A banana peel is a compostable kitchen scrap.
Decomposing foods into fertilizer is a process called composting, taking certain kitchen scraps that break down naturally over time and turning them in a special bin until they are naturally reduced to compost. Composting speeds up the natural decay process so that you can harness it for use on a garden bed to mix into the soil, adding nutrients that will help plants and vegetables grow strong and productive. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Purchase a composting bin or tumbler at your local garden store or build your own composting pit out of wood. Make sure it has an opening that is large enough for you to turn over the materials inside with a shovel. Evaluate the benefit of spending more on a composting tumbler with a turning handle, making it easy to turn your compost daily.
2. Place your composting bin or construct your pit in a corner of your garden or lawn that is away from the street and your house. Select a spot that will be unoffensive to neighbors and fit within your own landscaping plan.
3. Place leaves and lawn clippings into the bottom of the compost bin. Layer compostable kitchen scraps on top of the leaves including fruit and vegetable remains, coffee grounds, eggshells and nutshells. Avoid dairy, meat and fat products as well as weeds with seed heads that can then reproduce within your compost.
4. Layer more leaves and grass clippings on top of the kitchen scraps. Use a shovel to thoroughly mix the materials together so they decompose as quickly and evenly as possible.
5. Turn your compost pile frequently to help the material decay faster. Use a shovel to mix and turn the ingredients every week or as often as every three days. If you purchased a tumbling compost bin that is easily turned with a handle, turn it daily or every other day. Get in the habit of turning your compost pit every time you add scraps to it.
6. Examine your compost pile after two weeks. Depending on how often you turn your compost, it should be ready to use as fertilizer in as little as two weeks or as long as four months. Inspect your compost and when it is dark brown, has a crumbly texture and smells like earth, it is ready for you to add to your garden beds as fertilizer.
Tags: your compost, kitchen scraps, compost Layer, compost pile, compostable kitchen