Sustainable Sleepy Hollow

Composting At Home

Backyard composting is another great way to reduce waste while also creating nutrient-rich soil for your plants.

What you’ll need:

To begin, designate a sealed kitchen container to collect food scraps. Outside, build or purchase your main compost bin. There are many options available, including compost tumblers that make aerating compost easier.

  • Place this bin in a sunny spot in your yard
  • Make sure there is enough room to comfortably turn and mix the compost in that space

Start a compost mix:

To create your backyard compost pile, you need four elements: green material, brown material, air, and sun/water.

  • Greens (30%) – these nitrogen sources fuel the microorganisms in your compost, and should make up a third of your pile. Organic green materials can include:
    • grass clippings
    • food scraps: fruits, veggies, coffee and tea waste, egg shells
  • Browns (70%) – carbon sources will make up the rest of your pile. They create structure and allow air to move through your compost. Include any of the following items:
    • dry leaves and pine needles
    • paper (shredded)
    • wood chips
    • small twigs and bark
    • straw or hay
    • sawdust
    • corn stalks
  • Air: the microorganisms that break down your greens and browns need oxygen. Turn and mix the pile often to increase air flow and speed up decomposition
  • Water and sunlight: your compost pile should be damp and receive a good amount of light. Place your bin in a sunny location. Water as needed, and soak up excess water with browns if it becomes too wet

Do not include the following materials in your backyard compost:

  • Animal products: fish, poultry, meat, bones, dairy products
  • Oil and fatty materials
  • Pet waste
  • Garden waste that has been treated with pesticides
  • In-organic materials: plastic, metal, glass, Styrofoam

More resources:

Interested in volunteering? Contact us at sleepy.hollow.eac@gmail.com.