Autumn’s a good time for making compost, and a bin is key

BY LEE REICH
https://apnews.com/article/c164cd82fade43109b4780c1d30e588c

Autumn is an ideal time for composting due to the abundance of materials like garden waste, lawn clippings, and fallen leaves. Composting doesn’t require complex ingredients or equipment, nor specialized knowledge. An essential element in composting is a proper enclosure, like a compost bin, which helps in retaining moisture and heat, crucial for the composting process, and also keeps animals away.

A minimum size of 9 cubic feet is recommended for a compost bin to maintain the necessary heat. Materials like manufactured wood can be used to construct a durable bin. For those more invested in composting, having multiple bins allows for continuous composting, with one bin maturing while another is in use.

The key ingredients for compost are carbon and nitrogen. Carbon-rich materials include dry plant matter like autumn leaves and sawdust, while nitrogen-rich materials encompass green plant parts, kitchen vegetable waste, and grass clippings. Balancing these ingredients is crucial, and observation, along with a compost thermometer, can guide this process. Too much carbon can prevent heating, while excess nitrogen can lead to unpleasant odors.

Watering the compost pile is important, as too little water slows down the process, and too much water can cause odors by displacing air. While regular maintenance, such as chopping ingredients and stirring the pile, can accelerate the composting process, a more casual approach will also yield compost over time, albeit slower. Ultimately, any organic matter will decompose into compost, characterized by a dark brown, crumbly texture and a woodsy smell.

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