-22°C outside, bundled up to the ears I pry open the back door and bravely make my way through the path carefully carved in the snow. A blast of cold air suddenly strikes. Then stillness sets in. The skies are shining, particles of ice sparkling through the air. Nature is dormant. But today is full of life. Because my compost starts today.

Getting Started.

After years of postponing, hours of browsing online and perusing countless books from the library, trying to figure out the best method to give a new life to our everyday organic wastes and turn them into something productive, a spur of the moment convinced me to grab an empty bowl instead of the usual paper bag leading our valuable trash to the green bin. I filled it with onion peels, apple cores, an old garlic clove too rumpled to inspire and an array of faded greens that could not satisfactorily join tonight’s meal.

Compost starts today. I empty the soon-to-be luxurious content into the still pristine receptacle, a great satisfaction settles in for making that very first step. Something I know I really should have done decades earlier. An avid gardener who never dedicates enough time to fulfill such a rewarding pastime, for years I longed to, one day, me too have access to this endless resource of free and waste-diverting black earth that will boost new plants. And support the few established ones that managed to survive periods of neglect and less-than-perfect terrain and exposure in an urban—although generous—backyard.

Learning Curve.

So what had I learned so far ? First of all, enough thinking. Just do it. Compost starts today. Like any steps taken towards sustainable living, planning is important. Yes. But at one point acting is required. Spending a lifetime looking for the perfect way to achieve a goal will lead nowhere if we actually never start. Does it sound familiar ? Then, let’s pull down some barriers. You do not need a whole lot of space to achieve a good compost. And it can be done anywhere, even in the heart of the city. As long as steps are taken to control any negative impact it could have within the community.

Composts have the sad reputation of attracting pest and giving off foul smells. If your property has the privilege to feature a patch of greenery, a wide array of creatures that you may or may not be aware of call it home, guaranteed. With or without compost. Doing the best we can to positively cohabit with our wildlife is primordial and we should respect their habitat. However, the proximity of certain species who can potentially carry and spread diseases remains a risk that is not to be neglected. So it is important not to encourage them to feel too welcome or too comfortable in our backyard by blocking access to this free-for-all buffet. And this is easy enough. Put a lid on it. Something that will not blow away at the first gale but can be conveniently lifted on a daily basis. And for the smell, according to research, organics actually do not tend to emit strong odors. The only important thing is to make sure there are no animal by-products, we will get back to this a little further.

Fitting In Perfectly.

As for finding the perfect receptacle to set your new compost in, a simple bucket will be great for a humble garden and smaller households. But be aware that it does fill up fast ! For larger families or cooking enthusiasts, a regular size reconfigured garbage bin will do perfectly. Just make sure you drill a generous amount of holes for a healthy air circulation.

Some say it needs to be aerated through a thorough periodic rummage. But I won’t do that : I listen to Mom instead. I will go the let-Mother-Nature-do-her-thing way. Mom knows best. She and Pauline. Who has been doing it this way successfully for decades. And her down-to-earth (no pun intended) method just makes sense. And it has the terrific advantage to be maintenance-free. Simply leave the lid of your container open anytime you can. On a nice day. On a breezy day. Whenever possible. To boost air circulation and make sure the environment is sufficiently moist which, in our maritime weather, is not an issue since it tends to somehow get enough moisture through the abundant weather episodes, all year round… All in all, pretty much a virtually maintenance-free discards-solver/soil-improver. Sustainability at its best.

Carving Your Own Path.

Now, whenever introducing new sustainable habits into our lifestyle, being realistic is essential. No matter how eager and motivated I am to actually start this new routine, my eagerness will wear off in the long term if it is not practical. So low maintenance is definitely key to success.

What can go in the compost pile ? Well, as always, happiness is found in variety. A little bit of everything, all in moderation. Organics only. Your family adds up to eating 8 bananas every day ? Cut the peels into smaller bits so those thick skins can decompose a little more quickly. You like having a fresh orange juice in the morning ? Once again, chop the rind in small sections and occasionally bring a good batch of yard clipping. Or, even better, a healthy pile of hay. To balance the pH of your handcrafted yard booster.

Eggs for breakfast AND dinner ? That’s not weird, that’s good ! Egg shells are a fantastic addition to a compost. Just make sure you rinse and crush them into smaller slivers for a quicker dissolution. And on another note, don’t forget that rough egg shells are a great surface repellent all over the garden for crawling creatures. So you can also choose to place the shells logistically around your affected plants during the high season as a natural and efficient pest deterrent.

Making Wise Choices.

Now what not to include ? Basically, the no-nos are any products derived from animals (apart from the egg shells). Fats or leftover meals as they can still carry bits of meat or fish, even if you tried to isolate them prior. Technically those will biodegrade just fine over time. The issue is the smell they generate. Plus the tendency to attract rodent and wildlife interest, even in the heart of our beautiful HRM.

Also, it is only common sense but worth mentioning. Anything that is non-organic cannot be composted at home. If you are an adept of tea bags for your five O’clock break, the filling will suit the compost just fine. But you will have to manually separate the bag itself first as it is not biodegradable in a such a setting. Yep, even if it says so on the packaging. Just another reason—and a great opportunity—to switch your single-use teabags for the reusable version (universal filter or refillable bags) and embrace a new eco-friendly habit for your daily infusions ! Not only this will help the environment, but it tastes so much better with real leaves instead of the over-processed powder found in bags. And it is easier on the wallet too. So, what’s not to like ?

Reality Check.

Now when time comes to add this fertilizer to your garden patch, it is important to realize that, unless your shopping list is strictly labeled “organic” (and even when it is, the truthfulness of it is still questionable), produce leftovers will have been exposed to chemicals at some point and to some extend. On the farm and during shipping. So your compost will not be considered completely “organic” as traces of those contaminants will remain in the end product. But nurturing a compost pile is still better than simply discarding leftovers. And the fertilizers you would have store-bought otherwise to boost your garden will bear some traces of chemicals as well since they basically come from… Well, your own green bin, just having been processed, shipped and sold back to you…

As for my own compost, I might not get to see the result of my enthusiasm anytime soon but, as Spring will lead me to a more generous amount of scraps to recycle, and Summer shall tell me if my blunt decision was indeed productive, right now, in the midst of Winter, I already feel rewarded for at least saving some of those households discards and turn them into an organic treasure.

Step By Step.

Just like for everything in nature, or anything carried in a natural fashion, patience is key. And we shall believe in our actions as even the smaller steps we take into making our world a better place do add up and make a difference for the global health of our planet. Compost starts today and the result will come in due time. I will let nature follow its course. And, in the meantime, I will continue slowly but surely to make sure I don’t forget my daily additions to the pile of vitamins for our next harvest. Healthy living, one step at a time.

I hope you will get inspired to create your own moment as well. Make it happen, make your compost start today. Get it going—or start all over again if you had stopped for some reason—and take part in this beautiful activity that will be sure to genuinely improve the wellness of your favorite plants. Happy composting !