When growing organically at home, good organic soil management is essential. Strong plant growth is encouraged by healthy and fertile soil that allows plants to absorb water and nutrients. Comfort composting is a simple method for any novice.
Compost provides nutrients to the soil, promoting plant growth and restoring vitality to depleted soil. It’s easy to make at home and helps important microorganisms that are good for the environment.
Another advantage is that composting diverts at least 50% of kitchen waste from landfills.
The Easiest Composting Method
Comfort composting is a type of “no-turn” composting. You don’t need to turn the pile every now and then.
When constructing the compost, the key is to thoroughly mix the appropriate materials.
Compost ingredients
| Nitrogen-rich ingredients | Carbon-rich ingredients |
|---|---|
| Grass cuttings, Young weeds, Urine (diluted 20:1), Uncooked fruit and vegetable peelings, Tea leaves and coffee grounds, Animal manure e.g. cows and goats | Cardboard e.g. cereal packets and toilet roll tubes, Waste paper including shredded confidential waste, Paper towels, Tough hedge clippings, Woody pruning and Straw |
I also mix burnt paddy husk and eggshells into my compost pile.
How to mix the ingredients
- Make a bottom layer of woody pruning and cardboard packaging. Woody plant stems can also be used to improve air circulation and drainage.
- Fill the container halfway with grass clippings, fruit and vegetable peelings, and tea leaves. This will result in a balanced mix.
- Continue to fill the container as ingredients become available. If most of your compost is made up of food scraps, try mixing them with toilet paper tubes and shredded paper.
- When the container is full (which it will never be because the contents will sink as it composts), simply leave it to compost. In general, it takes three months to complete.
- If it’s dry, add water; if it’s wet, add dry material.
When will the compost be ready?
The composting process is complete when the materials have turned into a dark brown, earthy-smelling material. It is then best to wait a month for it to mature before using it. I prefer to sieve my ingredients before using them. Any large pieces can be recycled into a new compost pile.
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