Backyard Composting

So, you’ve learned about the benefits of composting, why reducing landfill organics is important, or just want to start a new project? Backyard composting is a great choice! A typical composting recipe will contain browns, greens, water, and oxygen. 

Browns are organic matter that contain a high carbon content. This should be the base of the compost, and is extremely important to manage the smell (no one wants a stinky compost- especially your neighbors). Some acceptable examples include dried plant waste that do not contain any disease, dried leaves (better if shredded), woodchips, sawdust/wood shavings (avoid pressure treated wood), straw, shredded cardboard (but not tape!). 

Greens are organic matter which are high in nitrogen. This fuels the compost, and is the material which has the potential to smell without proper ratio of browns. Acceptable examples include raw veggies & fruit scraps, coffee grounds & filters, tea bags (removed staples), crushed egg shells which have been rinsed, fresh leaves, fresh garden waste, and flowers. Please refer to our compost do’s and don’ts infographic as well!

Water is beneficial to composting bacteria, who need the moisture level to be right in order to be active. Materials in your compost bin should feel like a wrung-out sponge. Too much water will make the compost anaerobic, while not enough will slow down the bacteria. Hot compost is an aerobic process, which means that oxygen feeds the bacteria which decompose the organic matter. If there is low oxygen, compost becomes anaerobic. This will attract bad bacteria which produce unpleasant smells. This can often occur due to the matter in the bin being too wet with improper drainage. 

When it comes to ratio, we recommend 2:1 browns to greens in lasagna-style layering. 

1. At the base of your bin, cover the area with a 5” bio filter. 
2. Next, add a green layer, then cover with twice as much browns. *Remember, an additional brown trim biofilter needs to be continuously added.* The ratio can reduce to 1:1 if more nitrogen is needed. 

As far as the process goes, compost has a 34+ day cycle, plus curing, which can fluctuate depending on external factors. 

• Days 0-3 are called the Mesophilic stage, when the compost should be anywhere from 50 to 104 degrees fahrenheit. 
• Days 3-16 are the Thermophilic stage, also known as the Active stage where the temperature can be greater than 105 degrees. 
• Days 16-34 are the Mesophilic stage, 50-104 degrees fahrenheit. 
• On days 34+  is when curing occurs. 

From start to finish, it will take five months to a year to produce excellent compost. Your finished product should be dark brown and crumbly, with an earthy/meady smell. Its temperature should be similar to the air temperature. The pile will have significantly shrunk, and there should be no obvious signs of food scraps or yard waste.