From the page: Banana peels are pure gold
Idea 7
Home composting
Turning kitchen leftovers into fertile soil is a natural process farmers have observed for centuries: leaves and fruit scraps rot on the forest floor and become the richest humus there is. At home, you simply recreate that decomposition, helping fungi, bacteria, and worms do what they already do in nature — just in your backyard bin.
What you need
- Two stackable buckets or a lidded box (with holes in the bottom)
- Banana peels, coffee grounds, and vegetable scraps (the "green")
- Dry soil, dry leaves, or shredded cardboard (the "brown")
- A shovel or garden trowel for mixing
- If you want to speed things up, red wiggler worms
How to make it
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1
Set up the structure by stacking the buckets and making holes in the bottom of the top one, so the leachate (liquid from decomposition) can drain — this liquid, diluted in water, is also fertilizer.
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2
Start with a layer of brown material at the bottom, because dry soil and cardboard drain excess moisture and prevent bad odor.
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3
Alternate layers of green (banana peels) and brown, always finishing with brown on top — this balances nitrogen and carbon, the two fuels of decomposition.
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4
Mix the blend once a week to let air in, because good decomposition needs oxygen; without it, it rots and smells bad.
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5
In 2 to 4 months the material turns into a dark humus that smells like earth after rain — it's ready to mix into pots and garden beds.
Finishing touches
If a strong smell appears, it's a sign of too much moisture: add more brown material and mix. Finished humus is one of the best fertilizers there is, and your plants will thank you for any amount.
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