Sustainable Living Tip: Composting Kitchen Scraps

Did you know that kitchen scraps can be transformed into nutrient-rich compost for your garden? Instead of sending food waste to the landfill, you can create a simple compost system at home. It’s an easy way to reduce waste and give back to the earth!

Here’s how to get started:

• Collect vegetable peels, fruit scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells.

• Add these to a compost bin or pile, layering with dried leaves or paper.

• Turn the compost occasionally, and watch as it breaks down into rich, natural fertilizer for your plants.

What’s one small change you’ve made to live more sustainably? Share your best tips below!

---

Composting Do’s:

1. Do Use a Balanced Mix of Browns and Greens:

   • Browns: Dry leaves, cardboard, paper, wood chips.

   • Greens: Vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings.

2. Do Turn the Pile Regularly:

   • Aerate your compost by turning it every 1-2 weeks to help it decompose faster.

3. Do Keep the Compost Moist:

   • Your compost should feel like a damp sponge. Add water if it gets too dry, but avoid over-saturating it.

4. Do Chop Large Materials:

   • Shred or chop up larger items (like sticks or big vegetable scraps) to help them break down quicker.

5. Do Add a Variety of Materials:

   • A mixture of materials helps create nutrient-rich compost. Include food scraps, yard waste, and paper products.

6. Do Layer Your Materials:

   • Alternate layers of greens (nitrogen-rich) and browns (carbon-rich) to maintain balance and avoid odors.

Composting Don’ts:

1. Don’t Add Meat, Dairy, or Oily Foods:

   • These items attract pests and can cause unpleasant odors.

2. Don’t Add Diseased Plants or Weeds with Seeds:

   • Diseases can spread in the compost, and weed seeds may survive and grow in your garden when you use the compost.

3. Don’t Add Pet Waste:

   • Pet waste (from dogs or cats) can carry harmful bacteria and parasites.

4. Don’t Let the Compost Get Too Wet or Too Dry:

   • Excess moisture slows decomposition, and too little moisture can stop the process altogether.

5. Don’t Add Treated Wood or Chemicals:

   • Avoid adding wood treated with chemicals, pesticides, or non-organic fertilizers.

6. Don’t Add Large Branches or Thick Stems:

   • Large, tough items take too long to break down. Always chop or shred them first.

Join Our Community:

We’re cultivating a vibrant community of passionate individuals who care about sustainable living, reducing waste, and creating beautiful, handmade projects from scratch. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and sign up for our newsletter to stay connected. Ready to dive deeper? Join our Sprout membership for just $5 a month and gain exclusive access to all of our classes, extended videos, free downloadable resources, and our coaching calendar. Let’s grow, learn, and create together—join the movement today!