DIY Compost

What can you compost? ▪ Brown material (carbon): fallen leaves, wood chips, shredded cardboard or paper, straw, or any other plant material that has turned brown and dried ▪ Green material (nitrogen): grass clippings, tea and coffee grounds, vegetable and fruit waste, aged manures The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is important for keeping your compost active and stink-free. If your compost starts smelling or getting sludgy, add more “browns”. In general, you want to add brown material at a greater rate than green material.

How to contain your compost: ▪ Make a DIY bin using old pallets or scrap lumber. ▪ Create a cylindrical pile with chicken wire. ▪ Use old storage bins for composting on a smaller scale, don’t have yard space. ▪ Compost tumblers (check local facebook groups or craigslist before buying new!) ▪ If you have the space, keep a freestanding pile

Managing your compost: ▪ Turn your pile about once a week if it’s in an enclosed bin (or roll your tumbler) ▪ You want to keep your pile moist, but not wet. During the dryer months, you may need to mist your pile occasionally. During the fall, consider covering your pile with a layer of dead leaves.

What NOT to compost Animal products (egg shells are ok) Pet or human waste Invasive or diseased plants Pressure treated wood Glossy cardboard

More composting resources: OSU Extension pages: “Compost in the backyard” “Choosing a composting system” “Composting with worms” Reddit: r/composting, r/vermiculture Do you have a vegetable garden you want to show off? If you want your garden featured in the Food Action Team’s Edible Garden tours, You can find the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.c om/r/7FTPKW9 Food Action Team -- , (https://groups.google.com/g/food-action-team/) food-action-team@googlegroups.com