19 Aug COMPOSTING AT HOME
Reducing the waste output of your home has never been more important. Start your “green” journey by becoming a more environmentally friendly household beginning with composting your organic refuse. Veggie offcuts, fruit pips and most kitchen and garden waste are biodegradable and forms a natural fertiliser when mixed together and broken down.
Start your composting journey
Start with a simple container (or even a Bokashi composting bin), to collect the offcuts and unused organic matter in your kitchen. An ice cream tub or the likes will do perfectly. Once your container is full, empty it into your larger bin outside or begin a compost stack in a corner of your property.
If using a container, place a layer of sticks at the bottom of the container to help with ventilation followed by a 10cm layer of your organic waste, repeat this layering process a few times and then add an activator such as manure or bone meal.
Alternatively, you can use the same method when making a compost pit on the ground instead of in a container.
Remember to turn this mixture regularly every 4-5 weeks.
Keep your compost ‘healthy’
Water and air are vital for making compost; to create the perfect nutrient-filled mulch it needs to be moist and ventilated.
To keep it damp, water the top layer briefly and then push the hose pipe into the centre of the heap, don’t overdo it, you don’t want it to become water logged, do this every 4-5 weeks when you turn your compost pile.
What you can and can’t add to the compost
The quality of your compost depends on the type of things you add to it – the more organic the better!
Do add:
- Fruit peels
- Vegetable trimmings
- Pips
- Seeds
- Garden leaves
- Grass clippings
- Tea bags
- Coffee grounds
- Egg shells
- Shredded newspaper
- Ash
- Charcoal
- Vacuum dust
These materials can all break down and don’t contain harmful materials.
Don’t add:
- Meat
- Dairy products
- Oil
- Steak fat
- Fish
- Milk
- Kitty litter
These will only attract flies and other pests. Also don’t add plant waste if it is insect-infested or diseased as this will contaminate the entire compost batch. Also don’t add any chemicals or plants that have been sprayed with chemicals.
Alternatively, our chicken-litter based compost will work magic on your garden and grass! Contact us today to place an order on office@evangrass.co.za
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