Composting is a great, natural way to add vital nutrients to your garden using materials that you have handy. In this infographic, we answer the following questions:

  • What is compost?
  • How do you get started?
  • Is it really worth it?

What Is Composting?

Composting is the process of recycling organic materials that you usually think of as waste and turning them into soil conditioner—known as compost.

Benefits of Composting

  • Adds nutrients to the soil
  • Reduces the need for fertilizers
  • Reduces methane emissions
  • Reduces landfill waste
  • Can help save money

Composting Statistics

  • In 2015, 21.3 tons of yard trimmings and 2.1 tons of food waste were composted in the United States.
  • The average person composts 0.40 pounds of waste per day.
  • Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres, diverted 164 tons of food from the landfill—saving $75,000 since 2005!

What Can Be Used for Compost?

Not everything organic is suitable for composting. It’s important to make sure you know what belongs in the trash and what belongs in your compost bin. You need a good mixture of browns, greens, and water to make it work! Some great materials to get started are:

  • Leaves
  • Food scraps
  • Grass clippings
  • Old wine
  • Bread
  • Coffee grounds

How Do I Get Started Composting?

Step 1: Pick a Place

Choose a dry, shady spot for your compost pile or bin. Make sure it’s close to water.

Step 2: Add Materials

Use a good initial mixture of browns (dead leaves and branches), greens (grass clippings, veggies, fruit scraps, or coffee grounds) as you collect them. Be sure to add Jobe’s Organics Compost Starter—the microbes inside will help break down the organic matter in your compost faster!

Step 3: Add Water As Necessary

Keep dry materials moist, continuing to add water as necessary.

Step 4: Continue to Add Materials

As your pile gets established, add more grass clippings and green waste into it. Be sure to bury fruit and veggie waste under at least 10 inches of compost material for the best results! Once the material at the bottom is dark in color, it’s ready to use!

Less Work, More Results

Whether you’re new to gardening or are an established green thumb looking for new ways to improve your plants, composting is a fantastic, natural way to add vital nutrients to the soil. We designed our Jobe’s Organics Compost Starter Granular to speed up the process. Ready to get started? Learn more about all the products we offer.