Helpful Tip: Ashes

If you plan to add ashes to your compost bin, be careful.  They will effect the pH of the compost pile because they are alkaline.  To offset this change in pH, pine needles and oak leaves are helpful because they are acidic materials. 

Interesting Statistic

Roughly 12 percent of the total refuse placed in the Howard County Landfill is yard waste.
Composting is a safe, natural way to convert leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable refuse into valuable organic matter, known as humus, which is rich in nutrients. When spread in the garden, humus improves soil aeration, water retention, and root penetration.

Build a Cinder Block Worm Bin

Cinder block worm bins are indestructible and freestanding, yet movable. (1) Pick a spot out of direct sunlight. (2) Set cinder blocks end-to-end with the open end up in a rectangular shape. (3) Add more rows until you reach your desired height, making sure that each block overlaps they two blocks below. (4) Place hardware cloth on the bottom to exclude burrowing critters. (5) Cover the bin with a piece of exterior grade plywood to keep animals out.  After you add your kitchen waste, be sure to cover debris with a layer of leaves, grass clippings, or wet newspaper.

Worm Composting

Worm composting (or vermicomposting) is a natural and efficient way to recycle your organic kitchen waste.  Even in cold northern climates, where outdoor compost piles lie dormant in the winter, you can compost your food scraps indoors with worms, and reduce the volume of your household garbage by as much as 25 percent.  The end result is unsurpassed as an organic soil builder and plant fertilizer.  Worm composting is easy, rewarding, and fun.  Given the right environment and a little routine attention, a handful of worms will multiply rapidly and digest your kitchen scraps faster than any other composting method. To get started, you will need a properly designed worm bin, bedding material, some water and food scraps, and a crew of hungry worms. 

About Worms 

Red Worms (Lumbricus Rubellus) are ideal for composting kitchen scraps.  Unlike many other species, Red Worms will thrive in the confinement of a composting bin, digesting organic material quickly, and reproducing prolifically. If you have ordered Red Worms, approximately two pounds of worms will arrive in different stages of growth.  They lose lots of weight and moisture in the shipping and handling process, but will return to their normal weight within 7 to 10 days.