Composting is a natural process that transforms organic waste, such as kitchen scraps and garden material (including lawn clippings), into nutrient-rich compost that can be returned to the garden. By composting at home, gardeners can reduce household waste that often ends up in landfill, while creating an invaluable resource for improving soil health and supporting plant growth.
There are several ways to compost at home, each suited to different spaces, time availability and needs:
The traditional compost heap for composting at home
This aerobic method involves layering green materials (like vegetable peelings, grass clippings and coffee grounds) with brown materials (such as dried leaves, cardboard and twigs) in a designated area or bin. Turning the heap occasionally with a garden fork helps to aerate it and speeds up decomposition. In a few months, you’ll have dark, crumbly compost ready for use in the garden.
Worm composting (vermicomposting)
Perfect for smaller gardens, balconies, or even indoors, this technique uses special worms to break down food scraps in a wormery. The resulting worm castings are exceptionally nutrient-rich and beneficial for plants.
Cold compost in bins
This low-maintenance method of composting at home involves collecting organic waste such as fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and garden clippings in a compost bin and allowing it to break down naturally over time. Unlike hot composting, there’s no need to turn the pile regularly or carefully manage the mix of materials. Decomposition is slower, often taking a year or more, but the process is easy, odour-free and ideal for those who prefer a “set and forget” approach. The resulting compost is still excellent for enriching garden soil.
Compost tumblers
These enclosed compost bins are designed to be rotated to mix the contents, making aeration easier and speeding up the process. There are also enclosed Aerobin-style bins that make composting at home even easier as they don’t require turning but work faster than common stand-alone plastic compost bins. These types of bins draw air up from the ground through a funnel system that helps keep the process aerobic.
Trench composting
Can’t quite master the art of aerobic composting? Then this straightforward method involves digging a trench or hole in your garden, filling it with organic kitchen waste and covering it with soil. Over time, the buried material decomposes directly in the ground, enriching the soil and improving soil structure. Trench composting is particularly useful for preparing vegetable beds ahead of planting.
The fermentation method using Bokashi buckets
Using a fermentation process, Bokashi systems allow you to compost kitchen waste, including cooked food and dairy, indoors. The pre-compost produced can then be buried in the garden or added to a traditional compost heap for further breakdown.
Basic rules for top compost
To keep home compost healthy, aim for a balance of:
Greens (high nitrogen):
Fresh grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, chook manure and green garden pruning’s.
Browns (high carbon):
Dry grass, leaf litter, shredded paper, chopped fine branches and sugarcane mulch. Keep the pile or bin moist (but not soggy) and make sure air can circulate. For enclosed bins, a compost aerating tool can help. Avoid adding meat, dairy, or diseased plants, as these can attract pests or spread problems.
Want to know the difference between mulch and compost? Find out here
Happy composting!
