Urban Composting 101

Learn how to turn your kitchen scraps into black gold for your plants, even in a small Brooklyn apartment. Composting reduces waste and creates nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Why Compost in the City?

- Reduces household waste by up to 30%

- Creates free fertilizer for plants

- Helps the environment by reducing methane emissions

- Connects you to the natural cycle of growth and decomposition

Getting Started

What to Compost

- Fruit and vegetable scraps

- Coffee grounds and filters

- Eggshells

- Yard trimmings (if you have them)

- Shredded newspaper

What NOT to Compost

- Meat, fish, or bones

- Dairy products

- Pet waste

- Diseased plants

- Weeds with seeds

Urban Composting Methods

1. Countertop Composter

Perfect for apartments. These sealed containers control odors and speed decomposition.

2. Balcony Tumbler

If you have outdoor space, a tumbling composter is efficient and clean.

3. Worm Composting (Vermicomposting)

Red worms eat your scraps and produce rich castings. Can be done indoors year-round.

Tips for Success

1. **Balance greens and browns**: Aim for a 3:1 ratio of brown (carbon) to green (nitrogen) materials.

2. **Keep it moist**: Your compost should feel like a wrung-out sponge.

3. **Turn regularly**: This adds oxygen and speeds decomposition.

4. **Be patient**: Good compost takes 3-6 months.

At Charlotte's Farms, we use citywide food waste collection to create our growing medium. You can do the same on a smaller scale at home!