Is Composting Worth It? Here Are The Benefits
Making your own compost is one of the best ways to responsibly eliminate leftover food and home waste; just about anyone can do it!
It doesn’t matter if you live in the city or the countryside many benefits come from composting at home. But is it truly worth it?
We know that getting your hands dirty and handling rotten veggies isn’t the most appealing thing ever.
Today, we will share our experience with composting and whether or not we think it is worth it.
Making Compost is Easy
While most think composting involves getting your hands dirty, products such as the Organic Waste Kit by Feed the Soil make it easy for everyone, even those who have never tried it before! All you need to do is continue throwing your leftovers into the bin until its full, then throw some bokashi on top and keep it closed. The rest is all done by itself, easy peasy.
It Improves Your Soil Quality
Throwing compost in your garden nurtures your soil and can help turn even a barren wasteland into a thriving, happy garden over time. Compost naturally has a desirable pH level, and throwing it into your garden balances the pH levels allowing for a denser, more nutrient-rich soil. On top of this, the compost will attract worms and other critters, which helps mix up and break down the earth, making it the perfect environment for an eager green thumb to play in. Those living in South Africa know we have intense floods and droughts. Composted gardens are less likely to flood because of the enhanced water retention and reduced erosion that healthy soil provides.
It’s Better for the Environment
Most of us throw our veggies and fruit right into the bin. Research suggests that 20% of all waste in landfills is made up of fruit, vegetables and natural produce, and a whopping 40% of our food supply ends up in landfills. Landfills contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, releasing toxic gases into our ozone layer. As we overproduce and waste food, millions of South Africans go hungry, and mass amounts of trash end up in our ecosystem. The transport, storage, and waste collection industries gather millions of tons of waste, ending up in our landfills. By composting, you are allowing nature’s cycle to continue by returning nutrient-rich produce to the earth, allowing the environment to benefit by putting that “waste” to use. At the same time, you are reducing landfill waste allowing for more non-recyclable items to take the place of the food that shouldn’t have ended up there in the first place. It’s a win-win for the atmosphere and your garden.
What can I put in my compost bin?
You’d be surprised at the number of foods we use daily at home that can go into compost rather than the bin. Here are some examples: Food waste, meat, bones, dairy products, milk, cheese, pieces of bread, cakes, pasta, rice, tea bags, coffee grounds, filter paper, wax paper, paper towels, flowers, fruit and vegetable peels, and plate scrapings.
Composting may seem like a hassle, but it is an entirely passive practice. All you need to do is save your food waste and put it in your compost bin, and the rest is done by itself until the compost is ready to use, which takes a few weeks. Finally, you can treat your garden by giving it the most enriched, natural fertilizer that artificial fertilizers cannot compete with. If you are someone who wants to create your own nutrient-rich soil at home, composting is definitely worth it. It is more affordable than artificial fertilizer and can improve your soil. If you don’t garden, it still does planet earth a world of good which is a good enough reason for us to conclude that composting is worth it!
