What are the benefits of composting?

It's now November, and your jack-o-lanterns are looking somewhat like this...

Now, what should you do with those smelly, rotting, eye-sores?

Well, since you're not a child anymore, smashing them on your neighbors front porch is out of the question. How about just throwing them in the trash?

Hang on one second!

Did you know that this is the perfect season to start a composting system? Think about it, you've got a bunch of pumpkins to use as a base, as well as all of those garden and lawn clippings that are just sitting there...waiting for someone else to take care of them.

Okay, we know what you're thinking "Composting? isn't that kind of gross?" well, yes... and it stinks too.

However, there are ways around this. You can create a compost bin outside of your home (and keep it far away from your windows). These bins can contain smells and keep unwanted pests out. They are available for purchase, or there are many other DIY options online. If you live in an apartment building, you can always talk to your building supervisor about options as well.

"But why do I want to compost? what's in it for me?"

Well, first off lets talk about the benefits on your garden or lawn. Compost can be used as a combination fertilizer/soil for your plants. It is very high in humic acids and other beneficial nutrients. Therefore, you can avoid spending money on traditional fertilizers and planting soils.

Secondly, composting is very beneficial for the environment in the following ways:

• Converts a high percentage of your household waste into beneficial healthy soil. Thus severely reducing your contribution to landfills and prolongs the life of your local landfill.
• Decreases soil erosion by enhancing soil structure
• Returns a diverse number of nutrients to the soil
• Reduces water needs by increasing soil retention in the soil
• When organic compost is introduced to inorganic compounds in the landfill, it combines to create methane which is an extremely harmful greenhouse gas. Therefore, keeping the two separate helps reduce greenhouse gases.

"Well, that sounds pretty great! so..what do I need?"

First off, you need to designate an area of your property. And then, as stated before, you can either purchase a compost bin or attempt a DIY creation. Make sure that the area is properly protected from critters like raccoons, who can create big messes if they get into your compost.

Next, Make sure you know what works best to compost so that you can get the best possible nutrient content in your compost. If you want a power-packed boost, you can try Earth Smart's Compost Starter. Or, those with agriculture operations can apply Earth Smart's Stubble and Trash Digester to boost their soil post-harvest in order to have healthy soil in the following season.

Finally, make sure that you turn the soil regularly to ensure proper nutrient distribution. You should also make sure that it's appearance is soil-like so you may need to find ways to increase or decrease moisture depending on your situation. For more information, try searching  "composting" on google. There are a wide variety of blogs and articles that are sure to help.