Go Wild

- Getting Started

- Keep It Wild

- Trees

- Groundcovers

- Native Plants

- Wildlife Gardens

- Rock Gardens

- Woodland Gardens

- Meadow Gardens

- Edible Landscaping

- Restoration

- Composting

- Gardening & Health

Composting

With landfill space rapidly running out in many parts of North America, composting is an important way to reduce our waste stream. 30 - 50% of household waste can be recycled through composting!¹

Composting Tips

• A good compost pile has a mix of "green" and "brown" materials. Green materials (like kitchen waste) provide nitrogen to the mix, while the browns (such as dead leaves and twigs) add carbon.
• Because it depends on a variety of organisms to actually break down the materials in a compost pile, a good pile needs water and air to help these organisms do their work.
• Water: A pile should be damp to the touch (not soaking) - if it's too dry, add some water, and if it's getting too wet, try moving it to a drier location or providing the pile with some shelter.
• Air: The organisms which break down compost the fastest depends on oxygen to do so. It is very important to turn/mix up a compost pile every couple of weeks and to make sure it has good ventilation.

"Greens" and "Browns" for Your Compost

Green	Brown
- Fruit and vegetable peels - Bread - Coffee grounds and filters - Pasta - Rice and other grains - Weeds	- Leaves - Straw - Hay -Wood and twigs - Ash -Paper (including cereal boxes and toilet paper rolls)

Source: RRFB Nova Scotia (2001). "Backyard Composting" Booklet

For more information on compost visit the Resource Recovery Fund Board and Landscape Nova Scotia.