The Sustainability Book Club Network
Home waste to garden fertilizer
I'm starting a compost pile that I want to eventually become good fertilizer. Does anyone have suggestions on what home waste would be best for a vegetable garden fertilizer? Someone told me I can put newspaper in there. Is it better to recycle newspaper or use it in the compost bin?
Tags: farming, garden, home, vegetables, waste
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alysha Liljeqvist on -
I don't have the space to start a compost pile but I can make a difference by recycling my food waste using worms!
Find out how to set up your own "worm bin" under your kitchen sink. I swear that you house plants will never have it so good.
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Permalink Reply by Jen on -
As far as I know, ANY sort of food waste will turn into good vegetable garden fertilizer.
Personally, I have a vermicompost bin in my apartment, and my plants LOVE the compost that comes out of the worm bin. If you search the web for "vermicomposting" you will find there are plenty of companies that will send you a worm bin and a starter batch of worms to help you get set up. You can even find instructions on how to make your own bin if you want to save a little money. In NYC we have the Lower East Side Ecology Center that sells worms and cheap bins to people - you might find a similar organization near you.
As to your newspaper question, I'd say that as long as you're no throwing it in the garbage, worrying about whether it's better to recycle or compost is splitting hairs. However having at least some newspaper in your compost is a good idea whether you are using worms or not. I believe newspaper counts as a "brown" in the ideal compost pile mix. I will rarely suggest people go to the EPA's website but they do have decent instructions on composting - check it out: http://www.epa.gov/composting/by_compost.htm They explain the mix of "brown" and "green" materials you need to compost. Good luck!
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