Renter-Friendly
Composting is a simple way to improve your environment. Whether you make compost in your backyard or apartment, compost:
- Regenerates Your Soil: Studies have shown when compost is added to the soil, it helps refresh and strengthen your soil. Humus is the product of decomposing organic matter and is full of nutrients and minerals that improve the quality of soil structure and texture, making for fertile garden.
- Creates Healthier Plants: The rich organic nutrients of compost help suppress plant disease and pests, and eliminates the need for petroleum based fertilizers. Compost stores vital nutrients plants need, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron to name a few. This can change the overall pH of your soil and improve the living conditions for many organisms.
- Eliminates Toxins: Compost added to the soil in your backyard (or large-scale soil remediation products) works to absorb toxins and bind heavy metals. This prevents contamination of nearby water sources or vegetation and ultimately helps prevent toxins from leeching into the food chain.
- Prevents Erosion: Compost is rich in colloidal material that stabilizes the soil. The process of composting creates a gel-like substance that when mixed with soil, works to bind the particles together into stronger aggregates, ultimately reducing erosion. Compost improves the pores in soil making for better aeration, and increases the capacity to hold water. When soil has more pores and holds more water it is protected against drought and other harmful weathering.
Find out more about the benefits of using compost at Earth 911.
Ready to get started composting? Continue on to Composting Styles & Techniques.
