In addition to making rich soil, compost also cuts down on waste that ends up in landfills, reducing the amount of methane—a greenhouse gas with a much greater warming potential than carbon dioxide—released into the atmosphere. “Compost allows me to contribute in a beneficial and sustainable way to the cyclical process of healthy plant development and food production right in my garden,” Ashlie Thomas, organic farmer and founder of The Mocha Gardner tells mbg. You can narrow down your options by considering the space you have to work with, where you live, the amount of waste you have, the container you have to use, and how much time you have on your hands. “Opt for smaller composting methods if you have a smaller space or if you lack the capacity to maintain a larger compost pile,” says Thomas. Anaerobic “cold” composting is typically the easiest method for beginners, as it basically lets nature do the work and leaves waste to break down slowly over a long period of time. We outline how to do it below. If starting your own compost pile just isn’t in the cards—say, if you don’t have outdoor space and aren’t crazy about keeping worms in your home—here are a few other ways you can keep your organic waste out of the landfill: With a unique view on life, she taps into her own experiences to guide folks to live life for themselves, empowering them to explore their inner wild and find their own way in adulthood. Her weekly newsletter is a tiny way she furthers her mission to hold space for the unfathomable, romantic, and messy parts of life that make it that much more beautiful.
