Composting 101: Tips to Make Composting Easy

Have you ever considered putting your food scraps to good use by composting them? It’s not as complicated as you may think. Composting is an economical way to recycle food and plant waste and provide a little extra TLC to your garden.

How to get started

First, decide on the type of container to use. There is a wide variety to choose from – indoor vs. outdoor, self-composting vs. ones that require more attention. Once you’ve identified your perfect composting container, it’s time to start adding the right combination of ingredients.

Four important ingredients: Browns, Greens, Air, and Water

Let’s start with the two basic types of organic matter for your compost pile – brown things and green things. You’ll want two or three times as many browns as greens in your compost pile to keep it from smelling. These brown ingredients include torn up paper (as long as it’s not coated, it’s good to “grow”), fallen leaves, straw, twigs, or even coffee filters…anything that is ‘non-living.’

Now for the greens…this is where the ‘living’ items come in. Fruit and vegetable scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, even leftover plain pasta or the rest of that brown rice in the fridge…just avoid meat, dairy, and bones, as they will attract pests and flies.

Next, you need to add a little air. Be sure to ‘turn’ your compost pile about once a week to incorporate the air it needs to “cook” and produce that wonderful rich soil even faster.

And last but not least, every compost pile needs just the right amount of moisture to keep the process going. Here’s how you’ll know if your compost pile has the correct amount of water:

H2O…Hold 2 One…you should be able to hold a handful of your compost to squeeze out just one drop of water! That is the perfect H2O content.

Layering, aerating and waiting

One of the easiest ways to maintain the right balance between green and brown items is to layer them. Place a nice layer of brown items in your composting container followed by a smaller layer of green items. The brown items help absorb excess moisture while the green items provide the moisture and bacteria to get the job done.

If things start to stink
Unpleasant odors are caused by one of two things: too much moisture (i.e., too much green matter) or insufficient oxygen for the bacteria. So if your composting pile smells foul or rancid, add more brown to the mix. And then, be sure to turn the pile over to incorporate fresh air and oxygen. This will breathe life (pun intended) into your bacteria, allowing them to get back to work.

 

A few composting no-no’s

  • Avoid all dairy products, meat, and bones, as they attract unwanted pests.
  • Never add pet waste to your compost pile.
  • Citrus peels are fine, but avoid high amounts of fruit because they can upset the pH balance.
  • Avoid large quantities of garlic. Since garlic is a natural antibiotic, it may disrupt the bacterial activity that is actually working for you.

 

How to know when it’s ready to use
The easiest way to find out if your compost is ready is to plant something. Bury a few bean seeds ½” beneath the surface to see if they sprout and grow. If so, that’s a good indication that your compost is ready to use. If nothing happens within 3-5 days, your compost pile needs a bit more TLC. 🙂

With a little practice, you’ll be well on your way to having a thriving compost pile that will provide nourishment and life to your indoor plants or outdoor soil.

Happy Patients

I have had back issues most of my life. Since starting treatments with Dr Greg I have had no more issues. It's such a relief to be able to be physical at the high level I want to be. I am able to maintain wellness by seeing Dr Greg on a regular basis. Thank you Dr Greg!!

Michael L.

Hello! I just want to say that you are truly a healer! After leaving your office last Monday, I was more able to breathe, truly breathe - after having suffered all weekend to take a deep breath due to a "rib out of place" OK - if you say so....all I know is that, though I continued to have a bit of pain in my upper back and neck for a day or two, I could take wonderful, glorious deep breaths thanks to your treatment. Thanks again for all you do! Even if I do make many sound affects while you are treating me - "OUCH!!! Hmmmph!! Ughhh!! Really???" I truly appreciate your healing touch....

MMW

I have had Parkinson's Disease for 8 years.  I have developed arthritis in my back and hips. The stiffness of the Parkinson's and the arthritis has caused me a lot of pain. Because of that unrelenting pain I was unable to exercise. Exercise is an important part of pain management for Parkinson's.  Since I have been seeing Dr. Krapf I am feeling much better and his care has allowed me to begin exercising again, which has improved my overall well being. In the past I have been treated by physical therapists and orthopedists. Dr. Krapf's chiropractic manipulations have had an amazing impact on my health and happiness. I highly recommend Dr. Krapf to anyone who needs excellent chiropractic care and the many alternative therapies he offers. I would say he is magical!

When my friend received excellent care from Dr. Krapf, she recommended him to me. I have had gastrointestinal problems for nearly 50 years that have recently been diagnosed with celiac disease with lactose intolerance. All that, including unrelieved stress had made me unhappy and unhealthy. Today I am a different person with the help of Dr. Greg. The Gastro issues are practically nonexistent, my stress levels have plummeted, and my body is changing. I am so grateful for Dr. Greg and his healing hands.

Mary Ann L.

Our family have been patients of Krapf chiropractic for a few decades. We have several success stories archived. The most recent event involves our youngest son who is completing his senior year of high school. He has been a patient of Krapf Chiropractic (KCA) since birth. He has been an avid soccer player since the age of four and has sustained numerous injuries over the years. Dr. Krapf has successfully assisted in every recovery.

Most recently, he began complaining of his feet hurting while playing soccer. Both feet hurt - particularly the balls of his feet while running and cutting. He came to Dr. Greg with his complaint as this was seriously affecting his game. Dr. Greg evaluated the situation and decided a foot scan should be done. The finding was dropped arches. My son was fitted for orthotics. They arrived within days and he wore these as directed. Within a few short weeks he is now playing full games pain free.

SC

I first called Krapf Chiropractic when my back was so bad that I couldn't get up off the floor. It's been a blessing to have Dr. Greg help me with my overall wellness and health! I find this to be a place where you are not a number and everyone cares. Mollie is always cheerful and reminds me to come. Erin is always smiling and helps relax me when I'm in pain. I would not be functioning if I did not have Krapf Chiropractic to keep me going. As I get older my appreciation deepens, especially when I see people around me who are suffering with back problems. If they only knew how helpful this is. I believe Dr. Greg treats the person not the symptoms. Thank you

Debbie B.

I've been lucky to have exceptional health care from the beginning. At the beginning, seventy-six-plus years ago, Hugh Rodgers brought me into the world in mother and dad's second-floor bedroom in our dairy farm home. Hugh's son, Hugh, Jr., practiced with his dad and beyond caring for my parents, he, also, cared for hundreds of others and me. Roughly forty years ago, a friend suggested I make an appointment with Richard Krapf for help with back-pain. Richard treated the pain that, often, was debilitating, and on Richard's death, his son, Greg became the second second generation to help me from one place to another. I'm grateful to Hugh, Hugh, Richard and, perhaps, most of all, to Greg.

N.C.

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