Composting Online: Genius, Essential Guide

Hey there! If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your kitchen scraps or yard waste, wondering what on earth to do with it all, you’re not alone. It can feel like a puzzle! But what if I told you there’s a way to turn that waste into garden gold, right from your own home? It’s called composting, and it’s easier than you think. I’m Troy D Harn from TopChooser, and I’m here to break down how you can get started with composting online, making it super simple.

What is “Composting Online” Really Mean?

Now, the term “composting online” might sound a bit confusing at first. You can’t actually do the composting in the digital world, can you? What it really refers to is using online resources to learn about, plan, and even purchase everything you need for composting. Think of it as your digital guide and shopping mall for all things compost!

We’re talking about:

• Learning the basics of composting from expert guides.
• Choosing the right composting bin or system for your space.
• Finding out what you can and can’t compost.
• Discovering where to buy tools or supplies.
• Getting answers to all your composting questions.

Essentially, “composting online” means leveraging the vast resources of the internet to make your composting journey smooth, successful, and even enjoyable. It’s about gathering all the right information and tools without leaving your comfy chair, so you can get your hands dirty on the real composting project soon!

Why Bother Composting? The Top Benefits

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s quickly chat about the “why.” Composting isn’t just some niche hobby; it’s a genuinely smart and beneficial practice for both your home and the planet. Here’s why it’s totally worth your time:

• Boosts Your Garden’s Health: Compost is like a superfood for your soil. It improves soil structure, helps it retain moisture, and provides essential nutrients that make your plants happier and more productive.
• Reduces Waste: A huge chunk of what we throw away is actually compostable material. By composting, you significantly cut down on landfill waste, which is great for the environment.
• Saves Money: You’ll buy fewer fertilizers and soil amendments for your garden. Plus, you’re handling your own waste, which is a win-win!
• Environmentally Friendly: Less landfill waste means fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Healthy soil also sequesters carbon. It’s a small action with a big ripple effect.
• Creates a Finished Product You Can Use: The end result is nutrient-rich humus that makes your garden thrive. It’s incredibly rewarding to see your leftovers transform into something useful.

So, you see, composting is a win-win-win! It helps your garden, your wallet, and the Earth.

Getting Started: Your Online Composting Toolkit

This is where the “composting online” magic really happens. We’re going to gather the essentials you need, and the internet is your go-to supplier. Here’s your virtual shopping list and how to find it:

1. Choosing Your Composting System

The biggest decision you’ll make is what kind of setup you want. Your choice largely depends on your space, how much waste you generate, and how hands-on you want to be. Luckily, you can research and even buy all of these online:

Types of Composting Systems:

• Traditional Open Piles: The simplest method. Just a heap of organic material in a corner of your yard. Great if you have plenty of space.
• Compost Bins: These are enclosed structures, often made of plastic, wood, or wire mesh. They help keep things tidy and can speed up the process by retaining heat and moisture. You’ll find many types online, from simple tumblers to elaborate multi-compartment systems.
• Compost Tumblers: These are enclosed barrels or drums mounted on a frame, allowing you to easily turn or “tumble” your compost. This aeration helps the decomposition process work faster.
• Worm Composting (Vermicomposting): This is perfect for apartment dwellers or those with very little outdoor space. Specialized bins house composting worms (like red wigglers) that eat your food scraps and produce nutrient-rich worm castings. You can order worm bins and even the worms themselves online.
• Bokashi Composting: This is a fermentation process, not traditional composting, but it’s a great way to pre-treat food scraps (including meat and dairy) before burying them or adding them to a traditional compost pile. Bokashi kits and bran are readily available online.

Where to Look Online: Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe’s, specialty gardening websites, and even local garden centers that have online stores are great places to start. Search for terms like “compost bin,” “tumbler composter,” or “worm composting bin.”

2. Essential Tools (Often Available Online)

You don’t need a lot of fancy gear, but a few items will make your life much easier:

• Pitchfork or Garden Fork: For turning your compost pile.
• Compost Aerator Tool: A specialized tool designed for turning and aerating compost bins, especially useful for enclosed systems.
• Gloves: To keep your hands clean.
• Small Kitchen Scraps Bin: A countertop container with a lid to collect food scraps before taking them out to your main compost bin.
• Watering Can or Hose with Sprayer: To keep your compost moist.

Where to Look Online: Again, Amazon, gardening supply stores, and big box home improvement centers are your best bet. Look for “garden tools” or “composting supplies.”

3. Knowing What to Compost (and What Not To!)

This is crucial for successful composting. You want to create a healthy environment for decomposition, not a stinky mess. You can find tons of helpful charts and guides online.

Here’s a quick rundown, but always check a comprehensive online guide for specifics:

What to Compost (Greens & Browns):

Composting works best when you have a good balance of “greens” (nitrogen-rich) and “browns” (carbon-rich).

Greens (Nitrogen-Rich)	Browns (Carbon-Rich)
Fruit and vegetable scraps	Dry leaves
Coffee grounds and tea bags	Shredded newspaper and cardboard (non-glossy)
Grass clippings (in thin layers)	Straw or hay
Plant trimmings	Wood chips or sawdust (from untreated wood)
Eggshells	Paper towels and napkins (unsoiled)

What NOT to Compost (Generally):

Avoid these to prevent pests, odors, and disease:

• Meat, fish, and bones (attract pests, can smell)
• Dairy products (attract pests, can smell)
• Oily or greasy foods
• Diseased plants
• Weeds that have gone to seed
• Pet waste (from dogs or cats – can contain pathogens)
• Chemically treated wood or yard waste
• Coal or charcoal ash
• Glossy or coated paper/cardboard

Where to Find Detailed Lists Online: Search for “what to compost chart,” “compostable materials guide,” or visit university extension office websites. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers excellent, reliable information on composting.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Composting (Your Online Blueprint)

Alright, you’ve done your online research, maybe even ordered some gear. Now, let’s get this composting party started! This guide assumes you’ve chosen a standard outdoor bin or pile method, but the principles apply broadly.

Step 1: Choose Your Composting Spot

Find a convenient location for your compost bin or pile. Ideally, it should be:

• Accessible: Easy to get to from your house and garden.
• Shaded: Partial shade is best. Too much sun can dry it out, and too much shade can keep it too wet.
• Well-drained: You don’t want your compost sitting in a puddle.
• Away from direct structures: Give it some breathing room.

Step 2: Set Up Your Bin or Pile

If you have a bin, assemble it according to the instructions you found online. If you’re making an open pile, choose a level spot on the ground (direct contact with the soil is good – it lets beneficial microbes and worms in). You can lay down a base layer of coarse brown material, like small twigs or straw, for better airflow.

Step 3: Start Adding Your Materials

Begin layering your “greens” and “browns.” A good starting ratio is roughly two to three parts “browns” to one part “greens.”

• Start with a layer of browns (leaves, shredded paper).
• Add a layer of greens (kitchen scraps, coffee grounds).
• Cover the greens with another layer of browns.

This helps prevent odors and keeps pests away. Always try to bury fresh kitchen scraps under a layer of browns.

Step 4: Maintain Moisture Levels

Your compost pile should be about as damp as a wrung-out sponge. If it’s too dry, decomposition slows down. If it’s too wet, it can become slimy and smelly.

• To add moisture: Use a watering can or hose to lightly moisten dry layers.
• To reduce moisture: Add more brown materials, which will absorb excess water. Make sure your bin has drainage holes or your pile isn’t waterlogged.

Step 5: Aerate Your Compost

Composting is an aerobic process, meaning it needs oxygen. Turning your compost pile regularly provides this oxygen, speeds up decomposition, and prevents it from becoming anaerobic (which causes bad smells).

• How often? Aim to turn your compost every 1-2 weeks, especially if you want faster results.
• How to? Use a pitchfork, garden fork, or a compost aerator tool to mix the materials thoroughly. Try to bring materials from the outside to the inside and vice versa.

Step 6: Be Patient and Observe

Composting takes time! The speed depends on the materials, the size of your pile, how often you turn it, and the weather. You’ll know your compost is ready when it’s dark, crumbly, and smells earthy – like the forest floor. You shouldn’t be able to recognize the original materials.

Step 7: Harvest and Use Your Compost!

Once it’s ready, you can harvest your compost. You can either remove the finished compost from the bottom of a bin, or shovel off the top layers from a pile, leaving material that’s still decomposing at the bottom. Sift out any large, undecomposed bits and add them back to your active compost pile. Then, spread your finished compost on your garden beds, around trees and shrubs, or use it to enrich potting soil.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully turned waste into valuable garden gold.

Troubleshooting Common Composting Problems (Online Solutions)

Even with the best intentions, you might run into a few snags. The good news is, you can hop back online and find quick solutions!

Problem 1: My compost smells bad (like rotten eggs or ammonia).

Likely Cause: Too much nitrogen (greens) or not enough air. It’s too wet and becoming anaerobic.

Online Solution:

• Add more “brown” materials (leaves, shredded cardboard, sawdust) to absorb moisture and balance the nitrogen.
• Turn the pile thoroughly to introduce air.
• Ensure there’s good drainage.

Problem 2: My compost is not breaking down and is dry.

Likely Cause: Not enough moisture, not enough “greens” (nitrogen), or the pieces are too large.

Online Solution:

• Add water and mix it in well.
• Add more “green” materials like fruit scraps or grass clippings.
• Chop or shred larger items into smaller pieces.
• Turn the pile to help distribute moisture and air.

Problem 3: I have fruit flies and other pests.

Likely Cause: Exposed food scraps, or the pile is too wet.

Online Solution:

• Always bury food scraps completely under a layer of brown material.
• Ensure the pile has enough brown material to absorb moisture and odors.
• Turn the pile regularly.
• If using a bin, make sure it has a tight-fitting lid.

Problem 4: My compost pile is too cold.

Likely Cause: Too small a pile, not enough nitrogenous materials, or it’s too dry/cold outside.

Online Solution:

• Make your pile larger. A minimum of 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet is recommended for efficient heating.
• Add more green materials (kitchen scraps, grass clippings).
• Check and adjust moisture levels.
• If it’s winter, decomposition will slow naturally, but adding more browns can help insulate it.

Composting Online Resources for Advanced Learning

Once you’ve mastered the basics, the internet is still your best friend for deepening your composting knowledge. Here are some great places to find more detailed information:

• University Extension Offices: Many universities have agricultural and horticultural extension programs that offer detailed, research-based guides on composting. Search for “[Your State] University Extension Composting.” These are often downloadable PDFs.
• Master Gardener Programs: These local programs, often associated with university extensions, are a treasure trove of practical gardening and composting advice. You can often find local resources and even help forums online.
• Reputable Gardening Websites and Blogs: Look for established sites that cite their sources or are run by horticulturalists. Keywords to search include: “advanced composting techniques,” “compost activators,” or “compost troubleshooting.”
• Online Gardening Forums: Engaging with other composters can be incredibly helpful. You can ask specific questions and get advice from people with diverse experience. Search for “gardening forum” or “composting forum.”
• YouTube: Visual learners can benefit immensely from watching composting demonstrations, bin reviews, and troubleshooting videos. Search for specific topics you’re interested in.

For example, the Gardening Know How website provides practical advice on a wide range of gardening topics, including composting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Composting