Garden

From Kitchen Waste to Garden Gold

Story by Sue Burns

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and…kitchen scraps? Yes, indeed! Locals: You can recycle kitchen waste into your green bins with yard trimmings. This waste is turned into compost used for ag and landscaping. We know this is a good thing, but why? Tulare-Kings County Master Gardener Nancy Hawkins shares the whys and hows of composting.

What is composting?

Nancy defined it simply as “…the decomposition or rotting of wastethrough the release of heat, water vapor, and carbon dioxide.” Theend product is rich in nutrients important for plant growth. Backyardcomposting is a great way to put some of your kitchen and yardwaste to work in your own gardens.

Why should I compost?

Composting is good for garden soil and the environment. Adding thisorganic matter to feed your plants requires less commercial fertilizerand water, resulting in less waste in the landfill.

What can I compost?

Composting requires four ingredients: carbon, nitrogen, moistureand air circulation. Water is added to materials, and turned regularlyto facilitate airflow within the mixture.

Carbon comes from “brown” materials: dried leaves, twigs, shreddedpaper, cardboard, and old potting mix.

Nitrogen is found in “green” materials: grass, leaves, stems, fruitand vegetable scraps and rinds, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags,and wilted flowers.

Don’t add ashes, animal proteins, dairy products, peanut butter,diseased plants or seed-bearing weeds, plastics, or painted, stained,or treated wood to your compost.

How do I get started?

Composting requires minimal tools and equipment. Bins can besimple or complex (with one or more sections) and purchasedready-made. Or, construct your own bin with chicken wire or wood,measuring at least 3’ x 3’ x 3’. You’ll also need a compost aerator; apitchfork will do. Choose a space that is near a water source in theshade, facing away from afternoon sun.

Now you’re ready to start!

There are two methods of composting: rapid (hot) and slow (cold).For rapid composting, chop greens and browns into small pieces (thesmaller the pieces, the faster the decomposition). Place the pieces inyour bin in 4-6” layers, beginning with browns and alternating withgreens, until the pile is 2’ high. Water the middle between each layer;they should stick together when squeezed and feel moist like asponge. Turn the pile every few days with a pitchfork. Don’t add anymore materials to the pile. In 6-8 weeks, your compost will be ready.

Slow composting begins with the same process, but layer it as highas you’d like, leaving room to turn the mixture; and you’ll bury foodscraps in the middle of the pile. Add brown and green materials tothe pile, turn every few days, and water as needed for a good levelof moisture. This compost will be ready in 12-18 months.

What can I do with compost?

Add compost to ground and potting soil in a 20-80% ratio (its highnitrogen can burn roots if added alone). Compost can also be used asmulch on top of soil to help retain water and prevent weeds.

Getting the kids involved:

Composting teaches kids about growing food and taking care ofthe environment! They can help with prepping scraps, watering andturning the compost pile, and adding the compost to the garden.Harvesting their homegrown fruits and vegetables gets them moreinvested in eating healthy, too. There are fun books available for allages to get you started.

Composting takes time and effort, but the benefits are worth it! See the difference composting can make: Participate in Visalia’s next “Dump On Us” event for residents, co-sponsored by Caltrans and the Clean California Initiative. Drop off appropriate household recyclables and take away a load of ready-to-use compost for free. You’ll help reduce materials taken to landfills by 75% and augment your gardens with compost your green waste has contributed to. The next scheduled event is Saturday, May 21, from 7:00am–noon.

For the kids: