Q:

I’ve been reading up on composting and am thinking about giving it a try. I’m wondering if there are benefits or considerations that I may have missed or overlooked in my research.

A:

It’s great that you’re exploring the world of composting. Adding that form of self-sufficiency can be highly rewarding.

You’ve probably already read about composting’s many benefits, including decreasing your waste. However, that benefit isn’t always framed around the potential monetary, time and fuel savings you might see if it lets you reduce the frequency of trash pickup or trips to the dump.

Composting can also be a neat opportunity to involve kids or grandkids. They’ll get their hands dirty while learning about things like conservation, responsibility and ecology.

And when you begin to use your compost, those savings can continue, coming from your now fewer visits to the local garden center or landscaping supplier for fertilizer, mulch and the like.
So, those two perks can be slightly less advertised than, for example, the direct gardening, environmental and sustainability advantages of composting.

If you’re intrigued but still unsure whether to begin, consider starting small. There are some typical components and steps — checking it, turning it, keeping it moisture balanced, etc. — but its size and scope can vary.

Composting can also be a neat opportunity to involve kids or grandkids. They’ll get their hands dirty while learning about things like conservation, responsibility and ecology. Having a family champion might help get it off the ground, but before long, it may just become part of your routine.

A few other considerations come to mind. To keep your experience as pleasant as possible, you’ll want to deal with food scraps before they get too icky or attract critters indoors (if you wait too long, the smell may remind you to address them). At the same time, managing and maintaining your compost pile outside can limit wildlife from getting too interested (a farm cat may also be able to assist with that). For example, moisture is good, but too much can cause problems, so a cover could be a smart investment.

It also pays to remember that composting takes patience. The materials need time to break down and decompose, and you may end up with multiple piles or bins at different stages of completion. While the activity can be rather forgiving, using compost before it matures — it should look like soil or dirt — can potentially harm plants.

If you haven’t already, check out L.A. Jackson’s feature story in this month’s issue. It goes into detail about how to get the most out of your foray into composting and serves as a great resource.