Ever considered creating your own compost? A wonderfully sustainable and eco-friendly method, home composting is a superb way of recycling kitchen and garden waste.
A natural process that has many environmental benefits, the act of composting has been found to significantly reduce the volume of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. A simple and cost effective alternative that can easily be integrated within your garden, come with us to learn about design ideas, benefits and all things compost!
So, what actually is compost?
The process of composting involves a combination of food, garden and any other organic waste. This collection of waste is then stored to eventually decompose over time and thus provides the perfect environment for bacteria and other beneficial organisms to thrive, accelerating the rate of decay. Over time this matter reduces and transforms into a nutrient-rich soil, perfect for fertilising a variety of garden plants. Effortlessly slotted within any outdoor area, home composting is a great way of reducing your carbon footprint whilst also providing your garden with top-quality fertiliser, all year round.
What are the benefits of composting?
A silent contributor, food waste is a significant issue when it comes to investigating climate change and our human impact on the environment. According to The Guardian, food waste accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and in the UK alone we discard 20 million slices of bread per day! A simply astonishing set of figures, food waste causes such extreme environmental damage mainly due to its transportation and production. Therefore, this is where the act of home composting plays a crucial role. Just by keeping this waste within your garden rather than sending it to the landfill decreases the demand for these sites and lessens the rate of harmful gases produced.
What is the best environmentally friendly compost?
If you’re not able to make your own compost then how do you know which is the best for you and your garden? Achieving the best growing conditions for your plants can be tricky, especially as every garden is different and may not contain the healthiest consistency of soil. So, the act of adding compost encourages plants to grow to their full potential whilst also naturally improving their plant life cycle.
So, with sustainability in mind, you want to ensure that when you are choosing compost it is most importantly peat-free. Peat extraction causes detrimental damage to the environment due to peat bogs being vast carbon sources. Therefore you want to make sure that the compost you are applying contains a good variety of organic and inorganic materials.
How can I design composting within my home?
Do you have a particularly shady space that is looking rather unloved? Then why not transform this unused area into a fully functioning composting system? Slot a collection of smart wooden compost bays within any suitable aspect of your garden and easily dispose of your kitchen waste whilst producing sustainably made compost that can be used within your garden all year round. To ensure that you achieve the best quality blend you want to ensure that your bays are packed with a healthy ratio of green and brown materials.
Worried about your garden image? Don’t be! Spacious and naturally aesthetic, compost bays can be designed to morph seamlessly within any outdoor setting, pairing with your garden’s palette perfectly.
Interested in weaving sustainability into your everyday lifestyle? Get in touch today and let’s have a conversation about how we can integrate a practical composting system within your garden.
