How to Make Compost in Your Garage
Composting is the process of recycling kitchen and yard scrap to create compost, a dark rich matter that improves the quality of garden soil. Composting has gained a lot of popularity in the recent past, with more and more homeowners adopting this method of reusing waste in their backyards. If for some reason you cannot make compost in your garden or yard, you can do it in a heated place such as a garage. You can also add worms to your compost bin so your compost is ready sooner.
Purchase a 20 to 55 gallon plastic bin or garbage can with a tight fitting lid from your local home department store, or use a spare at home.
Wear your earplugs and drill half-inch holes, spaced 4 inches apart, on the body, lid and base of the bin. These holes are necessary to ventilate the contents of the bins and provide microorganisms the oxygen they need to decompose the matter quicker.
- Composting is the process of recycling kitchen and yard scrap to create compost, a dark rich matter that improves the quality of garden soil.
- If for some reason you cannot make compost in your garden or yard, you can do it in a heated place such as a garage.
Set the bin in a corner of the garage. You can place a few bricks under its base to hold it high. Your compost bin will be sheltered from high winds and direct sunlight, thus promoting decomposition.
Fill the bin with alternating 4 inch layers of green and brown waste. Greens include grass and leaf clippings, manure and leftover food and fruit or vegetables peels; browns include shredded brown paper bags, cardboard, small pieces of twigs or branches and untreated saw dust. Stop filling when you are 2 inches below the rim of the container.
Wet the contents of the bin to a moist consistency. Dousing them with water could cause an unpleasant odor, but add just enough so when squeezed, the material will drain out a few drops of water. If you accidentally wet the bin too much, add more saw dust to absorb excess water. Place the lid back over the bin and push it tight so it sets in place securely.
- Set the bin in a corner of the garage.
- If you accidentally wet the bin too much, add more saw dust to absorb excess water.
Remove the lid at least twice a week and turn the contents with a long stick or shovel so they mix well. Make sure you scoop the contents at the corners to the middle of the bin. Your compost will be ready in six months to two years.
Tip
If using an old bin, wash it thoroughly with hot soapy water to remove any waste residue. You can also add worms to your bin to help decompose the matter sooner. To do this, shred newspapers into 1 inch long strips and place them in the base of the bin. Wet them and squeeze out excess water. Add a handful of dirt, and add 1 lb. of red worms for every 1/2 lb. of daily produced waste. Fill the bin with layers of kitchen and yard scrap. The worms will decompose the waste, in time, to create compost.
Related Articles
References
Tips
- If using an old bin, wash it thoroughly with hot soapy water to remove any waste residue.
- You can also add worms to your bin to help decompose the matter sooner. To do this, shred newspapers into 1 inch long strips and place them in the base of the bin. Wet them and squeeze out excess water. Add a handful of dirt, and add 1 lb. of red worms for every 1/2 lb. of daily produced waste. Fill the bin with layers of kitchen and yard scrap. The worms will decompose the waste, in time, to create compost.
Writer Bio
Tanya Khan is a freelance author and consultant, having written numerous articles for various online and print sources. She has a Master of Business Administration in marketing but her passion lies in writing.
