Back
Home

What's your
Composting style?

Compost is a great way to get green, and there are many ways to do it. Find out what kind of compost method fits for you.

Signup for Notifications of Upcoming Compost Workshops

Hands-on or Hands-off?

Hands-on composters are willing to closely manage their compost to get good, fast results. Hands-off composters want a simple compost that doesn't need much time or attention.

What space do you have for composting?

How do you feel about red wiggler earthworms?

Do you want to compost grass clippings?

If all you have to compost is grass clippings, the easiest solution is to leave them on the lawn when you mow. This can be a healthy lawn care strategy.

Do you want to expand your garden?

Do you have room in your garden to dig some holes or trenches?

How much space do you have for composting?

How do you feel about red wiggler earthworms?

Do you want to compost grass clippings?

If all you have to compost is grass clippings, the easiest solution is to leave them on the lawn when you mow. This can be a healthy lawn care strategy.

Do you want to expand your garden?

Do you have room in your garden to dig some holes or trenches?

You could check out...

Lasagna Composting

Lasagna composting is a great method for turning a lawn or weedy space into a new garden bed. This method kills the underlying plants by starving them of light, while providing a fertility boost to the soil.

This method cannot be started in winter, but materials can be added in winter.

You could check out...

1. Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting uses red wiggler earthworms to turn food scraps into worm compost. The worms live in an enclosed bin or tub with newspaper bedding.

This indoor method can be used year-round.

2. Bokashi Buckets

Bokashi buckets layer food waste – including meat, bones, and dairy – and inoculated bran in a sealed bucket to ferment. The fermented waste is mixed into an outdoor compost or buried in the soil, where it completely breaks down in 2-6 weeks.

This indoor method can be used year-round.

3. NatureMill Electric Composter

NatureMill composters are small, electric appliances that process moderate amounts of food waste into finished compost. Materials need to be chopped and balanced with sawdust pellets and baking soda.

This method can be used in year-round.

You could check out...

1. Bokashi Buckets

Bokashi buckets layer food waste – including meat, bones, and dairy – and inoculated bran in a sealed bucket to ferment. The fermented waste is mixed into an outdoor compost or buried in the soil, where it completely breaks down in 2-6 weeks.

This indoor method can be used year-round.

2. NatureMill Electric Composter

NatureMill composters are small, electric appliances that process moderate amounts of food waste into finished compost. Materials need to be chopped and balanced with sawdust pellets and baking soda.

This method can be used in year-round.

You could check out...

A medium sized compost bin

Bins are a tidy way to compost outdoors and help create the damp, warm conditions needed for materials to break down. A medium-size compost bin (roughly 16 ft3 – 36 ft3 ) provides enough room for a hands-off household without much yard waste.

A wooden stacking bin is an inexpensive option and an Aerobin is a deluxe option.

This method can be used in winter.

You could check out...

A large compost bin

Bins are a tidy way to compost outdoors and help maintain the damp, warm conditions needed for materials to break down. A large compost bin (over 36 ft3) provides enough room for a hands-off household with lots of yard waste.

A pallet bin is an inexpensive option and a wooden bin with multiple stalls is a deluxe option.

This method can be used in winter.

You could check out...

1. Trench Compost and Mulch

Trench composting is a simple composting method that buries food waste and green plant materials in a hole or trench. Meanwhile brown plant materials like leaves and woodchips can be used as mulch on top of the soil to suppress weeds and improve moisture. When combined, these two composting methods are a great way to increase soil fertility without much work.

These methods cannot be used in winter.

2. A large compost bin

Bins are a tidy way to compost outdoors and help maintain the damp, warm conditions needed for materials to break down. A large compost bin (over 36 ft3) provides enough room for a hands-off household with lots of yard waste.

A pallet bin is an inexpensive option and a wooden bin with multiple stalls is a deluxe option.

This method can be used in winter.

You could check out...

1. A large compost bin

Bins are a tidy way to compost outdoors and help maintain the damp, warm conditions needed for materials to break down. A large compost bin (over 36 ft3) provides enough room for a hands-off household with lots of yard waste.

A pallet bin is an inexpensive option and a wooden bin with multiple stalls is a deluxe option.

This method can be used in winter.

2. Mulch

Brown leaves and other dry plant material can be used as mulch on top of garden soil between plants. Mulching helps suppress weeds and keeps soil from drying out. Mulch can either be tilled into the soil annually or left to break down slowly on top.

This method cannot be used in winter.

You could check out...

1. A Small tumbling compost bin

Tumbling compost bins keep materials neatly enclosed and help create the damp, warm conditions needed for materials to break down. There are many tumbling compost bin styles available, some of which are compact enough for small spaces such as balconies

This method cannot be used in winter.

2. Bokashi Buckets

Bokashi buckets layer food waste – including meat, bones, and dairy – and inoculated bran in a sealed bucket to ferment. The fermented waste is mixed into an outdoor compost or buried in the soil, where it completely breaks down in 2-6 weeks.

This indoor method can be used year-round.

3. Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting uses red wiggler earthworms to turn food scraps into worm compost. The worms live in an enclosed bin or tub with newspaper bedding.

This indoor method can be used year-round.

You could check out...

1. Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting uses red wiggler earthworms to turn food scraps into worm compost. The worms live in an enclosed bin or tub with newspaper bedding.

This indoor method can be used year-round.

2. Bokashi Buckets

Bokashi buckets layer food waste – including meat, bones, and dairy – and inoculated bran in a sealed bucket to ferment. The fermented waste is mixed into an outdoor compost or buried in the soil, where it completely breaks down in 2-6 weeks.

This indoor method can be used year-round.

3. A Compost Tub

People with composting experience can make compost indoors in a large tub kept on a drip tray. Moderate amounts of food waste are layered with shredded paper and dry soil. This method is effective but requires close monitoring.

This indoor method can be used year-round.

4. NatureMill Electric Composter

NatureMill composters are small, electric appliances that process moderate amounts of food waste into finished compost. Materials need to be chopped and balanced with sawdust pellets and baking soda.

This indoor method can be used in year-round.

You could check out...

1. Bokashi Buckets

Bokashi buckets layer food waste – including meat, bones, and dairy – and inoculated bran in a sealed bucket to ferment. The fermented waste is mixed into an outdoor compost or buried in the soil, where it completely breaks down in 2-6 weeks.

This indoor method can be used year-round.

2. A Compost Tub

People with composting experience can make compost indoors in a large tub kept on a drip tray. Moderate amounts of food waste are layered with shredded paper and dry soil. This method is effective but requires close monitoring.

This indoor method can be used year-round.

3. NatureMill Electric Composter

NatureMill composters are small, electric appliances that process moderate amounts of food waste into finished compost. Materials need to be chopped and balanced with sawdust pellets and baking soda.

This indoor method can be used in year-round.

You could check out...

1. A Small composting bin

Bins are a tidy way to compost outdoors and help maintain the damp, warm conditions needed for materials to break down. A small compost bin (less than 16 ft3) can be sufficient for a hands-on household’s needs if they don’t have a large volume of yard waste and actively manage their compost system so that materials break down quickly.

This method can be used in winter.

2. Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting uses red wiggler earthworms to turn food scraps into worm compost. The worms live in an enclosed bin or tub with newspaper bedding.

This indoor method can be used year-round.

You could check out...

1. A medium-sized compost bin

Bins are a tidy way to compost outdoors and help create the damp, warm conditions needed for materials to break down. A medium-size compost bin (roughly 16 ft3 - 36 ft3) provides enough room for a hands-on household with a moderate amount of yard waste.

A wooden stacking bin is an inexpensive option and an Aerobin is a deluxe option.

This method can be used in winter.

2. A large compost bin

Bins are a tidy way to compost outdoors and help maintain the damp, warm conditions needed for materials to break down. A large compost bin (over 36 ft3) provides enough room for a hands-off household with lots of yard waste.

A pallet bin is an inexpensive option and a wooden bin with multiple stalls is a deluxe option.

This method can be used in winter.

You could check out...

1. Trench Compost and Mulch

Trench composting is a simple composting method that buries food waste and green plant materials in a hole or trench. Meanwhile brown plant materials like leaves and woodchips can be used as mulch on top of the soil to suppress weeds and improve moisture. When combined, these two composting methods are a great way to increase soil fertility without much work.

These methods cannot be used in winter.

2. A large compost bin

Bins are a tidy way to compost outdoors and help maintain the damp, warm conditions needed for materials to break down. A large compost bin (over 36 ft3) provides enough room for a hands-off household with lots of yard waste.

A pallet bin is an inexpensive option and a wooden bin with multiple stalls is a deluxe option.

This method can be used in winter.

3. A grow pile

For those with the garden space for it, green and brown materials can be mixed together and left in a low mound in a garden. Compost-tolerant plants such as squash, tomatoes, or potatoes can be planted on top of the pile in pockets of added soil.

This method cannot be started in winter, but materials can be added in winter.

You could check out...

1. A large compost bin

Bins are a tidy way to compost outdoors and help maintain the damp, warm conditions needed for materials to break down. A large compost bin (over 36 ft3) provides enough room for a hands-off household with lots of yard waste.

A pallet bin is an inexpensive option and a wooden bin with multiple stalls is a deluxe option.

This method can be used in winter.

2. Mulch

Brown leaves and other dry plant material can be used as mulch on top of garden soil between plants. Mulching helps suppress weeds and keeps soil from drying out. Mulch can either be tilled into the soil annually or left to break down slowly on top.

This method cannot be used in winter.

3. A grow pile

For those with the garden space for it, green and brown materials can be mixed together and left in a low mound in a garden. Compost-tolerant plants such as squash, tomatoes, or potatoes can be planted on top of the pile in pockets of added soil.

This method cannot be started in winter, but materials can be added in winter.