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Home » Blog » SMART Composting – Turn Your Spoil into Soil

SMART Composting – Turn Your Spoil into Soil

By PreparednessMama on July 1, 2018 * 1 Comment

Set up a compost pile in your yard – Just do it!

You can recycle your kitchen scraps and yard debris. It’s the smart thing to do to improve your garden soil and help the environment.

These tips from the  Columbia Springs Master Composter/Recycler program are just the thing that you need to begin smart composting.

The SMART Composting Recipe

The SMART Composting Recipe | PreparednessMamaSize Matters – The ideal size for backyard composting is a bin or pile 3′ x 3′ x 3′ or 1 cubic yard. Even on their own, piles this size decompose quicker. Strive to have your raw materials the same size too. Taking the time to cut, chop or shred the organic matter is one of the best ways to speed up the decomposition process.

Moisture – Compost should feel about as wet as a wrung-out sponge. You may need to water it in the summer and cover your pile during your rainy season.

Aeration – Compost needs oxygen to support microbial activity and prevent bad smells. Aeration is just as important as the size of the materials, so pile your materials  loosely. Consider a three sided enclosure or build on pallets for better airflow.

Ratio – Compost should have a ratio 1:1 by volume of “green” materials and “brown” materials. A pile of nothing but brown materials will eventually decompose, however adding even a bit of green energizes the process.

Turn – your compost pile periodically to speed up the decomposing process. Whether you create a simple pile and let nature take its course or decide on a more active roll in the process turning is the single most important thing you can do. Give it a good turn, now and then, it will benefit your compost.

For further reading you may want to take a look at some of our previous posts –Teach Your Family to Compost Kitchen Scraps and Create a Mini-Compost Bin. Plus the University of Wisconsin Master Composter resources page for workshop handouts and compost bin plans.

Do you find composting fascinating? Become a Master Composter! Find information at your local extension office.

Do you already compost? Tell us about it on our Facebook page or in the comments below and click through to our Pinterest board – Composting Turn Your Spoil into Soil.

 

PreparednessMama
Preparedness Mama and its collaborators have created a one-stop shop of critical resources for families looking to prepare for disaster. We know firsthand that getting ready for the worst with a big family poses some particular challenges.
 
We’ve learned from the past so that you don’t have to make the same mistakes again. Fear of the unknown is one of the scariest things in life, but we hope that Preparedness Mama’s treasure trove of practical advice will make that unknown less daunting and ultimately help take the scared out of being prepared for every single one of our readers.

Comments

  1. Deborah Davis says

    January 16, 2014 at 9:07 pm

    Hi Shelle,
    Composting is important!
    This SMART Composting Recipe does a great job of simplifying the keys to composting successfully. As an apartment dweller in the city, I have to carry my scraps and take them to a community composting station at our local farmer’s market. Thank you so much for sharing these composting tips with us at the Happy, Healthy, Green and Natural Hop! I really appreciate it! All the best, Deb

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Live it up at the “Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Party” Blog Hop #9 says:
    January 21, 2014 at 1:13 pm

    […]  SMART Composting – Turn Your Spoil into Soil from preparednessmama […]

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  2. 101 Vegetable Gardening Tips & Ideas | Mom with a PREP says:
    March 10, 2014 at 8:42 am

    […] Smart Composting – Turn your Spoils into Soil […]

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  3. Testing Your Soil pH Without a Kit - PreparednessMama says:
    March 19, 2014 at 6:07 am

    […] soil from becoming overly acidic or alkaline. Finished compost usually has a near-neutral pH, so regular infusions of compost should be the primary method you use to improve soil with extreme pH issues. If your pH readings […]

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  4. How To Test Your Soil pH Without a Kit | Patriot Rising says:
    March 19, 2014 at 11:01 am

    […] soil from becoming overly acidic or alkaline. Finished compost usually has a near-neutral pH, so regular infusions of compost should be the primary method you use to improve soil with extreme pH issues. If your pH readings […]

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  5. DIY Simple Kitchen Scrap Composter - PreparednessMama says:
    April 4, 2014 at 4:07 pm

    […] SMART Composting- Turn your spoil into soil will give you all the information you need to know about the things you should and should NOT put into compost. […]

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