Composting is one of the simplest ways we can help combat the climate crisis in our everyday lives. However, it can occasionally get a bad wrap. Here are some common misconceptions about traditional composting, and the facts that disprove them:
It takes a long time.
Not really, and it is worth the wait.
Compost can take as little as two weeks to finish decomposing under favorable conditions. Factors such as the size of the objects in the pile, the carbon/nitrogen/moisture ratio, and how often the pile is turned all come into play when it comes to the composting time frame. Composting requires patience, but there are ways of speeding up the process.
It requires a lot of equipment and space.
If you have an extra bucket, food scraps, and some yard waste, you have all it takes to start composting.
Composting requires a combination of carbon-rich “greens”, such as food scraps, and nitrogen-dense “browns”, such as dry leaves, newspaper, or lawn trimmings. The two groups should be shuffled together to create an earthy, layered tier cake.
Doesn’t it smell bad?
Only if you do it wrong.
When breaking down, compost should have a nuetral, earthy smell. If something starts to get stinky, it could be a sign of imbalance in your compost.
It's not worth it.
Composting has a plethora of benefits, from lightening your trash bin to improving the overall makeup of the soil it is utilized in. Approximately ⅔ of all household trash can be composted, and every little bit is just a bit more that won’t end up in a landfill. If you notice yourself flinching while throwing away those leftover coffee grounds, egg shells, or carrot peels, it may be time to start composting.
Compost helps foster healthy soil, which makes for yummier plants, and healthier and happier humans.
With happier soil, a slightly emptier landfill, and, what more could you hope for?
Composting is undoubtedly worth the little bit of extra work it takes, and your garden will be thanking you for all the added nutrients!
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