Introduction
Welcome to Part 8 of our 30-part Garden Series. In this guide, we explore home composting — an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to convert kitchen scraps and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost for your plants. Composting not only reduces household waste but also supercharges your garden’s soil.
Whether you live in a city apartment or have a backyard, composting is easy, rewarding, and essential for sustainable gardening.
What is Composting?
Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter — like vegetable peels, fruit scraps, dry leaves, and paper — into a valuable fertilizer called compost. This ‘black gold’ improves soil health, plant growth, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
Benefits of Composting
✅ Reduces kitchen and yard waste
✅ Enriches soil with nutrients and microbes
✅ Improves soil texture and water retention
✅ Cuts down on landfill contribution
✅ Saves money on store-bought fertilizers
Compostable Materials
✅ Green (Nitrogen-rich)
Vegetable & fruit scraps
Tea leaves, coffee grounds
Fresh grass clippings
Kitchen peels
✅ Brown (Carbon-rich)
Dry leaves
Newspaper shreds
Cardboard pieces
Sawdust
🚫 Avoid
Meat and dairy
Oily or cooked food
Pet waste
Diseased plants or weeds with seeds
Types of Home Composting Methods
- Traditional Compost Bin
Wooden or plastic bin with airflow holes
Add green & brown waste in layers
Turn weekly for aeration
- Vermicomposting (Using Worms)
Use red wigglers in a container with bedding
Feed with soft kitchen waste
Harvest nutrient-rich worm castings in 2–3 months
- Bokashi Composting
Uses anaerobic fermentation (closed bin + bran)
Good for small spaces and even meat scraps
- Compost Pit (Backyard)
Dig a shallow pit in the garden
Fill with waste and cover with soil
Turn occasionally
DIY Compost Bin Setup (Step-by-Step)
Take a 20–50L bucket or plastic container
Drill 8–10 holes for air flow
Place a layer of dry leaves (brown waste)
Add kitchen peels and greens
Cover with newspaper or cocopeat
Repeat layers until full
Stir or turn weekly with a stick
Compost is ready in 30–45 days
Compost Maintenance Tips
Keep compost moist (like a wrung-out sponge)
Balance greens & browns (roughly 1:2 ratio)
Avoid bad smell: add more browns if it stinks
Shred large items for faster breakdown
Store finished compost in dry container
How to Use Compost
Mix into garden soil before planting
Top-dress around potted plants
Brew compost tea for foliar spray
Use in raised beds or containers
Common Problems & Fixes
ProblemCauseSolutionFoul OdorToo much wet/greenAdd dry leaves, newspaperFlies/InsectsUncovered food wasteAlways cover with brownsSlow CompostingCold weather/lack airAdd nitrogen, turn more often
Fun Facts
🌎 60% of household waste is compostable
🐛 Worms can eat half their body weight daily
🌱 Compost reduces the need for 90% of fertilizers
Final Thoughts
Home composting is simple yet powerful. It closes the waste loop and empowers you to enrich your garden with your own organic fertilizer. Whether you use a bin, pit, or worms, starting small is the key.
Turn your trash into treasure, and your plants will thank you!
✍️Real Neel
Founder – Farming Writers
Read A Garden series full guide, Part -7👇
https://worldcrop.wordpress.com/2025/07/28/raised-bed-gardening-beginners/