WHY SHOULD I START COMPOSTING?
Advice from the Environmental Club. Besides reducing the amount of garbage you have to take out at the end of the week, here are some beneficial reasons to start composting! ITS A NATURAL FERTILIZER- You can use the compost, in turn, to nourish future plants, trees or crops replacing the need for fertilizer. IT REDUCES COSTS- You can ease your parents' wallets or your own since you have a natural homemade fertilizer. REDUCES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS- Did you know that when we send our waste to the landfill, the waste is decomposed anaerobically? Which means it decomposes without the presence of oxygen. Anaerobic decomposition of fruits and veggies releases greenhouse gases. A way to avoid this is by allowing the gases to break down naturally and aerobically (with oxygen). SAVES WATER- When used to aid plant growth, compost helps the soil to retain moisture enabling you to water your plants less regularly.
WHAT CAN I PUT IN MY COMPOST PILE? Fruit and vegetable scraps, for example, banana peels Cardboard and paper. These provide a great source of carbon. Remember to tear the cardboard into smaller pieces first as this helps it to break down faster. Teabags, plant prunings and grass cuttings. These are fast to break down and provide important moisture.
By Asha Stevenson
MARCH-APRIL 2022
Now that you're convinced to start a compost pile, it's time for you to find out how to start composting. All you need to get started is a container to hold the compost and the waste material. You can even use an old barrel. -Place your compost bin at the desired location and put some material into it. - Keep the components moist (this aids the breakdown process) Turn the components occasionally. You can use a small fork or a stick. (this too speeds up the process) /Now you're all set to start your compost pile. Wait a few months after the last set of fresh material has been added and you can start using the material in your garden when the material has a rich dark brown colour.
HAPPY COMPOSTING :) ! Issue 3
