Spring Greens

Make your garden grow while helping the UK with a big environmental headache

The UK is running out of holes in the ground to bury our waste. Our landfill malaise is a national problem that is also unsightly and causes emissions of the super potent greenhouse gas methane. Meanwhile, 30 - 40% of the average domestic bin-load that goes to landfill could be composted at home. Even if you have the tiniest outdoor space it’s a good time to opt for some domestic composting.

It’s remarkably easy to start home composting and you’ll get the reward of creating a fantastic, clean, on-tap material that will help your garden and window boxes grow by recycling valuable nutrients. You can even compost your shredded bank statements and crumpled up junk mail. How satisfying is that? And after the initial bit of investment, it’s a freebie!

How to get going

For a quick, clean start you’ll need:

a compost bin placed on soil or some existing compost, preferably in a spot that gets some warming sunshine
a kitchen compost caddy to collect your scraps without fuss and smell
a guide of what to compost and what to stay clear of - see our handy boxes

Composting is so popular these days there are a raft of organisations on hand to guide you through a set of simple steps and sell you good kit to get started. Many local authorities, including ones in Oxfordshire and London, will deliver cut-price bins in a choice of sizes to suit you - see below.

Composting basics

The essence of the whole thing is simple: you fill up your compost bin with two categories of material - green and brown - in roughly equal quantities while steering clear of the no-go red categories. Keep to the simple rules and all you have to do is wait about 9 - 12 months, then open the hatch at the bottom and fork out all that rich, brown magic. Just in time for next spring’s planting season. As my superbly green-fingered mother says, ” It’s always next year in the garden”. And well worth the wait in this case.

The home compost traffic lights

Green: these are quick to rot and provide nitrogen and moisture

vegetable peelings and raw fruit scraps

tea bags, coffee grounds and filter papers

young, green weed growth - but avoid weeds with seeds

soft green prunings

grass cuttings

Brown: keep these ’slow rotters’ in 50:50 balance with the ‘fast greens’ to provide carbon, fibre and structure that creates air pockets, so avoiding forming methane

waste paper, shredded or crumpled

scraps of cardboard

egg shells

bedding from vegetarian pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs

natural fibres such as cotton or wool

woody prunings and hedge clippings - chopped into small bits

wood ash (in moderation)

fallen leaves

hay, straw, sawdust

Red: the ‘no-no’s’ - they can cause problems such as odours, weed growth and attracting vermin so, if in doubt, stay out

meat, fish, dairy foods and all cooked food (even vegetables)

cat litter and dog poo

nappies

coal or coke ash (this isn’t organic matter)

perennial weeds and weeds with seedheads

anything with pathogens - e.g. diseased plants

Who can help?

The organic gardening experts at Garden Organic: follow the link for ‘Make your own compost’ at www.gardenorganic.org.uk for no-nonsense advice and kit, including a great kitchen caddy found at http://tinyurl.com/bup39u

Type in your post code at http://www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/ for deals on composting equipment, home delivery and to meet your helpful local composting adviser!
Other environmental groups, such as WWF, also sell kit - see http://shop.wwf.org.uk/gardening

- Frances Wells