Why Composting is Good, Clean Fun!

By Francie Powers Pastor

The Pastures Of Rose Creek

Whether you have a sprawling garden or just a tiny yard, composting is an economical and fun way to restore vitality to your soil and grow healthy plants.  

Aside from being great for the garden, composting is excellent for the environment, as you essentially return organic matter to the earth’s soil.

Keeping all of that organic material out of the garbage also will help you reduce the number of trips you have to make to take out the trash and will save you from buying expensive fertilizer.

So, there are many, many reasons why composting just makes sense!

No Complaints From Neighbors

Composting done right won’t give your neighbors or family anything to complain about.

If they do, take them some lovely home-grown tomatoes and gently explain to them that the reason you were able to grow such amazing tomatoes is because you added compost. After they enjoy your tomatoes, you may have convinced them to start their own compost bin or at least help contribute to yours.

You can find composting bins at most garden supply stores. Some bins come with a hand crank so you can turn your compost regularly. Turning the compost helps speed up and even out the decomposition process.

Fancy bins and boxes are not necessary, though. You can also keep a space over by your garden where you toss your organic food scraps.

Oxygen Helps

Just keep a pitchfork handy so you can stir the scraps every so often.  It is recommended that you stir your compost regularly to add oxygen, which is essential to the decomposition process.

Keep a small container with a covered lid inside your kitchen, and every time you prepare food just toss those carrot peels, potato skins, and coffee ground into the container. Once a day or when the container is full, empty the container into your larger compost bin.

Try to keep a balance in what you put into the compost between kitchen scraps and more fibrous leafy contributions in the form of shredded paper, grass and leaves. This will also keep your compost in balance and reduce odor.    

Do’s and Don’ts

Compostable items include grass clippings, leaves, garden plants, fruit and vegetable scraps, shredded paper, egg shells, dryer lint, cardboard, tea leaves and bags, and coffee grounds and paper filters.

Do not compost dairy products, meat, cooking oil and any item that has been prepared in cooking oil. Such foods will attract flies and make your compost smelly.

So there you have it folks! Composting is completely gratifying. It’s easy to do, great for the environment, and puts money back in your pocket. Start your compost pile today!

And until you reap the benefits of composting, and even after you do, visit the Oconee Farmers Market.

The Market is open from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. each Saturday in front of the courthouse in downtown Watkinsville.

And, starting on Tuesday, a weekday market will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. at Watkinsville First Christian Church at the corner of Simonton Bridge Road and Main Street in downtown Watkinsville.

What Vendors Will Have Tomorrow

Vendors will be bringing many items including, but not limited to:

• Farm fresh eggs
• Goat cheese
• Local wildflower and sourwood honey
• Fresh Shiitake mushrooms
• Greens galore
• Turnips
• Mustard and collards
• Salad/lettuce mixes
• Kaleradishes
• Carrots
• Fresh and potted herbs
• Beef, chicken, pork and lamb in a wide variety of cuts
• Homemade pasta and sauces
• Gelato
• Cakes
• Pies-whole, mini and fried
• Cookies
• Breads
• Pastries
• Breakfast and granola bars
• Gluten-free granola
• Honeyed peanut butter
• Boiled and fried peanuts
• Kettlecorn
• Lemonade
• Cut flowers
• Birdhouses and squirrel feeders
• Gourd and blacksmith crafts
• Handmade jewelry and art work
• Lampwork glass beads-earrings and pendants
• Bath salts
• Goats milk lotions and soaps
• Handcrafted lip balms
• Hanging baskets
• Bedding and vegetable plants
• Beeswax candles
• Vegetarian cat and dog treats
• Free coffee and ice water