Composting Made Easy
Composting is not new but an old method that has been around for some time. This method of gardening has proven to be beneficial in so many ways that at every turn people are composting in home gardens and also on a wider scale.
Foods that are grown by composting are healthier than chemically grown food crops. The use of composting or organically grown foods goes hand in hand. These foods are grown naturally without the use of chemicals that contributes to food contamination.
Although the approach to composting might be different the end results are all the same, growing foods that are chemically free, filled with vitamins along with better flavors. In this article, we will be looking at one method of composting (dig and drop) that has proven to condition the soil with a better food crop yield.
What is dig and drop composting?
Dig and drop composting is simply digging a hole and depositing or dropping kitchen scraps such as vegetable, fruit leftovers, eggshell coffee grounds, grass clippings, leaves, and other organic materials in holes that are dug followed by properly covering with soil which will breakdown over time by microbial activity that aids conditioning and adding nutrients to the soil.
The how-to of dig and drop composting
- If kitchen scraps are large cut them into smaller pieces this way scraps will bury and breakdown much easier
- Locate the area where you want to compost
- Dig each hole 8-12 inches deep and as wide as you desire
- Place kitchen scraps into the hole
- Thoroughly replace the soil and you are done
Kitchen scraps and other organic material should be properly covered to avoid rodents and other garden pests from digging it up.
The soil type for dig and drop composting
While soil plays an important role in the life of plants, soils can further be built by adding organic materials. Since organic materials can help with soil structures organics are not limited to soil type because of their quality building effects.
Kitchen scraps that can be used to dig and drop composting
Here are some examples of kitchen scraps.
- Lettuce
- Cabbage
- Potato skin
- Onion skin
- Apple and orange peels
- Cucumber peel
- Eggshells
- Coffee grounds
- Citrus peels
Other organic materials can be used.
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Straw
Kitchen scraps to avoid
The use of animal products such as meats, dogs, cats feces, etc… should be avoided because of contamination. However dried chicken, cow and horse manure can be used, and meat products along with cat and dog feces will encourage rodents such as rats which will not only dig up your garden but cause food contamination. Dairy products are also a NO-NO, avoid using disease materials.
The advantage of dig and drop composting
- Enriches the soil
- It takes less effort
- Improves aeration
- Increases microbial activity
- Healthier foods
- Foods have a better taste
- Improves drainage
- It’s easy just dig, drop, and cover
- Will increase earthworms activity helping to breakdown organic material
- Recycling
- There is no odor
- No need to keep turning compost
- Nutrients are directly delivered to the plant’s root zone
- Reduces soil compaction
The disadvantage of dig and drop composting
- It May take longer to decompose or breakdown
- The same hole cannot be refilled until organic material decomposes
- Compacted soil may be harder to dig
- Takes a long time to improve the soil
Copying nature-dig and drop composting
Nature is our best teacher, when we look at plants growing in the wild it’s amazing how these plants are growing so healthy without any human involvement this is because nature helps to sustain plant life by depositing and breaking down organic materials. Dig and drop composting as well as other methods of composting follows this same pattern so go and do likewise as you help to sustain plant life through this natural process.
The final word or dig and drop composting
Dig and drop composting is beneficial both for plant life, soil microbes and of cause humans as well, this method of gardening is a great way to grow healthy foods naturally without the concern of any side effects. Compost the easy way with the dig and drop methods and reap the benefits.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
I like gardening a lot, that makes me so relaxed and help me get rid of stress, especially in this crazy pandemic time during the lockdown.
Thank you for this tips!
So good to hear that and you are welcome.
The world of technology has made us to forget where we use to be and where we are coming from. No wonder human life’s span has greatly reduced imagine in the world where a suppose fruit whose should be well harvested at a particular year is reduce with the the aid of chemical process. Nothing can be compared with nature. The best is gotten from natural plant that are fasten up by any process. Thanks for sharing this awesome article here. It is really helpful.
You are so right and I am glad to help.