TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
AN EASY GUIDE TO...
There’s no better way to fortify your garden while reducing your contribution to landfills than composting. Starting a compost pile can feel a little intimidating. Just remember to follow this simple equation... CARBON + NITROGEN + OXYGEN + WATER + TIME = COMPOST
WATER Check every few days for moisture content. Water as needed to keep the pile damp, but not wet. The moisture content should be like a wrung- out dishrag. Add drainage holes in bottom in case you get too much rain. Too dry? Add greens. Too wet? Add browns.
OXYGEN Use a pitchfork or shovel to turn the pile once a week or so, to aerate and help distribute moisture content. Gaps between the boards also help oxygen circulate.
NITROGEN/GREENS/WET fruit peels, seeds, and cores vegetable peels and seeds green leaves grass clippings eggshells coffee and tea
CARBON/BROWNS/DRY old topsoil twigs fall leaves sawdust cardboard cotton fabric paper
HARVEST The compost is ready to use after 2-3 months. You can add worms to speed up the process.
BOX SIZE Aim for a box that is at least 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet. Start with a thick base layer of brown material, including sticks, twigs, wood chips, hay, or straw to promote air circulation. Then alternate layers of greens and browns, making sure to always have a layer of browns on top, to balance the moisture. Tight on space? A smaller compost pile can be successful with the addition of red wiggler worms. Fill a box a foot deep with layers of soil, newspaper, and leaves. Place the worms on top with a layer of fruit and vegetable waste. Be sure to make holes in the bottom of the box to allow for ventilation and drainage.
KEEP THESE OUT OF YOUR PILE
62
TXK 411
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs