At first, I thought composting would be like taking a science exam: way too complicated and confusing. And while I’m not against science, I certainly didn’t want to have to do a pH test every time I wanted to add something to it.
And honestly, I still don’t have it down pat, but we’re figuring it out, a little at a time – AND THAT’S OK 🙂
In fact, the first year we tried composting, we did it totally wrong. We ended-up and just letting it go (after we put a ton of pumpkins in there!).
The pumpkins started growing! Because we really didn’t do anything to it, the plants took the yard over like freaking Jumanji! It was like a jungle!
Our composting efforts the next year were a little better. Unfortunately, the rats got all up in it. We new enough about composting to not put any animal proteins or cooked food in our compost. I’m still not sure what was going on with that!
We don’t really have enough scraps yet to compost on large level. But, we have enough for the garden for now.
We compost simply to keep the stuff out of the landfill.
DONATE YOUR COMPOST!
After three years, at the end of the season, we still don’t have more than about a foot tall pile of compost. It’s okay, we just leave it there. I’ll bet that’s some rich soil underneath it though!
Don’t have a yard? Live in an apartment or a militant HOA? You can still compost! Some cities and towns have community gardens that would love to take your compost (get a plot for yourself, while you’re at it!).
Our local soup kitchen has its own garden. They love to accept donated compost as well.
Even local schools might be interested, especially if you’re willing to get the project started for a them! It’s a great way to teach kids about sustainability!
In my quest for diverting anything and everything from the landfill I did discover that you can compost some pretty weird stuff…stuff I never even thought about.
THE 15 WEIRD THINGS YOU CAN COMPOST!
Here’s a quick list of just 15 things you can compost, but there are lots, lots more. And if you’re ever not sure if you can compost something, a quick Google search will head you in the right direction!
Freezer-burned fruits and veggies. When you really think about it, they’re still raw (well, probably blanched), so why not? Even with the ice on them, throw those suckers in there (and the bag can be recycled in the plastic grocery bag bin at the market)!
Pine cones. Not the ones from the store that have been scented, but just the regular ones that fall of the trees in your yard. But wait! First you can harvest out the pine nuts, then throw the pine cones in the composter. We actually use them as fire starters, but the composter will eat’em up too.
Human hair. I wouldn’t add it if it has been chemically or color treated, but otherwise, it can be composted. If it’s treated, in the spring you can just throw it out in the yard for the birds. They’ll love making nests out of it.
Moldy cheese. Now, we don’t get a lot of moldy cheese around here just because it doesn’t last that long, but if you’re not of the mind to just cut off the mold and eat the rest, throw that sucker in the composter.
Sawdust. As long as the wood hasn’t been treated, it’s good-to- go. Just sweep the stuff up and throw it in there. We use sawdust to make fire starters too. No need for any of it to go to waste!
Tea bags. You know those fancy, silky ones? Yeah….those are probably plastic, so don’t compost those. But if it’s just a regular ol’ tea bag, cut the staple part off and throw the bag and tea in there. No waste, no fuss.
Nut shells (except for walnuts). As long as they are from raw nuts and haven’t been sprayed with pesticides, they are compostable!
Pet hair. We have 2 dogs and 3 cats, so yeah…we’ve got a fur issue. I brush the dogs and run an old-school lint brush over the cats. All that hair goes right into the compost bucket.
Dryer lint. As long as your clothes are made of natural fibers, then it’s fine. But if you’ve got anything in there that is not, you’re better off saving it for the birds or making firestarters out of it.
Moldy bread and crackers. Just toss it all in there! If the bread is just stale, instead of composting it, run it through the food processor and dry it on low in the oven…voila’! Breadcrumbs!
Booze. The morning after that raging party, when you’re going around picking up cups of left-behind drinks, as long as they don’t have mixers in them, just add them to the pile.
Crumbs from the countertop and floor. I have to sweep our floors twice a day and all of that stuff (minus anything not compostable) goes right into the compost bucket.
Wine corks. It’s best to chop these up as best you can, but they’re fine to go into your compost pile. Alternatively, you can put them in a jar with some rubbing alcohol and let them soak. Then you can use them as fire starters.
Nail clippings. I know…ew, but it’s true. After all, they’re made from the same stuff that your hair is made from, so throw those suckers in the compost pile with the rest of the organic material.
Hamster, gerbil, and rabbit droppings. Gotta love those house pets! And now you can love their poop, because it can go right in the compost! However, do NOT compost dog or cat poop. If you are looking for a way to get rid of that without throwing it in the trash, get yourself one of these, made specifically for composting dog and cat poop.
There are a lot of other weird things that you wouldn’t think you can compost and all it takes is a simple Google search to find out. I don’t think there’s a definitive, all-encompassing list out there (because I’ve looked), but there are enough resources out there to help you.
Our compost pile is really just two bins made out of pallets, so you don’t have to get all fancy with it. After all, the compost isn’t going to care one way or the other, right? As long as it gets the job done, you’re all set. It’s better to just get started and then learn as you go than to never do anything at all.
Happy Green Living!
Tatia
Tatia Elizabeth Childers is a certified sustainability consultant, radical homemaker, unschooler, doTERRA wellness advocate, and homesteader. She is also the admin for Toward Zero Waste Haywood County, NC Facebook group. Her background in alternative and natural medicine, preparedness, self-reliance, environmental science, and domestic history are the backbone of her life of zero-waste, sustainability, non-consumerism, and environmental responsibility. She has studied environmental issues, natural medicine, preparedness, and domestic history for the better part of 30 years and it is her journey to share the knowledge of how the health of one’s environment affects human health with her community. She offers classes, workshops, presentations, and courses on a variety of subjects that is she is passionate about, as well as consultations and mentorships. She is the mother of 4, plus one bonus son. She is married to her beloved, a retired Navy veteran and on the board of a local non-profit, Women of Waynesville. She received her BA in health & wellness with an emphasis on environmental science and domestic history from Purdue Global University in 2019. She can be reached at https://smokymountainhomestead.wordpress.com/ or smokymountainhomestead@gmail.com.
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