I’ve been composting for a month or so now, and I think I have it down… kind-of. I thought I would share a quick 101 to show you just how easy it is to get started. 

1. Buy a kitchen bin. Like this, or this. There’s a filter in the top so there’s no smell. 
2. Identify a community compost collector. There may be a small business, like Naples Compost, that’s starting collecting locally, or your city waste management may have a program available as well. 
   • OR if your local community doesn’t have this option (my immediate community did not), buy a quick-turning compost bin for your patio or yard. Here’s the one I bought, shown below, but there’s lots of options available online.
3. I also purchased compost accelerator, because ain’t nobody got time to waste.
4. Start collecting your kitchen and yard scraps. So much can be composted that you wouldn’t even think of – used napkins, leaves, cardboard, (brown scraps), veggie and fruit ends (green scraps), etc. I’ve included a full list below for reference.
5. Place all these items in your kitchen bin as you go throughout the week. 
6. Whenever the kitchen bin gets full, empty into the large compost bin, or prepare for the waste pick up. Mine fills up every 4-5 days because we use a lot of produce. The first time you dump scraps into the bin, throw a little compost accelerator.
7. Put your compost bin somewhere where it will get sun and it’s okay if it does get wet from the rain, etc. I put mine inside the porch because we do have wild animals, and although it doesn’t smell – I didn’t want to draw more attention than needed.
8. Once a week, rotate your compost bin 360-degrees.
9. They key to composting is to make sure you keep double the amount of brown scraps to green scraps… that was my mistake! I didn’t have enough brown originally, and the bin became really smelly and festered with fruit flies – I’m saying a LOT of flies! Bad news. So be sure you collect leaves, cardboard, etc. to balance out all your table scraps 
10. Two (or so) weeks later enjoy fresh soil. Sprinkle in your garden and enjoy the circle of food!

Here’s a handy list of what’s considered “Green” vs. “Brown” and what to avoid in your compost bin.

Do you compost?