I know many of you are regular composters, and some have been doing it for decades, but if you know of folks who are interested in getting started or hoping to get some new tips for backyard composting, please spread the word about Hamilton County's free Backyard Composting Seminars! This April and May, there will be six in-person options through the County and one virtual option. We will discuss the benefits of composting, what methods can be used, how to start, what to compost, how to maintain your compost, how to troubleshoot, AND how to use the compost at home (phew!). Of course, there wi ..read more

Managing Food Scraps in My Kitchen Before I compost, I make every effort to prevent food waste. Besides making a shopping list and storing food safely, I save my scraps to make stock. Peels core, and vegetable ends go in a 1-quart container in my freezer. When full, I add the scraps to 2-3 quarts of water and boil. After straining, I freeze the stock and put the scraps in my kitchen collector with coffee grounds, tea, eggshells, and leaves.    Adding Scraps to My Bin When I'm ready to take my food scraps to the compost, I add water to my kitchen collector. This mixture helps keep my ..read more

Earlier this month, I was able to attend the US Composting Council's Compost Conference in Daytona Beach, FL. As the newest backyard composter of the bunch, I felt overwhelmed by the scale of these massive composting operations, but still left feeling more motivated than ever after being surrounded by such a passionate community. On the airplane back to Ohio (which was somehow just as warm as Florida? In February?!), I "broke down" a few takeaways that I could apply in my own backyard. Find your why. Every person who composted had a motivation that drove them to consistently put in th ..read more

Are Christmas Trees compostable? If they arenot artificial trees, then of course they are! They are organic material, so they are going to decompose over time. But are they a good fit for your backyard compost? Let’s break down the components of your Christmas tree. Are your decorations compostable? Take off your ornaments, your ribbon, your garland, and your lights. If you opted for natural decorations, like a popcorn or cranberry garland or some dried oranges as ornaments, you can put those straight into your compost pile! Be sure to check if the thread is compostable, and if not ..read more

 Thanksgiving is a time to gather with the people you are closest to, but when it comes to your compost bin, there are some guests that you would rather NOT see. Here’s how to avoid some of your uninvited visitors.       .   Racoons, rats, and squirrels love to feast on uncovered foods. Specifically, any meats and creamy or buttery dishes that you may put in your compost pile. As a rule, avoid putting your leftover turkey or bones in your compost bin, as well as your creamy and buttery dishes, to let the critters know your compost is not on their holiday m ..read more

  While students are making turkey hats and local farmers are capping off their annual fall harvest, we like to take time to give thanks in the abundance of good that has come in the last year. For many of us, we see an abundance of leaves around this time as well. If you were able to make enough upcycled leaf bins referenced in the previous post, you may be all set, but for many, the trees just kept giving. What can you do with what’s left? Mow them down and leave them. The leaves make a great home for local pollinators that need a warmer, insulated habitat through the w ..read more

 "Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” -Morticia Addams Who better to share their composting secrets this Halloween than a spooky and kooky family with a literal cemetery in their backyard? We interviewed a few members of the Addams family and pulled together their top three tips for creating beautiful, crumbly compost for your garden. Wednesday: “I don’t bury hatchets. I sharpen them.” A nice sharp spade will do wonders whether you are digging a grave or harvesting compost. Having the right tools for the job makes a big difference. Uncle Fester ..read more

Lemons and oranges are tasty citrus fruits, especially during these hot summer months. After making lemonade, orange juice, or some other treat, you’ll probably want to toss the peels into your compost bin. While this is a perfectly acceptable practice, have you ever considered using the peels to make something new? When it comes to food waste, it’s important for us composters to get creative before we chuck everything in our backyard bins. Composting is pretty awesome for your garden and for the earth, but food should always be eaten if possible! Need some ideas to get you started? Well, pull ..read more

Let’s face it, not everyone has the time or resources to compost in their backyard (or even has a backyard). So, what do you do if you want to put your food waste to good use but have decided that backyard composting just isn’t your jam? Well, fear not, because we’re here to help composters of all kinds. If backyard composting is off the table, your best option is a food scrap drop-off or pick-up program. First, let’s meet Hamilton County’s professional composters who can make it happen!          CompostNow           Back2TheDirt   ..read more

Do you have a pond or aquarium at home? I don’t know about you, but the only pets I was allowed to have as a kid were fish and the occasional frog. These aquatic critters were pretty low maintenance, but I did have to clean algae out of their tanks from time to time. What I didn’t know back then was that algae are compostable! Due to their high nitrogen content, algae are a perfect addition to the “green” layer of your compost bin. So, to all of you with fishy friends, you can compost your excess algae and old aquarium plants. For the pond-owners out there, feel free to skim the top of your po ..read more