dirt / By Amy Stewart

They Came for My Compost

So in the unlikely event that you’re not already composting in your own backyard, I’d like to suggest three approaches you might consider before San Francisco’s model goes statewide:

Put it in a pile and let it rot. This is my preferred method because it requires absolutely no work — the pile shrinks as it breaks down, attracts an interesting but unobtrusive population of bugs, and yields a few wheelbarrows’ worth of compost once a year when I turn it over. Just remember that big, bulky stuff like tree branches aren’t going to break down anytime soon. Also, weeds and diseased leaves may flourish and spread in your compost pile, so toss those in a green waste bin instead. Apart from that, it’ll all break down eventually. If you’ve got a good-sized yard, you can probably spare a corner for a nice, messy pile.

Dig a hole. This is especially effective for people who live in a small space and produce kitchen scraps but not much yard waste. Go out once every three months or so and dig a hole at least 18 inches deep in a spot that’s easy to get to but won’t get tripped over. Dump your veggie scraps in the hole. Sprinkle a little dirt on top if the sight of it offends you, but it probably won’t — the scraps will break down surprisingly fast. When it’s full, dig another hole somewhere else, and use the dirt from that hole to cover the one that’s now full. Each one of these spots will make a great place to plant vegetables or annual flowers the following year — and you’re putting nutrients below ground, where plant roots need them most.

Buy a really cool-looking compost bin. Those were low-maintenance options; this is the high-maintenance option. If your patio or garden is far too beautiful for piles of rotting waste or muck-filled holes, go shopping. Algreen Products makes a curvy compost bin that looks like a giant terra cotta pot, and while they’re pricey — usually a couple hundred bucks — it’s the price you pay for beauty. Or if you’re lucky enough to have a woodworker in the house, tell him or her to build you a box with a hinged front door (so you can open it once a year and pull compost out) and a lid that opens easily (for adding new green waste). You can paint it, put some trim on it, or instruct said woodworker to make it match your carriage house or your chicken coop. Just be sure it gets plenty of ventilation and drainage, and beyond that, it can be as decorative as you’d like it to be. And the compost is delicious. Bon appetit.

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