Guaranteed Healthy Organic Compost With These 25 Natural Ingredients

Want to make your own healthy organic compost? Composting is essential in gardening although I didn't use to think so back when I was just starting.

But with all the scraps in the house and in the garden, getting rid of them was a mess. And I've found composting was a great way to get rid of scraps and make beautiful, rich and healthy compost.

Now I make compost as much as I can and grow healthy plants with it. Check out these 25 garden and household scraps, and you'll have a pretty good idea for making your own healthy, organic compost.

Guaranteed Healthy Organic Compost With These 25 Natural Ingredients

Best Scraps For Making A Healthy Organic Compost

When you think of composting, you'll think outright it's a mix of scraps piled in a container and allowed to rot. Well, there's way more to composting than just that. You can't just throw in all the scraps there are in your household.

I've made that mistake of throwing in all our food scraps thinking they're all biodegradable. Now I know better. While composting is one big scrap pile, the end product should be a rich, disease-free, healthy, organic compost.

Avoid throwing in your compost meat, bones, dairy products and heavily coated papers. Any of these 25 natural ingredients will be great for making a healthy organic compost.

 

1. Eggshells

Simply for the calcium in eggshells that they make a great addition to your compost. You can just throw in eggshells in the compost whether whole or crushed.

And you can also apply crushed eggshells directly to your plant bed to keep slugs and other creepy crawlies from invading your plants.

 

2. Coffee Grounds

Gardeners are a fan of this waste material as much as they are of the drink. I myself use coffee grounds as a pest repellent, mulch, and to amend soil ph in my garden. It seems the material, whether the aroma or taste, are offensive to pests.

Coffee grounds are also a great compost material when vermicomposting. Even the biodegradable coffee filter can be thrown to the compost bin.

 

3. Banana Peel

Tossing banana peel in your bin can add several minerals to your compost. Cutting the banana peel into pieces can speed up the composting process.

Growing a rose garden? Then they will love cut banana peels in the soil around the roots. Apparently, the potassium content in bananas is good for your roses.

 

4. Newspaper

Newspaper can be added to your compost pile. But make sure to shred them first before mixing with the rest of the materials.

It is a good source of carbon which helps balance the ratio in the compost makeup. They also make great mulch for your garden soil beds.

 

5. Fallen Leaves

While there are a lot of interesting crafts you can do with fallen leaves, they make great compost materials. After your kids have enjoyed playing in your pile of fallen leaves, throw them in the compost.

Just check under the fallen leaves in a woodland and you'll find a rich soil courtesy of the fallen leaves.

 

 6. Citrus Peel

Citrus peels are a no-no in compost for most gardeners considering they're used as pest and insect repellent. Why all the better for your compost to keep off animals and pests.

Citrus peels will naturally break down in a traditional compost pile. But it's definitely discouraged when vermicomposting.

 

7. Grass Clippings

Composting with grass clippings from trimming the lawn is very common. In fact, those grasses can be put into a lot of good use in your garden.

They can be used for mulching and for growing potatoes with. Then, they can finally end up in the compost pile for more good use.

 

8. Ashes

Using ashes to balance your compost can help make a healthy organic compost. You can put those ashes from your campfire to good use.

However, make sure there's no chemical used to build the fire affecting the rest of your compost pile.

 

9. Seaweed

Seaweed | Guaranteed Healthy Organic Compost With Natural Ingredients

Seaweed has low nitrogen and phosphorus content. It also contains other trace elements helpful for your compost. Aside from amending your soil, seaweeds have pest repellent properties as well.

If you have access to seaweeds then you've got one great material for a healthy organic compost. Make sure to check the laws in your region before harvesting seaweeds.

 

10. Used Tea Bag

Used Tea Bag | Guaranteed Healthy Organic Compost With Natural Ingredients

Don't throw those used tea bags right away but save them for good use as composting. Just make sure your tea bags breaks down easily to make good compost.

You can also use them to amend the soil to stimulate plant growth and keep indoor plants moisturized.

 

11.  Sawdust

 Sawdust | Guaranteed Healthy Organic Compost With Natural Ingredients

Growing some mushrooms this fall season? Sawdust will make a great substrate for your mushroom to grow on. Then you can add them after to your compost to balance your healthy organic compost. Sawdust from any woods can be used for composting. Just make sure they're not treated with chemicals to affect your compost pile.

Sawdust from any woods can be used for composting. Just make sure they're not treated with chemicals to affect your compost pile.

 

12. Pond Scum and Pond Algae

Everything has its place in this world. Even the garden pond scum you've been stressing about. The algae in the pond are a good source of moisture and nutrients to make an organic compost.

Come spring, when you're cleaning your pond, don't throw away that rich scum and make a healthy compost with it.

 

13. Vegetable Peelings

Vegetable Peelings | Guaranteed Healthy Organic Compost With Natural Ingredients
Image via carolinemakes

Whether you are composting traditionally or keeping a vermicompost, vegetable peelings are the go to scraps when composting. They break down easily and are packed with nutrients for the soil.

So don't waste those scraps away but make a healthy compost for your garden with them.

 

14. Nutshells

Adding nutshell in your bin can increase the level of carbon in your healthy organic compost.

Any nutshells will do as long as they are broken down into smaller pieces. Except for the black walnuts that contain chemical not good for your compost.

Although peanuts are technically legumes, the shell will make good compost when broken down into smaller pieces.

 

15. Worms

Vermicompost or worm compost uses certain worm species to break down food scraps and other organic materials. Worms are nature's gift to gardeners with their ability to make a rich healthy organic compost.

Learn more about vermicomposting here.

 

16. Hair

Hairs are a good source of nitrogen and other nutrients to make a healthy compost. It would be ideal to spread them evenly in the compost bin instead of just throwing them all in.

You won't get enough of hair at home so when you pay the local hairdresser a visit, ask for some of the hair for your compost.

 

17. Hay

Composting with hay is very easy and convenient and they make good mulch too. Did you know that you can grow potatoes in the hay? After you've used hay for mulching and for growing potatoes in, throw them in the compost bin.

If you have access to hay then good for you when many of us have to buy them in garden stores.

 

18. Tree Bark

Tree Bark | Guaranteed Healthy Organic Compost With Natural Ingredients
Image via kingofwallpapers

Bark and other dry wood especially those that are clearly falling off can make a good addition to your compost. You can use them in moderation as they can take up nitrogen but they can balance your compost.

Give your trees a shaving and throw those dead tree barks in the compost for a healthy and balanced mix.

 

19. Flower Petals

You can't dry and preserve all your flowers but they don't have to go to waste when they're better off composted. Flower petals can provide moisture and nitrogen in your compost since they're broken down easily.

They can be added in equal amounts as cardboards with a lit bit of water.

 

20. Shredded Cardboard

Shredded Cardboard | Guaranteed Healthy Organic Compost With Natural Ingredients
Image via randompastimes

A large portion of waste in the dumpsite are made up of cardboards. You can contribute to decreasing that amount by composting.

Use cardboards that are not heavily coated and make sure they're cut up into little pieces.

 

21. Plant's Scrap From Pruning

After your regular pruning, you can add the plant's scrap in your compost. Make sure it's not cuttings from plants with diseases. And don't add big branches. You'll just have to find other uses for them.

 

22. Dried Up and Faded Herbs

As much as we love herbs, the compost bin does too. So don't worry if you've got unsuccessfully dried herbs since they can still have a place in your garden through your compost.

Much like adding zest and aroma to your cooking, herbs will add variance and nutrients to your compost bin.

 

23. Seashells

Seashells | Guaranteed Healthy Organic Compost With Natural Ingredients

Calcium is essential for good plant growth in your garden. Make sure they are broken down into pieces to serve their purpose. They can also be used to improve drainage in your soil.

A sprinkle of crushed seashells at the base of your tomato plants will help it avoid the blossom end rot caused by lack of calcium.

 

24. Pulled Weeds

Even the pesky weeds you're trying to get rid are worth all their trouble when used as a compost material. Check your compost often to make sure they don't feel at home or regrow in your compost bed.

Make sure no seeds are in the weeds or keep them dead in the compost to prevent a growth cycle.

 

25. Corncobs

A corncob left whole in the compost bin can provide aeration and should be placed either in the bottom or throughout the pile. So every time you grill corns and eat the kernels remember to put the corncobs into your compost.

Corn husk also makes a great compost material, so don't waste it away with the corn cobs and throw them in the compost.

 

Watch this video of having a perfect compost recipe from GrowVeg

 

Getting the right ingredients is key to a healthy organic compost. To make a healthy organic compost, a variety of natural ingredients should be used as well. This will ensure a balanced nutrient content in the soil which is ultimately beneficial to your plants.With these ingredients mostly available in your home, making your own compost should be practical and easy.

 

Have you been wasting your scraps? Tell me about your steps to keeping your scraps and turning into black gold. Do post your comments below.

There's more to your compost when you make a homemade fertilizer tea from organic compost!

 

Featured image source via viral-today

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4 thoughts on “Guaranteed Healthy Organic Compost With These 25 Natural Ingredients”

  1. Pingback: 15 Practical Gardening Ideas On A Budget | Smart Homesteading Tips - Your Bushcraft Store

  2. Pingback: A Homesteader’s Guide to Composting | How To Compost Tutorial - The Peoples Health Alliance - NZ

  3. Pingback: A Homesteader’s Guide to Composting | How To Compost Tutorial

  4. The blog on “Guaranteed Healthy Organic Compost With These 25 Natural Ingredients” is a treasure trove for organic gardeners. It provides a comprehensive list of natural ingredients to supercharge your compost pile. With these powerful additions, you can ensure nutrient-rich and vibrant compost that will enhance soil fertility and support healthy plant growth. Say goodbye to synthetic fertilizers and embrace the goodness of nature with these 25 organic ingredients.

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