How to compost in your backyard

Why Should You Compost? : Finished compost is a free soil amendment and fertilizer for the garden. It is mild and won't burn plants like chemical fertilizers. By adding compost you'll improve the overall texture of your soil enabling it to retain and drain water better.

Brown Materials :

• Dry leaves.
• Straw and dry hay.
• Woodchips and sawdust from untreated wood.
• Dried grass clippings.
• paper tubes.
• Egg and nut shells.
• Hair and animal fur.
• Shredded paper.
• Paper.
• Shredded newspaper (printed with soy ink to be safe)
• Paper towels.

Green Materials :

• Vegetable and fruit scraps.
• Fresh grass clippings.
• Plant trimmings from your garden.
• Coffee grounds and filters.
• Tea bags and leaves.
• Houseplants.

You should never compost :

• Meat.
• Dairy products.
• Fish.
• Eggs.
• Diseased plants and seeds of weedy plants.
• Anything treated with pesticides.
• Bones.
• Cat and dog waste.
• Oily foods or grease.