Making our own compost

It’s easy to do and helps the environment.

We recently made our own composter out of recycled wooden pallets in order to create our own compost from garden and kitchen waste we will accumulate from our projects and general life. 

Once the composter was constructed, we looked for the perfect spot to keep it. It’s best to house it on a level, well-drained spot, which will ensure that any excess water drains away easily. 

We also cleared the area as it’s important that your composter should be easily accessible and ensured it was at a location that get some sunlight. 

In order to produce a good level of compost, it’s essential that you put the right materials in to help the mix and keep out things which will disrupt the mix (see picture below for Compost Do’s & Don’ts). 

You need to keep your mix of ‘greens’ and ‘browns’ properly balanced. If your compost is too wet, add more ‘browns’. If it’s too dry, add some ‘greens’. 

‘Green’ materials are those with high nitrogen content which break down quickly and add good moisture to the mix. These are things such as grass cuttings, vegetable peel and tea bags. ‘Brown’ materials are those with high carbon content such as cardboard, newspaper and straw. 

If your compost is too dry, treat it with rainwater and move the mix around with a spade. This will also help your mix get adequate air and ventilation which will provide the required oxygen level it needs. 

So now you can benefit by adding nutrients to your soil, recycle kitchen and garden waste to reduce landfill waste and do something that’s good for the environment. 

Happy Composting 

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