Compost – the garden’s happy meal

While it is still snowing and raining this March, I’m thinking about my garden by drawing out planting plans and building up my compost pile. Here are some things you can put in your pile as well as some things that are not so safe. Remember that your compost should be about 30 parts carbon (browns) to 1 part nitrogen (greens). I’ve noted the browns below but generally any fully dried out plant stalk, stem of leaves are considered browns. Fresh or wilted plants are considered greens.

• Herbivore droppings, manure. Do not add carnivore droppings
• Wood ashes, not coal
• Cabbage and Broccoli stalks and leaves but not roots
• Citrus Rinds
• Coffee Grounds, many espresso cafes will give you coffee grounds, and your garden will love you for it!
• Tea leaves and bags
• Kelp
• Lettuce
• Melon rinds
• Fruit Peels
• Vegetable peels, stalk and leaves
• Flowers
• Eggshells
• Grass clippings, without toxic pesticides
• Weeds, that have not yet gone to seed
• Peat Moss
• Cornstalks
• Sod
• Straw (Browns, carbon)
• Saw dust (Browns, carbon)
• Leaves (Browns, carbon)
• Hay (Browns, carbon)
• Pine needles (Browns, carbon)

Note: Remember that your compost pile loves oxygen so make sure to give it some mixing and ventilation.