Composting, It's Easier Than You Think

Environmentalist and author Diane MacEachern proposes that we "use our spending power to protect the planet and ourselves." Her book Big Green Purse helps consumers shop green for everything from laundry detergent to condoms.

I recently spoke with Diane about fall cleanup and composting. She pointed out that gas-powered leaf blowers generate surprising amounts of pollution, not to mention noise pollution. According to the Website, The World Women Want, "Gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment accounts for more than four percent of our urban air pollution." If you do blow your leaves, Diane suggests using eco-friendlier appliances, such as electric or battery-powered (ideally rechargeable) blowers.

Raking

Better yet, of course, why not rake? Make it a fun family project. For advice on buying a rake, check out eHow. Then create a compost pile of leaves and other debris in a corner of your yard. I often wondered how composting works and knew virtually nothing about it; I pictured a compost pile as a heap of garbage under a tree and worried that, if I had such a heap, it would attract an extended family of rats. Not so. 

Creating a Compost Pile 

eHow describes composting as "a process of gathering together biodegradable materials and placing them in a big pile to allow them to decompose together." Begin by making a pile of leaves and over time they will decompose. Diane says you can just keep adding leaves on top. They start to decompose from the bottom so you begin by taking the bottommost decomposed matter first and use it as mulch. 

Accelerating Decomposition

Diane notes that it may take a year or more for your leaves to decompose. Matter physically heats up, she explains, and the hotter it gets the faster it decomposes. You can accelerate the decomposition by periodically turning the pile with a pitchfork. 

Composting Kitchen Waste

For composting kitchen waste, Diane uses a barrel with a lid (ah, this explains why I don't need to worry about a rat invasion), which you can order from Gardener's Supply Company. On their Website, you'll find a variety of compost bins with cranks that allow you to spin them. Spinning puts air into the kitchen waste and accelerates decompostition. If you don't spin periodically, unlike leaves, the waste will begin to smell. Be careful not to add any meat products—bones, beef, pork, poultry, fish—to your compost bin.

Gardening in the Spring

When spring arrives, Diane tips the barrel with the composted kitchen waste into a wheel barrow (or, if you use a bin, you can shovel it). She then uses the decomposed material to mulch her beds. You can also dig it into the ground to improve the organic matter in the soil, thus saving not only on mulch but also on eco-friendly fertilizer.

For more detailed instructions on composting, see "How to Compost Yard Debris" on eHow.

For more on "green gardening," check out Diane's Big Green Purse Website. 

What experiences have you had with composting? Any advice? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.