Composting isnt as hard or labour-intensive as you might think. And, you really dont have to spend money to start doing it.
Composting is a natural process in which bacteria and other organisms break down kitchen and garden waste into humus – a rich, dark, soil-like material that enriches gardens and helps prevent soil erosion. Start with a layer of chopped leaves, grass clippings and kitchen waste like banana peels, eggshells, old lettuce leaves, apple cores, coffee grounds, and whatever else is available. Keep adding materials until you have a 20cm layer, and then cover it with approximately 10cm to 20cm of soil, manure, or finished compost. The smaller the material is chopped, the more quickly it will compost. Wet leaves take a longer time to decompose, but if they are dried out first, mixed with kitchen waste and then put into the composter, their decomposition will accelerate. By using compost you not only reduce waste to landfill but compost does several things to benefit the soil that synthetic fertilisers cannot do. Meat, dairy products and food containing oils or sauces can attract pest and therefore should not be composted. Pet waste is not recommended for composting as it may contain organisms that humans should avoid. Inorganic materials such as plastic, metal, rubber, glass, stone, chemicals or greases will not compost.
