Submitted Photo Compost is great for adding organic matter to soil (Photo from PixaBay)

Composting is a great way to get rid of food scraps and add nutrients to your garden. Compost is a breakdown of “brown” carbon-rich, and “green” nitrogen-rich ingredients. Brown ingredients include items such as shredded newspaper, straw, leaves, or cardboard tubes. Green ingredients include food scraps, coffee grounds, and grass clippings.

The breakdown of carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials means compost is full of nutrients for your plants and why compost has the nickname of “black gold”. Compost is also great for your soil. It adds organic matter to the soil which in turn helps with water retention, plant growth, and aeration.

With so many different types of composting, it can be hard to decide which method is the best for you and your lifestyle.

Here we will break down a few of the most common types.

Vermicomposting, or worm composting, is one of the quickest forms of composting. Bins used for this type of composting can be any size and you can keep it indoors! There are many different designs and options for building or purchasing a worm composting bin, but the most important element is the worms. Red wiggler worms are the most common composting worm, as they are great for breaking down organic matter and can process around half a pound of food scraps per day!

Compost bins are an easy way to compost in a small space. You can make a bin out of chicken wire, wooden pallets, a bucket, or even an old trashcan. Whichever you decide to use, ensure the container has significant aeration by drilling holes in the bottoms and sides of the container, if holes are not already present. Simply, toss in your food scraps and turn regularly.

Another type of compost bin is a tumbler. Tumblers make turning the compost mixture easier as they have a crank or another method/mechanism to help with the turning.

Compost piles are the crockpot version of composting. Find a secluded corner where you can toss out the brown and green materials into a pile and let it sit for a year or so while the decomposers, such as microbes and insects, break it down.

There are few rules with this type of composting; one of importance is that any scraps bigger than your hand will need to be chopped up to a smaller size. This is a great low maintenance way to try composting; however, there is some nutrient leaching, or loss of nutrients, that occurs with this method as well as a higher chance of pests, such as rodents, getting into your compost pile.

Hot composting is the quickest form of composting but requires the most ingredients and time. You need a 3’x3’x3′ pile of compost materials for the center of the compost pile to reach 110 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature must be maintained for the ingredients to completely break down. Constant temperature monitoring is required. If the compost pile gets too hot, the beneficial decomposers will be killed off. It also requires frequent turning to maintain consistent moisture throughout the entire pile.

To check if the compost is ready, simply place a small scoop into a plastic bag and let it sit for a few days. If the compost smells earthy, then it is ready to use. If it smells rotten, then it needs to break down longer. Compost is ready when is dark brown in color, crumbly, and smells earthy. Sometimes you will need to screen out pieces of larger debris.

Caring for your compost can be the difference between “black gold” and a stinky mess. Only compost materials that belong in a compost bin; do not compost pet waste, grease, fat, dairy, or anything from your garden that had a disease.

Also, do not add any materials that were treated with an herbicide, as this can kill the vegetables in your garden. Turn your compost pile once weekly and keep the pile moist. Mix your compost with a ratio of three times more brown ingredients than green ingredients. This is measured by volume, not weight.

So, you have all this great compost, now what? Use it in your garden; apply one inch in the spring before planting or in the fall after the first frost. Compost can also be used as mulch during the growing season. Don’t have a garden? Use compost on your lawn before seeding a new area or add some to your potted plants. Compost is a great way to reduce food waste and add nutrients to your soil!

Interested in learning more? Join NDSU Extension and 1,000 Trees for Minot for a composting workshop on Saturday, April 22, beginning at 10 a.m. Registration is required. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/breakitdowncomposting.

There is a $10 fee to cover supplies and refreshments will be offered. Registration and payment are due to the NDSU Extension office (900 13th St SE, Minot, ND 58701) by noon, April 19.