Backyard COMPOSTING

Compost is fertilizer made from a fermented mix of organic and mineral matter. It’s a great alternative to chemical fertilizers and an excellent soil amendment for gardens, lawns, and landscaping. It improves soil quality and adds minerals and other plant nutrients. Compost, a product of a natural decomposition process, is as rich in nutrients as any manure.

Good for the environment!

Backyard composting is a great way to reduce the quantity of garbage you send to the dump as well as the toxic gas and liquids produced during organic matter decomposition.

By combining composting and recycling, you’ll give 90% of what’s in your garbage bag a new lease on life.

You can compost year round with this simple method

Choose a handy spot for your composter—in partial shade with good drainage.
Add materials as they become available.
Start with a thin layer of brown materials, and then add some green. The recommended ratio is two parts brown to one part green. If you don’t have enough brown materials, you can add earth, finished compost, dead leaves, or newspaper.
Aerate the pile by turning it from time to time (about once every two weeks).
Water as needed to keep the pile slightly damp. Without enough water, the pile dries out, the microorganisms that decompose the materials die off, and the composting process stops. If the pile is too wet, add brown material to bring it back to the right moisture level.

For more information:

Société d’horticulture et d’écologie de Baie-Comeau

Rina Bouchard
Telephone : 418 589-8979

What can you use to make compost?

Green material (wet)*

Brown material (dry)*

You SHOULDN’T USE the following

Algae
Kitchen waste (vegetable and fruit trimmings, eggshells, legumes, etc.)
Green garden waste (weeds before they flower, prunings, dead flowers, etc.)
Manure
Grass clippings (although it’s better to leave them on the lawn)

* These materials are high in nitrogen

Twigs, straw, hay
Wood chips and sawdust (not too much)
Nutshells, fruit pits
Dead leaves
Coffee filters and grounds, tea bags
Paper tissues and napkins (without synthetic fibers)
Bird litter
Bread, rice, pasta (plain)
Newspaper (black ink only)
Animal hair, feathers
Natural fabrics (linen, wool, horsehair, cotton)

* These materials are high in carbon

BBQ briquets
Lobster, crab, or shrimp shells (not recommended)
Ashes
Lime
Vacuum cleaner bag contents
Feces (dog, cat, human)
Rhubarb leaves
Cat litter
Weeds that have gone to seed
Bones, fat, or oil
Plants treated with pesticides
Sick plants
Plastic
Dairy products

Meat and fish

Interesting facts:

If you strike the right balance between brown and green materials and aerate your compost pile, it won’t smell.
Mature compost has a pleasant odor of forest soil, a dark color, and a crumbly texture.
To avoid flies, cover your compost with newspapers (black ink only).
Dandelions are natural compost activators. And they’re free!