Composting is the process of using nature's own recycling system to turn organic wastes into rich humus to use in the garden as a fabulous soil conditioner. Up to 30% of the garbage we throw out each week can go in the compost pile, including vegetable and fruit peelings, grass clippings, hair, manure, eggshells, tea leaves, branches and twigs, coffee filters, and leaves.
Composting techniques range from super-easy set-it-and-forget-it piles of old grass clippings and leaves that take a few seasons to decompose, or "hot" piles that require some experimentation and finesse in turning, ingredient ratios of "brown" to "green", but that turn your soup-makings and autumn leaves into brown gold in a just a couple of months.
The benefits of composting are many: it recycles stuff we'd otherwise be cramming down the garbage disposal or letting the municipal leaf-guys haul away; it makes great soil enrichment for home gardeners; it improves the structure of your soil; it lets you use less water on your plants; and it just feels good knowing that your small effort is giving back to the earth a little (and you can even "compost indoors!")
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