I know...it's November, and who thinks about composting in this weather? The answer is that I guess my husband and I do, since we continue to produce compostible materials in our kitchen every day! The thought of throwing it all into the trash is so unpleasant. Not to mention the water wasted when we run the garbage disposal.  Additionally, we are still raking leaves and picking up twigs and small tree branches that all can be run through our chipper and added to our compost tumbler.

So starting a compost pile is something you can do any time to reduce waste.  And the added benefit is the compost you’ll be able to work into your garden soil or spread onto your lawn in the spring.

It can be a bit tricky trying to get the right mix of ‘greens’ and ‘browns’ so that they will work together to break down into usable compost. Even the experienced composter can run into this problem now and again.  Rest assured that there are many different materials that are great for composting.  People who compost often refer to “C:N” needs; some materials are rich in carbon (in the form of cellulose), which is what the bacteria in the compost need for energy.  Other composting materials contain nitrogen (in the form of protein), which provide the bacteria with nutrients for the energy exchanges.

Some of the best ‘browns’ to add to compost piles and tumblers are:

·        Shredded newspapers (soy based inks only) and cardboard

·        Dryer lint

·        Wood shavings and sawdust

·        Dry leaves and twigs, shredded or chipped

‘Greens’ to add in can include:

·        Grass clippings

·        Kitchen scraps (leave out dairy, meat and citrus though)

·        Green leaves

Include just enough water to make it damp, but not wet, and leave air spaces in the compost because the decomposing organisms need oxygen.  You’ll be well on your way to a compost that will be rich in nutrients.  You’ll be able to use it in your garden and lawn as a soil conditioner, fertilizer and as a natural pesticide for your soil.  Happy composting!

Water being our most precious resource, it makes sense to conserve it wherever and whenever we can.  After all, an average person can live on water alone for about eight weeks, give or take about a week for an over- or underweight person.  That same person, without water, will perish within only a few days, depending on the temperature and how much they are sweating.  And not only is water important for our own personal consumption.  We also need water for our washing, gardening, cooking and pets.

One very smart way of conserving water is with a rain barrel from www.BestComposters.com.  We have a number of sizes, shapes and colors that will provide your household with rainwater runoff.  You’ll get ‘free’ water and reduce your monthly piped or well water consumption and your water bills. You’ll also be saving the energy that would be required to purify that rainwater in a treatment plant.  Runoff from roofs can add up quickly, to like over 16.5 thousand gallons per year, or 65% of the annual water needed for an average landscaped yard – from a two thousand square foot roof. And untreated rainwater is better for plants.

Fresh water prices in the U.S. are averaging about $1 per 100 gallons, and we use typically 69.3 gallons per capita every day.  Your savings will add up quickly with a rain barrel or two in your yard, on your patio or deck.  Visit our Gardening Tools and Accessories page at www.BestComposters.com today for competitive prices and great customer service!