What items can I use for my homemade compost?

Question

Well, I'm new to rural life, and I'm really hoping to help the environment as well as our lawn!
We have a four-by-six foot sink in the lawn out back that we would like to fill in and cover over...
OK, I want the fertilizier; he wants to cover it.
Anyway, can we use all kitchen scraps?
Are eggshells too smelly?
Can we use hair clippings?
Styrofoam? (I hear it's good for drainage; maybe it'll hep the rain sink the nutrients down before we cover it.)
I'm guessing leftover garlic is a bad move...
And, how often do you turn it?
Thank you for all your help and ideas!

Answer 1

You can compost all plant materials. Do not compost, meats, fats or the inside of an egg, dairy products or any combination of those. Egg shells are good along with coffee grounds, left over vegetable and fruit peelings. No breads products. That would be a combination of the bad items. Give those to the animals. Garlic would be a good item to add if you have some left over.
I would not add Styrofoam to my compost. The egg shell and coffee grounds will help keep your mixture loose.
Add grass clippings and leaves but do not include sticks that will not break down readily.
Turn your mixture every few days and make sure it is in a place with good air circulation and keep it moist.

Answer 2

kitchen scraps = it depends on what kind. Vegetables that haven't been cooked or you don't have a use for is good. So are fruit peelings.

Eggshells = You can use use either in or on top of the soil.

Hair clippings = All they'll do there is stay there.

Styrofoam = you should AVOID using this as compost. It's bad for the environment whether you burn it or just bury it.

I don't know how often you should turn it but maybe once in a while, like a weeks in between.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

You can put anything ORGANIC into it. No styrofoam, and I think I would skip the hair clippings.

We put everything but meat and bones into our compost. We try to turn it at least once a week. Eggshells and garlic are fine.

Answer 4

Anything organic should work just fine. One thing you should definitely get is worm castings. It could be hard to find, since not too many people know about it. Try calling 1-800-TOPSOIL, or check www.1800TOPSOIL.com to see if they got someone servicing your area. They're national, and they're - in my experience with them - good and fair.