Composting 101: Free Printable Chart for You

Print It, Save It, Share It [Food Gardening Network Freebie]( August 4, 2023 Already received this FREEBIE? FORWARD TO A FRIEND --------------------------------------------------------------- [Printable Composting 101 Chart]( Composting 101: What and How to Compost If you’re new to composting, this Composting 101 chart will guide you through the basics. [Composting 101 Charts]( [Get My Freebie!]( Dear Gardener, Before we get into how to make compost, let’s look at the reasons why we make compost. In one word: benefits. The first year you use compost in your garden, it will be like someone superpowered your plants. Composting is also incredibly good for the environment for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is reducing landfill usage. So let’s get into composting 101! One common misconception is that compost is smelly. It can be, but not like you think. It’s really only smelly if your ratios are off (more on that in a minute). And if you use a closed container to compost, the only time you’ll smell much of anything is when you open the container to remove compost or add more materials. ​ [Composting 101 Charts]( [Get My Freebie!]( [Printable Composting 101 Charts]( Get this FREEBIE now to: - Discover how to keep compost odors in check - Learn the right green/brown mix - Know what does not belong in your compost The first part of learning how to make compost is learning what materials are compostable. Compost is made up of “green” and “brown” matter: - “Green” matter is new material, such as food scraps, grass, or eggshells. - “Brown” matter is older, or dead materials, such as dry leaves or cardboard. You’ll want to layer these materials in your compost bin to avoid smells and slime. Most gardeners agree that 50-50 is a good mix, but some swear that 70% green is the best ratio. Others swear 70% brown is the best ratio. Mostly, this depends on your climate and environment, but beginner gardeners usually start with 50-50 and adjust from there. A general rule of composting is that if your compost is slimy, add more brown material. If it’s dry, add more green material. Now that you understand basic composting consider the next step: doing it! First, decide how you’ll compost. Will it just be a pile on the outskirts of your yard, or will you have a composting bin near the house? Once you’ve made your decision and chosen your location, simply alternate brown and green layers as you compost. Keep adding waste, and depending on your setup (another topic for another day!), you will likely also need to turn your compost or otherwise care for it. If your compost gets dry, water it. Once your compost resembles dirt, it’s ready to use! Sincerely, [Amanda Signature] Amanda MacArthur Senior Editor & Producer Food Gardening Network [Food Gardening Network Charter Gold Membership Special Offer—Just $10 for an Entire Year! UPGRADE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY! Become a Charter Gold Member today and get the Food Gardening Magazine, Gardening Guides, Cookbooks and How-To Videos! [Gold Membership] Check out all that this new food gardening club has to offer you today! YES, SIGN ME UP NOW FOR JUST $10!]( About Food Gardening Network: Food Gardening Network brings you expert in-depth information and daily advice to help you grow good food at home and become the best food gardener you can be. Our worldwide community of gardeners, farmers, and cooking enthusiasts share advice and practical information on how to plan, plant, grow, tend, harvest and enjoy great-tasting and nutritional food from your home garden. Our magazine articles, in-depth gardening guides, how-to videos, recipes and cookbooks, and planning calendars help you improve your gardening skills, be a better cook, and enjoy all the benefits of successful food gardening—including saving time and money. When you join our growing worldwide community of more than 300,000 food gardeners, you get the information, advice, and camaraderie that can only be experienced with your membership in Food Gardening Network. You are receiving this email as part of your free subscription to email updates from Food Gardening Network. If you no longer wish to receive this update as part of your free subscription, please click the unsubscribe link below. [MANAGE PREFERENCES]( [Unsubscribe]( Help us be sure your email update isn't filtered as spam. Adding our return address [Support@foodgardening.mequoda.com](mailto:support@foodgardening.mequoda.com) to your address book may 'whitelist' us with your filter, helping future email updates get to your inbox. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( [Send us a message]( Did a friend send this to you? [Sign up to receive your own FREE advice about growing food at home.]( Copyright © 2023 Mequoda Systems, LLC Food Gardening Network 99 Derby Street, Suite 200 Hingham, MA 02043 Email: Support@foodgardening.mequoda.com [Our Privacy Policy]( Having trouble viewing this email? [View online](.