BENEFITS OF BACKYARD COMPOSTING:

Composting is a great way to turn kitchen waste and yard waste into a rich soil conditioner. Compost can improve the soil in your lawn and add nutrients to your garden and plants.

Composting is easy! You don't need any special knowledge or equipment, and it takes only a little extra time to collect your kitchen and yard wastes and establish a compost pile.

Composting is natures way of recycling. Not only does it provide a beneficial soil enhancer, but it helps the environment by reducing household food and yard waste going to landfills.

COMPOSTING MADE EASY:

• Compost is formed through the work of thousands of microscopic organisms which break down organic material.
• Remember to keep a balance between carbon "brown" (i.e. leaves, sawdust) and nitrogen "green" (i.e. fruit & vegetable peelings) materials.
• Oxygen is very important to composting. You can stir, poke or turn your compost pile to increase oxygen flow.
• Remember that water is a vital ingredient in the decomposition process. Make sure your compost is always moist, like the consistency of a wrung-out sponge.
• Try to put your composter in a sunny location. The sunlight will help heat up your compost, making it decompose faster.

Trouble Shooting:

Bad Odour: Too much moisture, could be overly-compacted, food may remain on the top of compost pile.
Solution: Stir, poke or turn the pile and if possible add some brown material such as shredded leaves, straw, sawdust or peat moss.

Too Many Insects, Bugs or Rodents: Are attracted by food remains, especially meat and fatty foods.
Solution: Dig kitchen scraps in after adding and then cover with shredded leaves, dried grass clippings or soil. Turn often to increase temperature and kill larvae.

Compost Pile Is Dry: Too much brown material, not enough water.
Solution: Turn and moisten; add fresh green materials and cover.

Pile is Damp, Sweet Smelling - Not Heating Up: Insufficient aeration, not enough moisture, lack of green materials.
Solution: Mix in some fresh grass clippings, or kitchen scraps. Try moving the composter to a sunnier location.

Nothing Is Happening: Too much moisture or too dry, pile too small, not enough green materials.
Solution: Stir, poke or turn the pile and, if possible, add some brown material like shredded leaves, straw, sawdust or peat moss.

Ammonia Odour: An overabundance of green materials (too much nitrogen).
Solution: Mix in brown material (carbon) to balance the nitrogen.

Tips & Tricks for Great Composting:

• Use a Kitchen Catcher: By placing a plastic container in your kitchen you can catch your organic waste (i.e. fruit rinds and vegetable peelings) and add them to your backyard composter. (The stainless steel decorative Compost Pail pictured here is available for purchase through LEE VALLEY, visit their website at www.leevalley.com)
• Go Easy on Grass Clippings: Although a small amount of grass clippings will add valuable nitrogen to your composter, too many clippings can create odour problems. Consider grasscycling your excess grass clippings.
• Save some Leaves: By saving some of your leaves, you will have great brown material to add to your composter all year round.