3 Composting Mistakes That Are Easy to Make
AND EASY TO FIX!
Composting is an excellent way to cut down on landfill waste while making your garden and yard look even better. However, it can often require a little TLC, and it’s easy to throw off the “balance” of the compost, potentially leading to disaster. Here are a few common mistakes people make with their compost and how you can avoid (or fix) them! FOOD SCRAPS ON TOP OF THE PILE Accessible food waste is a fast way to attract animals and insects. If left on the top of the pile, it also generates a very unpleasant odor as it breaks down. That
top of the pile. As Good Housekeeping points out, this is a great way to avoid critters and smells — and it keeps the compost healthier!
TOO MUCH OF ANY ONE THING A big part of a successful compost pile is diversity. Excess grass, for example, can inhibit healthy composting. It may limit airflow to lower parts of the pile, choking the microbes below. It can also introduce too much nitrogen to the mix, which can elevate certain bacteria levels and make the pile smell awful. If you notice too much of one type of material like grass, food waste, or leaves, hold back on that material for a few weeks. TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE MOISTURE Related to the second point, too much water can also limit proper airflow and end up killing essential bacteria. If the moisture is because of rain, you can cover the compost for short periods of time. Using a tarp is a great option, and you can divert sprinklers away from the compost to avoid other water sources. However, during the summer heat, it’s possible for the compost to dry out. The material will then decompose at a very slow rate, as many of the microbes either die out or can’t function properly. Fixing this is as simple as watering it. Just keep a close eye out!
makes tending to the compost an unwelcome chore. The best way to avoid this is to have enough other material (preexisting compost, leaves, grass, or a mix of all) to layer on
THE SUPER BENEFITS OF YOGA
June 21 is International Yoga Day, which makes it a great time of year to talk about the unique benefits of yoga — the “superfood” of fitness. As a mixture of exercise and mindfulness, yoga is not only challenging but also has myriad health benefits. Many people assume yoga is mainly useful for increasing your flexibility. However, it’s also excellent for further developing your strength, mobility, and balance. These can be key benefits for living a healthier lifestyle, whether you’re an athlete or concerned about aging. Kaitlyn Hochart, a yoga instructor from San Diego, California, writes on Healthline, “During yoga, your body goes through a full range and variety of motion that can counteract aches and pains associated with tension or poor postural habits.” Yoga can help you become more aware of these habits, “[allowing] you to fix these imbalances and improve overall athleticism.” Many forms of exercise are useful against depression and cardiovascular disease, but in yoga’s case, you don’t have to break a sweat to start benefiting from its stress-relieving properties. “The breathing exercises you practice during yoga can help lower your heart rate and shift your nervous system into a more relaxed state. It also promotes better sleep and increased focus,” Hochart writes.
Multiple studies agree: Yoga can significantly decrease the secretion of cortisol,
the primary stress hormone. In one study, 64 women with post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) participated in a 10-week program, performing yoga at least once a week. By the end of the 10 weeks, 52% of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD at all. As with starting any new hobby or regular exercise, it may help to set clear goals for yourself. By doing yoga regularly, there are several physical improvements you can look forward to, such as: • Improved range of motion or ease of movement • A reduction in pain, discomfort, or other symptoms • An increase in physical strength and endurance • Less weight fluctuation • Changes in the way your clothes fit • Better-quality sleeping habits and increased or stabilized energy levels One of the best qualities of yoga is that you can be of any age or fitness level. So, pull up a YouTube video, find a soft surface, and give it a try!
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