{"id":952,"date":"2010-11-10T19:17:20","date_gmt":"2010-11-11T00:17:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/beta\/"},"modified":"2022-04-25T14:15:14","modified_gmt":"2022-04-25T18:15:14","slug":"backyard-composting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/","title":{"rendered":"Backyard Composting in 6 Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Composting at home is easy! Here are 6 simple steps that will have you turning your food scraps into soil in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"highlight grey\">We offer free backyard composting webinars, workshops, and tours listed below when available. <a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLTnJz882Lyamr6HG4i9At1K0d7d1wbiBb\">Or you can view our composting Youtube channel.<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<!-- EventON Calendar --><div id='evcal_calendar_682' class='list_cal ajde_evcal_calendar sev cev color esty_2 ul ' ><div id='evcal_head' class='calendar_header ' ><div class='evo_cal_above'><span class='evo-gototoday-btn' style='display:none' data-mo='4' data-yr='2024' data-dy=''>Current Month<\/span><\/div><div class='evo_cal_above_content'><\/div><\/div><div id='eventon_loadbar_section'><div id='eventon_loadbar'><\/div><\/div><!-- Events List --><div id='evcal_list' \r\n\t\t\t\t\tclass='eventon_events_list sep_months evcal_list_month'><div class='evcal_month_line' data-d='eml_4_2024'><p>april<\/p><\/div><div class='sep_month_events no_event' data-d='eml_4_2024'><div class='eventon_list_event no_events'><p class='no_events' >None listed.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class='evcal_month_line' data-d='eml_5_2024'><p>may<\/p><\/div><div class='sep_month_events no_event' data-d='eml_5_2024'><div class='eventon_list_event no_events'><p class='no_events' >None listed.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t<div class='clear'><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<div class='clear'><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t \t<div id='evcal_footer' class='evo_bottom' style='display:none'>\r\n\t\t \t\t<div class='evo_cal_data'  data-sc='{\"accord\":\"no\",\"bottom_nav\":\"no\",\"cal_id\":\"\",\"cal_init_nonajax\":\"no\",\"calendar_type\":\"list\",\"ep_fields\":\"\",\"etc_override\":\"no\",\"evc_open\":\"no\",\"event_count\":0,\"event_location\":\"all\",\"event_order\":\"ASC\",\"event_organizer\":\"all\",\"event_parts\":\"no\",\"event_past_future\":\"all\",\"event_status\":\"all\",\"event_tag\":\"all\",\"event_type\":\"1007,1391,1600,1752\\u2033\",\"event_type_2\":\"all\",\"event_type_3\":\"all\",\"event_type_4\":\"all\",\"event_type_5\":\"all\",\"event_virtual\":\"all\",\"eventtop_date_style\":0,\"eventtop_style\":\"2\",\"exp_jumper\":\"no\",\"exp_so\":\"no\",\"filter_relationship\":\"AND\",\"filter_show_set_only\":\"no\",\"filter_type\":\"default\",\"filters\":\"yes\",\"fixed_month\":\"4\",\"fixed_year\":\"2024\",\"focus_end_date_range\":\"1717199999\",\"focus_start_date_range\":\"1711929600\",\"ft_event_priority\":\"no\",\"hide_arrows\":\"no\",\"hide_cancels\":\"no\",\"hide_empty_months\":\"no\",\"hide_end_time\":\"no\",\"hide_et_dn\":\"no\",\"hide_et_extra\":\"no\",\"hide_et_tags\":\"no\",\"hide_et_tl\":\"no\",\"hide_ft\":\"no\",\"hide_ft_img\":\"no\",\"hide_month_headers\":\"no\",\"hide_mult_occur\":\"no\",\"hide_past\":\"no\",\"hide_past_by\":\"ee\",\"hide_so\":\"no\",\"ics\":\"no\",\"jumper\":\"no\",\"jumper_count\":5,\"jumper_offset\":\"0\",\"lang\":\"L1\",\"layout_changer\":\"no\",\"livenow_bar\":\"yes\",\"mapformat\":\"roadmap\",\"mapiconurl\":\"\",\"maps_load\":\"yes\",\"mapscroll\":\"true\",\"mapzoom\":\"18\",\"members_only\":\"no\",\"ml_priority\":\"no\",\"month_incre\":0,\"number_of_months\":\"2\",\"only_ft\":\"no\",\"pec\":\"\",\"s\":\"\",\"search\":\"\",\"search_all\":\"no\",\"sep_month\":\"yes\",\"show_et_ft_img\":\"no\",\"show_limit\":\"no\",\"show_limit_ajax\":\"no\",\"show_limit_paged\":1,\"show_limit_redir\":\"\",\"show_repeats\":\"no\",\"show_upcoming\":0,\"show_year\":\"no\",\"social_share\":\"no\",\"sort_by\":\"sort_date\",\"tile_bg\":0,\"tile_bg_size\":\"full\",\"tile_count\":2,\"tile_height\":0,\"tile_style\":0,\"tiles\":\"no\",\"ux_val\":\"0\",\"view_switcher\":\"no\",\"wpml_l1\":\"\",\"wpml_l2\":\"\",\"wpml_l3\":\"\",\"yl_priority\":\"no\",\"fixed_day\":\"26\",\"_cver\":\"4.2.1\"}' data-od='{\"lang_no_events\":\"None listed.\"}'><\/div>\r\n\t\t \t\t<div class='evo_cal_events' data-events=\"\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t \t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- EventON End -->\r\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-collect-materials\">1. Collect materials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can collect your food scraps in any container with a lid, from a yogurt tub to a child\u2019s beach pail. Kitchen pails designed for collecting food scraps are sold online and at many local garden centers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rule of (green) thumb: Whenever you add food scraps, cover them with at least as much brown leaves. Besides adding needed carbon, it&#8217;ll also help reduce odors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides collecting food scraps and other nitrogen sources listed below, you&#8217;ll also need to collect some dry, brown carbon sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-26\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-26 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Nitrogen (green, wet)<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Carbon (dry, brown)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">grass clippings<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">dead leaves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">weeds<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">hay or straw<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">manure<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">corn stalks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">vegetable &amp; fruit scraps<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">saw dust<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">coffee grounds &amp; filters<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">dried, brown grass clippings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">tea bags<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">newspaper*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">eggshells<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">food-soiled cardboard*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9 odd\">\n\t<td colspan=\"2\" class=\"column-1\">*shred and add in small quantities<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-26 from cache -->\n\n\n\n<p>Any organic material will decompose, but it is a good idea not to add materials to a compost bin that will take a long time to decompose or that will attract animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do NOT add the following to your home compost pile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>grease or oil<\/li><li>dead animals<\/li><li>diseased plants<\/li><li>fatty foods or any meat or bones<\/li><li>human &amp; pet waste<\/li><li>treated wood<\/li><li>coal or wood ashes<\/li><li>pine needles or oak leaves (small amounts are OK)<\/li><li>pesticide-treated plants<\/li><li>weeds with seeds or runners&#8211;they will not be killed at the temperatures present in back yard piles. We recommend bringing these to CSWD as yard debris if you are making compost to spread on your garden.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-select-a-container\">2. Select a container<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A backyard composting bin doesn&#8217;t need to be complicated. Food scraps and leaves will break down into compost even if they&#8217;re left in an open pile. However, most people create a container to keep animals out, speed the process, and maintain a neater yard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/compostbinplans.pdf\">Download our backyard composting bin plans<\/a> for a guide to building a variety of backyard composting bins; everything from a simple three-pallet option to the &#8220;taj mahal&#8221; of composting containers.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBackyard composting bins and tumblers are also widely available for purchasing at local retailers and online. Attend a CSWD workshop or webinar to learn how to choose one best suited to your yard and use.\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-choose-a-location\">3. Choose a location<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Selecting a site for the pile is a balance between convenience and consideration. Although a well maintained compost pile should not generate odors or attract animals, we advise not placing it too close to outdoor living areas or property lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-build-the-pile\">4. Build the pile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The basic idea is to alternate wet and dry materials. This will help create optimal conditions for the micro-organisms that decompose organic matter. Have a leaf pile near your compost bin. When you add food scraps, add at least that amount of dry leaves on top. Not only does that add needed material for the process, but it helps keep odors down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To discourage insects, rodents, and other \u201cvectors,\u201d be sure to bury food scraps near the center of the pile and cover with dry materials. Do not add meat, dairy products, or fatty foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-let-it-cook\">5. Let it cook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, worms, and insects, will decompose the material in the compost pile. It\u2019s just a matter of time. The rate at which this process happens depends on three extra ingredients: air, water, and temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Microorganisms are living creatures and need the right diet as well as air and water to live. To ensure that they have enough of both, as often as you can remember, stick a pitchfork into various spots in the pile and wiggle it to open up new avenues for air and water to enter the center of the pile. The more you do this, the faster your pile will turn into compost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We all move a little more slowly in cold temperatures, and those microbes are no different. The warmer the air temperature, the faster the microbes work. That\u2019s why breakdown slows considerably in the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-harvest-the-compost\">6. Harvest the compost<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The compost is finished when it is dark brown and has an earthy smell. To remove any large chunks, sift the compost through a garden sieve or milk crate. The chunks can be placed back in the pile for further decomposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use the finished compost in your garden to add nutrients to the soil around plants. It can also be used to repot house plants, as a bedding for seedlings, or as mulch around trees and shrubs. Lawns love compost, too &#8212; sprinkle about a half inch in the spring and fall and you\u2019ll be amazed at how well your grass responds!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Composting at home is easy! Here are 6 simple steps that will&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":82,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"22077,23015,27689,25338,23064,16509","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"content-block-sidebar":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Backyard Composting in 6 Steps - CSWD<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/\",\"name\":\"Backyard Composting in 6 Steps - CSWD\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2010-11-11T00:17:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-04-25T18:15:14+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Composting in Chittenden County\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Backyard Composting in 6 Steps\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/\",\"name\":\"CSWD\",\"description\":\"Responsible Resource Management for Chittenden County, VT\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CSWD\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/CSWD-logo-web-white-300x145-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/CSWD-logo-web-white-300x145-1.png\",\"width\":300,\"height\":145,\"caption\":\"CSWD\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Backyard Composting in 6 Steps - CSWD","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/","url":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/","name":"Backyard Composting in 6 Steps - CSWD","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#website"},"datePublished":"2010-11-11T00:17:20+00:00","dateModified":"2022-04-25T18:15:14+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/backyard-composting\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Composting in Chittenden County","item":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/composting\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Backyard Composting in 6 Steps"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#website","url":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/","name":"CSWD","description":"Responsible Resource Management for Chittenden County, VT","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#organization","name":"CSWD","url":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/CSWD-logo-web-white-300x145-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/CSWD-logo-web-white-300x145-1.png","width":300,"height":145,"caption":"CSWD"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/952"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=952"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34827,"href":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/952\/revisions\/34827"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/82"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"content-block-sidebar","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cswd.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-block-sidebar?post=952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}