CompostaBlog

A rain barrel is a nifty little invention that’s been in use for centuries, but in recent years they have made a come back. High water bills, global warming and water restrictions have all made the rain barrel more than an eccentric gardening help. We predict that in the future, we will see them on every new home. During a storm, even a light one, it doesn’t take much time for a 55 gallon drum to fill with the soft water that your lawn and plants need to thrive. In addition, widespread use of rain barrels would reduce the amount of rainwater reaching the ground and draining into streams and storm drains, thereby reducing erosion, sedimentation and pollution, while preventing storm water drainage systems being overwhelmed. Take a look at this recent article from Pantagraph.com and see how easy it is to get started saving money while you do your part to save the environment.

Would you be curious to know if your household produces enough compost material to make the investment in a composter worthwhile?

As a general rule, any organic matter can be composted. However, unless you’re a professional, certain contents should never enter your home composting system. Follow these basic guidelines to make the most of your composting system:

Composter Beware!
Be sure to avoid wastes that attract pests such as: dairy products, meat/fish scraps, bones, fat, oil, grease, and feces. Also, disease and insect ridden plant materials including weeds and seeds should be eliminated in other ways. In addition, wood ash does not belong in the composter — it can’t be broken down any further and may inhibit the decomposition process of other materials.

Compost Away!
Greens, which are high in nitrogen, make excellent compost material, so throw in house plants, grass clippings, prunings, fruits and veggies, manure, and kitchen scraps such as coffee grounds & filters, bread, egg shells, citrus rinds and vegetable peels. Browns, which are high in carbon, can also be composted with confidence. Add corn stalks, chopped brush, shredded newspaper, sawdust, woodchips, straw, bark and leaves with out worry.