Composting

Most organic materials can be used in a compost heap—shredded paper, hair clippings, food scraps from restaurants (omitting meats), coffee grounds, eggshells, fireplace ashes, chopped-up Christmas trees, seaweed, anything that originally came from a living thing. Meat is omitted because it can putrefy, giving off bad odors. It can also attract rats and other pests. Soil or finished humus is added to supply the microorganisms needed to make the heap work. To work most efficiently, the materials are layered, with woody materials, grasses, kitchen waste, and soil alternating. Farmyard or zoo manure mixed with straw makes an excellent addition to compost. However, feces from household pets may carry diseases.

A ratio of approximately 25 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen should be available in the compost heap. If the ratio is quite different, ammonia smells can be given off, or the process may not work efficiently. Chopped-up tree branches, fallen leaves, and sawdust are good sources of carbon. Alfalfa is a good nitrogen source.