Spring has sprung! With winter behind us and flowers in full bloom, it’s the perfect time to get out into the garden. Gardening is a fun and educational outdoor activity the whole family can enjoy throughout the spring and summer months. Whether you’re growing succulent red tomatoes or planting a rainbow of flowers, gardening is an eco-friendly hobby with delicious and beautiful rewards!
As you begin planting, you might wonder, “What makes a plant flourish?” or “How can I get my plants to grow bigger and faster?” While sunlight and water are important, the secret often lies in the soil! Soil provides the vitamins and minerals plants need. Just like people, plants need proper nutrients to grow. That’s where composting comes in.
Composting is the process of turning organic waste, like fruit peels, coffee grounds, and leaves, into a natural fertilizer. Instead of constantly throwing out food scraps that could end up in storm drains and contribute to storm water pollution, you can collect them and break them down into what looks like regular soil, but works like a superfood for your plants. In addition to reducing food waste, growing a bountiful garden with compost can also increase storm water infiltration and filtration, benefitting both you and the environment.
Each year, National Composting Day is observed on May 29 to raise awareness and promote sustainable composting practices. Across Hawaiʻi and the nation, community organizations offer resources to help beginners get started with the composting process.
What to add to your compost:
- Food Scraps: Includes vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells. You can compost both raw and cooked food scraps, but avoid anything with oil, grease, or dairy.
- Green Waste: Grass clippings, small sticks, bark, and dried leaves are all great additions.
- Cardboard/Paper: Non-coated paper items like coffee filters, untreated cardboard, and paper towels help balance the mix!
6 easy steps to building your own Compost Pile:
- Choose your setup: Decide if you want to use a compost bin or start a form-free pile in your yard.
- Pick a shady spot: Shade helps prevent your compost from drying out too quickly.
- Create a base layer: Start with leaves, sticks, and grass clippings to provide airflow and structure.
- Layer other materials: Add your food scraps and paper items on top, alternating layers and keeping them slightly moist.
- Keep it moist: Add water as needed to maintain a damp, sponge-like consistency that supports the decomposition breakdown process. You can even use water collected from rain barrels, following our blog on how to create your own at home.
- Use it in your garden: Once the materials break down into dark, crumbly compost, spread it around your garden and watch your plants grow!
Sources: NRDC, Days of the Year
