materials decompose. The very first step to make is to decide the organic materials that you want to use as a base of your compost.
For Colorado farmers and gardeners, they usually use the animal manure as it is abundant on their farms while homesteaders prefer to use kitchen scraps as it is available in their home. Whichever materials you choose, make sure that you have enough at the end after the materials are decomposed. Remember, when the organic materials are decayed naturally, the amount will shrink almost half of the mound. Thus, you need to estimate that the mound of organic materials you gathered will be enough to cover your whole garden bed.
The suggested height for your compost heap is around 3 feet deep. Some gardeners use one type of organic materials while some prefer to mix both green and brown materials. But experts suggest placing these materials alternately (for mix materials) for a better composting process.
Kitchen scraps are perfect for homesteaders who want to try home composting
2. Use Compost Bin For Outdoor Gardening
After you have gathered the chosen organic materials for your compost, it is time to make plans on where to make the compost. Do you want it indoor (especially for apartment dwellers)? Then, a compost tumbler would be an excellent choice. How about for outdoor? Well, the best option for that is to use a compost bin.
3. Sprinkle The Compost With Water Consistently
Moisture plays a significant role when composting. The materials have to be slightly damp to maintain the ideal composting state and temperature. However, please note that overwatering your compost may cause the pile to rot rather than decompose. The water should be enough to feed the microorganisms found in your compost but not to drown or waterlogged them. Hence, make sure to use a nice water sprinkler to control the water. It is best if you avoid high-pressure water gun like pressure washers as these can damage the pile instead.
Sprinkle some water into your compost to moisten the organic materials
4. Check The Temperature Of Your Compost Pile
As mentioned earlier, you need to reach the desired temperature when composting. For hot compost pile, the recommended temperature range is around 120-170 degrees Fahrenheit or around 50-77 degrees Celsius. Other sources also deem 130-150 Fahrenheit as the ideal temperature. To check the temperature of your compost, you can use a compost thermometer. This item can be really helpful in keeping your compost heap well-balanced.
A compost thermometer is a good investment if you plan to make organic compost for the long term
5. Turn The Compost Using A Pitchfork
After sprinkling with water and checking the temperature, you now need to turn the compost to supply the pile with enough oxygen. Check the temperature of the middle of your compost before turning. Use a pitchfork to turn the pile about once a week. It is very important that you do this regularly as the level of oxygen in your compost can affect the success of the composting process. This also prevents your compost from having a foul smell.
6. Check The Compost By Hand
Lastly, check the compost if it still gives off heat. If it no longer gives off heat and the compost is already dry and crumbly, then it indicates that it’s ready to feed to your home garden.
Organic composts are healthy and well-balanced nutrients that are a great addition to your garden soil
Conclusion
There you have it, dear readers! The basic things you need to know about home composting. If you are having a hard time choosing the best compost bin for your organic garden, our personal choice is the Algreen – Classic Soil Saver Compost Bin. It is BPA-free which means it is safe to use around your children as it contains no harmful chemicals. Moreover, it is made from 100% recycled materials. This compost bin also features two sliding doors so that you can check your compost anytime without hassle. Lastly, its state-of-the-art design is perfect to generate natural heat for your compost.
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