Not sure what you can compost? Costa says anything that used to be trees can go in the compost bin, including newspaper, cardboard and paper cuttings. Follow his guide to make your compost!FIND THE RIGHT BIN“There are many different ways to create compost,” he says. “If you have space, you can have compost bays, but, in the city, compost bins work well to keep things nice and neat. It’s also a good idea to put bird mesh underneath the bins to keep things like rats out and so liquids can drain to nourish the soil and nearby plants.”
LAYERING IS KEY
“Once you have your bins, you need your materials to go inside : this needs to be a mixture of ‘browns’ – the carbon – (moistened cardboard, hay) and ‘greens’ – the nitrogen – (lawn clippings, young weeds, garden leaves, veggie scraps, even chicken feathers),” Costa explains.
“Next up, find a spot with shade but away from tree trunks. Make the first layer a carpet of carbon materials – start by constructing a layer of sticks on top of the soil to help with aeration. Begin layering your brown and green materials and then you can start adding your scraps. Once the bin is full, turn the compost to let air in.
JUST ADD WATER
In this case, Costa says that less is more. “You want to add a little water – not too much – to aid the breakdown process and fire up the microbes – just a few drops should come out if you squeeze the compost,” he says.
“Each step of the process, involve the children by teaching them about what compost is and why it’s useful.”
GET THE KIDS INVOLVED
Getting the kids or grandkids involved with composting is a great way to teach them about recycling and sustainability.
“As the ambassador for Junior Landcare, I’m passionate about encouraging the next generation of Landcarers to get out, get active and make a difference for the environment around them,” says Costa. “For my step-by-step recipe to make compost with children, visit the
Junior Landcare Learning Centre video channel on YouTube.
#YouthEngagement