Composting organic waste from your kitchen and garden provides a valuable soil amendment that not only benefits your garden but also plays a role in reducing environmental impact. By incorporating compost into your garden beds, you nourish soil microbes, improve soil structure, and enhance the soil’s ability to store carbon. This process contributes to healthier plants and a healthier planet.
One challenge many gardeners face is producing enough compost to meet their needs, without introducing harmful chemicals like pesticides. Thankfully, autumn presents an excellent opportunity to ramp up composting efforts. With an abundance of fallen leaves, dead plants, and other compostable materials, now is the time to get ambitious. Mild temperatures in many regions extend the composting season, providing ideal conditions for the decomposition process.
Maximize Your Compost Pile
If you have a stationary composter, try to fill it to the brim before the cold weather sets in. Larger compost piles are more efficient at retaining heat, which speeds up decomposition. The bigger the pile, the better it can maintain warmth, even as the weather cools.
Harvest Greens Early for Compost
As fall approaches, many plants in your garden will start to wither. Why not harvest some of these plants early to enrich your compost pile? Consider cutting back old horseradish leaves, trimming raspberry tips, and pulling any weeds in your vegetable garden. Even a few handfuls of plants from a cover crop like buckwheat, mustard, or oats can boost the carbon content of your compost without harming the overall crop.
Comfrey, a perennial herb, is another great compost material. In my garden, comfrey is a key player in early autumn. Its leaves, rich in nutrients, break down quickly in compost. Comfrey’s blossoms also attract beneficial pollinators, such as bumblebees, making it a great addition to both your compost pile and your garden ecosystem.
Leaves and Paper: Natural Carbon Sources
While leaves are essential for composting, be mindful of their role in providing habitat for overwintering insects. In some areas, it’s important to leave leaves undisturbed to protect insect populations. However, in places where leaves accumulate in undesirable locations, such as on decks or driveways, gathering them up for composting can be a great solution.
Leaves are rich in carbon, which helps balance out the nitrogen-rich greens in your compost pile. If leaves are scarce in your area, paper can serve as an excellent substitute. Dampening strips of shipping paper or cardboard before adding them to your compost helps them break down faster. This can be especially useful in arid climates, where organic materials are less abundant.
Kitchen Waste: A Hidden Goldmine
A great way to enrich your compost is by cleaning out your refrigerator and pantry. Stale food and aging produce that would otherwise be tossed out can serve as a valuable nitrogen source. I recently found leftover tortillas, pickles, and a few shriveled fruits that went straight into my compost pile. This not only reduces food waste but also provides a nutrient boost to your compost.
Faded Flowers and Seeds: Compost’s Secret Superfood
Dead flowers may seem insignificant, but their seeds are packed with nutrients that enrich your compost. Plants like marigolds and zinnias, when deadheaded, can provide late-season blossoms and valuable seeds for composting. As these seeds break down, they release proteins and carbohydrates, which are transformed into nitrogen—a key nutrient for healthy plant growth.
Vegan Alternatives to Manure
While manure is a popular composting ingredient, there are vegan alternatives available for those who prefer not to use animal products. Organic layer pellets, typically used as feed for laying hens, contain about 17% protein, primarily from corn and soybeans. This protein breaks down quickly into nitrogen, making it an excellent compost additive. I recently used some ruined organic chicken feed in my compost, and it worked effectively without any odor.
Thinking creatively about composting ingredients, whether it’s using vegan alternatives or finding new ways to source carbon-rich materials, can help you produce more compost with fewer concerns about harmful substances.
By thinking strategically about the materials you add to your compost, you can enrich your soil, reduce waste, and contribute to a healthier garden and planet. Whether you’re using leaves, kitchen scraps, or innovative alternatives, every bit of effort counts. Happy composting!