Don't Trash That!

One thing that I believe really helped the success of our garden last year was composting.  If you're in the south like me, you can run into some pretty lackluster soil and adding compost can really help increase the nutrients.  We ordered our compost bin through the City of Charlotte website because they have some deals worked out with a couple vendors so Charlotte residents get a discount.  In addition, this year the city is offering some really cool home composting classes and having a bin sale on April 9th if you would rather pick one up in person.

There are many fancy in home compost collection bins you can purchase, but I find that a bucket or plastic dish bin under the kitchen sink works just fine.  Just make sure you empty it every few days or you could end up with some unwelcome fruit flies in your kitchen.

When adding compost to your bin, it is best to make a well in the middle, dump in what you've collected, and cover it.  The compost should be turned often.  I just use a hoe or shovel to mix ours around every few days.  You can also purchase bins that include a lever to help you turn your compost pile.

Composting can significantly reduce your trash output if you're eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies.  It seems counterproductive to throw biodegradable food scraps into a plastic trash bag and send them to the landfill regardless of if you have a garden or not, but if you are a gardener it is almost ridiculous not to compost.  It is easy, affordable, and the benefits are huge.  Just check out this list to see all the things you could be utilizing to help increase the nutrients in your garden soil!