Did you know that 47% of people making New Year's resolutions say they want to eat healthier? I’m definitely included in that group and maybe you are too. Typically it looks like stocking up on produce during my weekly shopping trip, eagerly chopping it all up, and stocking my fridge like a certified health nut. Whether I actually eat the produce or it slowly wilts away is a topic for another blog post. But what’s rarely talked about is what to do with all the watermelon rinds, carrot peels, and apple cores this new lifestyle leaves behind. Most likely they’re swiped into the trash and forgotten about as I wait for my healthy transformation to begin.
Until the next morning when something in the air just doesn’t seem right…
What’s that smell?
Oh, just the remnants of my new healthy lifestyle slowly rotting in the garbage can and leaving an odor of decay throughout my kitchen. If this has ever happened to you, you can likely smell the rotting peels right through the screen.
Not to worry friend. The solution is easier than you think and will actually help you double down on your commitment to a healthier lifestyle. You just need to start composting!
What Is Composting?
Composting is a great way to turn your food scraps and yard waste into a valuable resource for your garden. By breaking down these materials, you can create a rich material for your soil that's packed with nutrients and helps your plants grow. Composting reduces the amount of waste that goes to the landfill and is a simple way to conserve resources and avoid chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
Composting also leads to healthier plants and higher yields. It improves soil structure and fertility and helps to retain moisture so you don't have to water as often. A University of Michigan study found that increasing your soil with compost from just 1% to 2% doubles the volume of water your soil can hold. Using compost in your soil can reduce watering by 25%!
The secret to successful composting is all about finding the right balance of carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials. Leaves, straw, and sawdust are carbon-rich, while food scraps, grass clippings, and green plant material are nitrogen-rich. A good ratio to aim for is between 25:1 and 30:1, with more carbon-rich materials balancing out the high nitrogen content of food scraps and grass clippings. With composting, you can turn waste into treasure for your garden, and help the environment at the same time.
Reducing Food Waste
In the US alone, 119 billion pounds of food is wasted every year and 28% of that could be composted. The next time you have some leftovers or food scraps you’re tempted to toss out, consider adding them to a compost bin.
Composting allows you to reuse your food waste by breaking it down into a form that can be used to improve the health and fertility of gardens and lawns. This reduces the amount of waste that would otherwise be sent to landfills, where it would release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as it decomposes. Food waste is said to be responsible for 20% of the total methane released every year. By composting food waste, you can conserve resources and reduce your carbon footprint, while producing a valuable resource for your plants.
How Do You Use Bamboo in Composting?
You already know bamboo is considered one of the most sustainable resources on the planet, but did you know it can boost the health of your soil? There are a few ways to incorporate bamboo into composting and some of them may surprise you.
Bamboo as a Compost Ingredient
Adding bamboo to the mix makes composting even better! Bamboo is not only a fast-growing and versatile plant, but it's also packed with essential components that every compost pile needs.
The leaves of bamboo are loaded with nitrogen while the stalks are rich in carbon. It also helps keep the compost pile from becoming too dense. Anything made from bamboo can be co