What to Compost
Greens = good sources of nitrogen
| Grass clippings | mix well so they do not pack down |
| Coffee grounds | include filter |
| Fruit | |
| Vegetables | all vegetables & peelings |
| Egg shells | adds calcium |
| Manure from herbivores | i.e., horse, cow, rabbit. Do not use if animal is sick |
| Tea bags | |
| Hair | human or animal, may be slow to degrade |
| Grains | |
| Feathers | |
| Blood meal | extremely rich in nitrogen |
Browns = good sources of carbon
| Leaves | improved aeration |
| Straw | a good source of bulky material |
| Sawdust | must be from untreated wood |
| Newspaper | |
| Yard waste | best cut to sizes 2″ or less |
| Paperboard | i.e., cereal boxes, paper plates and napkins, break into small pieces |
| Dried grasses | good source of carbon |
| Wood ash | must be from untreated wood |
WHAT TO AVOID & WHY
| Diseased plants | disease can spread if pile does not get hot enough |
| Weeds with seeds | or weeds that can sprout from bits of root. Seeds or bits of root may survive and sprout in garden if compost doesn’t get hot enough to kill them. |
| Dog or cat feces | may carry parasites and diseases that infect humans |
| Toxic chemicals | (pesticides, etc.) will harm or kill beneficial soil life |
| Charcoal (briquettes) | will not break down in compost |
| Fats, oils, grease | attracts animals and keep anything they coat from breaking down |
| Meat scraps, bones, cheese | slow to break down, smells bad and attracts animals |
| Treated logs | contains high amount of chemicals |
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Walk or ride your bike when you can
If you have to go somewhere close consider riding your bike or walking there instead of your car. It is better on the environment and healthier.
If you have to go somewhere close consider riding your bike or walking there instead of your car. It is better on the environment and healthier.
