Composting is good for your yard and the environment. Unfortunately, composting is not as common as it should be, because many people are unaware of how to actually compost or just how easy it really is. The truth is, composting is a very simple process that can be done right in your home kitchen. If you’ve conquered DIY kitchen cabinets or any of the other home projects we’ve blogged about here, composting will be a breeze! First let’s go over the basics.
What exactly is composting and why is it beneficial?
Essentially composting is a natural way of recycling food and yard waste by turning it into an organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow.
Right at home, you will experience the positive effects of composting through a thriving garden or yard. The organic material that is produced by composting will enrich your soil so that it retains moisture better, and is less prone to disease and pests. When compost is added to your soil, there will also be less need for chemical fertilizers, thus reducing the cost of maintaining your garden or yard.
On a larger scale, composting reduces your carbon footprint by reducing waste and the methane emissions from landfills. According to the EPA, food and yard scraps make up about 30 percent of what Americans throw away. By composting some of those scraps, less waste ends up in landfills and fewer emissions are produced.
How can you compost right in your own kitchen?
First, you will first need a bin. You can purchase one at a gardening or home improvement store — or make one on your own. These bins can be kept next to your garbage bins in your DIY kitchen cabinets or anywhere you like. We’ve even seen people repurpose old filing cabinets to sort their glass, paper, and compost.
At this point you’re probably thinking, “Won’t this smell?” The short answer is no. If you manage your bin properly your compost will be ready to use in your yard in a few weeks and there should be no foul odors in the meantime.
Once you have your bin, you can start adding your food scraps. You can compost a variety of things, including fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, coffee filters, tea bags, and nut and egg shells. You want to keep your bin equal parts food (also referred to as “green”) and yard waste (also referred to as “brown”). Pick up any dead leaves, branches, and twigs and add those to your bin. Whenever adding new scraps to your bin, moisten the pile with water.
The combination of greens, browns, and water is what makes composting happen. Scientifically speaking, the green scraps provide nitrogen, the brown scraps provide carbon, and the water provides moisture so that the scraps are broken down.
As you can see, composting is a wonderful and easy home project, just like DIY kitchen cabinets! If you live in an apartment or don’t have a yard, contact a community garden and ask if you can drop off your compost with them. You can still compost even if you don’t have a direct need for the material that is produced.
At The RTA Store we help make your dream home a reality with RTA (Ready To Assemble) and Pre-Assembled cabinets and accessories. Whether it’s your kitchen bathroom, laundry room, home office, bar room or TV room, we offer the same (if not better) quality you would find at any retail store, but for a fraction of the price. Stop by our website or give us a call and let us make your dreams come true with the help of our free room design tool!
