FeelingWow! Magazine

In the dictionary, when you look up compost it says something like this, “a mix of decomposing organic matter, such as from leaves and manure.” But that definition doesn’t tell the whole story. Compost is much more than that. And if you have a vegetable garden, flower garden, shrubs, trees or house plants, then you should learn more about compost.

Using compost in the garden has been done in some form for centuries now. Back when we didn’t have big fertilizer companies selling products in every big box store around, farmers made due with what they had. Most of them had yard waste and or manure. When you let nature take it’s course and let leaves, grass clippings, vegetable peels, coffee grinds and other stuff that usually goes in the garbage, you’ll end up with nutrient rich compost. Compost is great to plants and the soil.

Creating compost is a slow process that will usually take a few months. The correct ratio of browns to green, diligently turning a compost pile to keep it aerated and watching the moisture content will reward with fresh earthy compost much faster. The more attention you pay your compost pile, the quicker your garden scraps will become compost. And even if ignore your pile, you’ll still get compost eventually. Just look at the soil next time you go into the woods. There’s no one out there tending to the forest and yet the ground will probably be made up of dark, rich soil.

It may be hard to believe but compost is a lot better for plants that synthetic fertilizers. Nature got it right and man got a little sidetracked by making money. Some fertilizers will actually harm your soil in the long run by breaking down and leaving salts.

Adding compost to the soil is creating healthy soil. You’re doing what nature is already trying to do but your just doing it faster and more efficiently.

Plants will thrive is soil that’s been amended with compost. They will be less prone to disease, need less water and won’t be bothered by as many pests.

Compost is a great way to have a strong, healthy garden. It not only feeds the plants but also helps the soil. And healthy soil is the best way to have a great vegetable garden.