Composting for Beginners

Composting is a topic we only seem to be hearing more and more about these days. Given the noted climate benefits, we can understand why this is: when composting food waste as opposed to disposing of it in landfills, a carbon reduction of over 50% is observed.

Although many want to get into composting, it can seem incredibly daunting to get started. Aeration?? Hot Composting??? If you're like we were, you may be thinking 'What?'

Luckily, we took the time to put together a guide for newcomers to the craft. In this guide, we will cover the basics of composting, common terms in composting, composting methods, composting mistakes, and how to begin composting.

The basics of composting: What is composting?

Composting is a natural process that decomposes organic compounds such as food scraps or yard waste into a nutrient rich compound known as compost. Compost is a dark, earthy, soil-like substance that smells similar to fresh topsoil. Compost differs from rot as it is a purposeful substance that maximizes nutrient content and is oxygen rich. Rot is what we call anaerobic (without oxygen) decomposition as it is driven by bacteria which do not require oxygen. These bacteria produce greenhouse gasses such as methane and result in a smelly product. When composting, we want to avoid rot by aerating (turning and moving) our mixture regularly. Introducing our decomposition to oxygen allows aerobic (with oxygen) bacteria to grow, driving the clean, odourless process of composting. Compost is used as a sustainable and effective nutrient rich fuel for plants and soil.

Common terms in composting

Green materials: Items that are high in nitrogen such as fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and grasses.

Brown materials: Carbon-rich items like leaves, paper, cardboard and straw.

Aeration: The process of adding oxygen to compost by turning it, which wards off anaerobic bacteria and speeds up the composting process. 

Microorganisms: Tiny living organisms such as fungi and bacteria that break down organic matter in the compost

Curing: The final phase of composting where the minerals stabilize, dry, and mature before being used with soil. This can take 1 to 3 months in ideal conditions, yet longer is often better. Dry, cool, dark compost is the best sign that the mixture is done curing. If it still feels warm and wet, and smells sour, it is not ready. We cure compost so that it is less likely to grow mold or burn the roots.

Composting methods for beginners

1. Electric composting

At-home electric composters are easily the most simple method for composting as a beginner. The engineered microbes come ready to set up for the perfect, certified compost. The accelerated conditions in a unit allow for real compost in under 24 hours with virtually no maintenance. I easily find the industry leader in at home composters to be Reencle from South Korea. Reencle is a convenient unit that can silently and odourlessly digest most wastes aside from plastics, wood, and bones. Reencle can handle up to 2.2 lbs of food a day and showcases a 90% waste volume reduction in 24 hours. The only regular maintenance required with a Reencle is to continue to "feed" it, but you can also dry the microbes and store them if you expect a disruption. Long term maintenance is to change the filter every 9 to 12 months. Reencle units are available for purchase at reencle.co for the USA, reencle.ca for Canada, and reencle.com for South Korea.

2. Cold composting

Cold composting is very easy if you have a large outdoor space tucked away in your property to pile food wastes. Cold composting is the most hands off method yet it can take years. To cold compost, you simply create a pile of organic material and turn it once a month or so. Meat, dairy, and oils should be avoided in this method as they can create odours and attract pests, causing the growth of anaerobic bacteria. Curing takes a long time for cold composting as well. When done diligently, and with patience, cold composting can be a great way to manage food wastes with little to no investment.  

3. Hot composting

Hot composting is a much quicker variation of the cold composting process with more care in balancing green and brown wastes and more diligence in aeration. Hot composting typically takes around 2 weeks for the full process with turning at least once a week. As with cold composting, meat, dairy and oils should be kept out of the pile if possible. You can easily tell if the balance of greens and browns are off in the following ways:

Not enough browns: A saturated, smelly pile. Add more browns.

Not enough greens: Low heat, slow decomposition, woody texture. Add more greens.

4. Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is composting with the assistance of worms, most commonly Red Wrigglers, which consume waste and produce worm manure from it. Although not "compost" in the traditional sense, this waste still packs a large nutrient content. Vermicompost does not require the same curing period as other composts, yet it would still benefit from a short period of rest to stabilize microbes, temperature, and pH. This method of composting can be performed indoors all year round and in a small area but can be tedious as they require a comfortable temperature, considerable moisture, aerated soil, a controlled diet, and "bedding". They may also produce an unpleasant smell. Harvesting the manure involves changing the bedding and sorting the worms.

Composting mistakes

1. Not aerating your mixture enough

While the Reencle aerates itself, vermicomposting and hot and cold composting require you to turn the mixture yourself. If the pile has an unpleasant smell such as that of rotten eggs, it likely requires more oxygen. Turn it more often. In the case of vermicomposting, if the pile is becoming to compact for the worms, that is the main sign you need to aerate.

2. Using a dehydrator, not a composter

Many at-home "composters" are actually dehydrators/grinders that chop and dehydrate your food scraps into a powder. Although this output is nutrient rich, it lacks the magic of compost. Composting is a biological process which provides a microbial product that contributes the microbiome of your soil. Additionally, composting removes sodium from our food waste, which is toxic to plants. Dehydrators such as Lomi and Mill do not provide these functions. Reencle does.

3. Too much moisture

Can cause bad smells in all forms of composting. For vermicomposting, add more bedding, for compost piles, add dry materials or cover the pile with a tarp when it rains. For Reencle, press the dry button.

4. Composting materials you shouldn't

While the Reencle can handle all forms of organic waste except bones, meat, dairy and oils should be avoided altogether in the other composting methods. It is best to stay away from these materials unless using Reencle

5. Not monitoring hot composting temperature

For hot composting, the internal temperature should be between 55 and 70 Celsius to kill pathogens and produce the best quality compost. Monitor this periodically. 

Now that you have the knowledge and tools to begin your composting journey, it’s time to take action! Whether you choose electric composting, cold composting, hot composting, or vermicomposting, every small step contributes to a healthier planet. Start by gathering your kitchen scraps, choosing a composting method that fits your lifestyle, and setting up your compost bin today.

Join the movement towards sustainability, reduce waste, and enrich your garden with nutrient-rich compost. Happy composting!