How to start composting at home: A beginner’s guide

Starting your composting journey can feel like a big leap, but it’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce food waste and enrich your garden.

Here at Food2Soil, we’re passionate about turning food waste into natural plant food – and we’re here to help you do the same by starting to compost at home with confidence. 

 

Why start composting at home? 

Composting at home is an eco-friendly way to manage food waste while creating nutrient-rich food for your plants. We love composting for a few reasons:

  • Reduce waste: You're helping to divert food waste from landfill and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It's a win-win for you and the health of the planet.

  • Save money: Creating your own natural fertiliser is free. 

 

What you need to start composting at home 

Setting up a composting system at home is easier than you think. Here’s what you’ll need: 

  1. Compost bin: choose a bin that suits your space — from small indoor composters to outdoor tumblers or homemade pallet bins.  

  1. Browns and greens: Balance your compost with brown materials (like dry leaves and cardboard) and green materials (like food scraps and coffee grounds). 

  1. Air and moisture: Ensure your compost stays aerated and slightly damp for optimal decomposition. 


Step-by-step guide to start composting at home 

  1. Pick a location: Choose a convenient spot for your compost bin, whether it’s your kitchen, balcony, or backyard. 

  1. Layer your materials: Start with a layer of browns, followed by greens. Aim for a 3:1 ratio of browns to greens. 

  1. Add food scraps: Include items like fruit peels, vegetable scraps, and coffee grounds. The rule of thumb is that, if it once lived, it can go into your compost, but like most things in life, balance is key. You can’t put 20kg of orange peels in with nothing else and expect a good result, but you can put some in, just like you can put in other lesser composted materials such as meat, fish, dairy, eggshells, bones, baked goods, and fatty foods. Remember: it's all about balance.

  1. Turn your compost: Mix your compost regularly to speed up decomposition and prevent odours from forming. 

  1. Harvest your compost: In a few months, you’ll have dark, crumbly compost ready to use in your garden. 

 

Common composting questions 

What can I compost?

You can compost fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea leaves, grass clippings, dry leaves, and shredded paper. Anything that once lived can technically be composted.

Interesting fact: There’s even a book called the ‘Humanure Handbook’ out there. Wow! 

What should I avoid?

Avoid putting anything in if you are not sure it comes from a natural source. When composting cardboard or paper, ensure it’s clean from any glue or coatings, those are two common ones to look out for. And be aware, just because your clothing might be 100% cotton these garments are often sown together with a plastic thread – some labels can be misleading.  

Check out this quick carrousel that clearly explains the do’s and don’ts of composting.  

How do I know when my compost will be ready?

Finished compost will be dark, crumbly, and smell earthy and to my mind, delicious! If you can’t identify the original materials, it’s ready to use. If you still have some larger pieces of unbroken down material, just pop them into the next batch!  

 

Take your composting to the next level 

For an even more effective composting system, consider adding Food2Soil’s biofertiliser to your compost. Our biologically active formula enhances microbial activity, helping your compost break down faster and boosting its nutrient content. 

 

Ready to start composting at home? 

There’s no better time than now to make a positive impact on the environment and your garden. With a little effort, you can turn kitchen scraps into garden gold and reduce your carbon footprint in the process. 

Explore Food2Soil’s range of sustainable gardening products to support your composting journey. Let’s work together to create healthier soil for a thriving garden.