Five Ways to Turn Household Waste into Farm Compost

 

 

Everyone knows kitchen scraps are easily transformed into plant food through the alchemy of composting. Less known are all the other items you can divert from your household waste stream and use in the garden.

 

Stale beer = bait

On the morning after the party, nobody enjoys the chore of cleaning up the wounded soldiers. But what if those partially consumed beers had a higher purpose? Since snails and slugs are attracted to yeast, gardeners have long used beer as bait and a death trap. To make your slug pub, simply fill a shallow container with beer and leave it in the garden. The slimy mollusks will crawl in and drown.

 

Old bottle of liquid soap = organic pest control

Sometimes we buy more toiletries than we need (you know who you are). That means we don't always use up the last bit of organic lavender body wash before six more bottles pile up in the shower. Fortunately, liquid soap is a very effective organic insecticide for soft-bodied insects such as aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs and mites. Simply mix one teaspoon of soap (all-natural varieties only) in a quart-sized spray bottle filled with water and spray.

 

 

Cardboard and newspaper = weed control

Got an ugly patch of weeds you want to convert into a garden? Raid your recycling bin, lay a thick layer of cardboard and newspaper over the vegetation, then cover it with mulch (such as wood chips or straw) so it doesn't look terrible or blow around in the wind. Known as “sheet mulching,” this technique smothers weeds, killing them and composting them in place. After a few weeks, you can cut small holes through the cardboard and newspaper layer to plant seedlings.

 

 

 

Eggshells = tomato tonic

If needed, you can add eggshells to the compost pile, but you might consider saving them for plants that truly benefit from the calcium they contain. For example, when grown in ordinary garden soil, tomatoes are often slightly calcium-deficient. Many gardeners swear that sprinkling the crushed shells of a dozen eggs around the base of each tomato plant at planting time helps prevent diseases such as blossom end rot and produces a better crop.

 

Urine = liquid fertilizer

Admittedly, this one is for the hardcore DIY set. Urine is extremely high in nitrogen, the most important nutrient for plant growth. In fact, it is so potent that you need to dilute it at least four to one before applying it as fertilizer. Most urine fertilizer enthusiasts simply collect it in a bucket or Mason jar. Use it immediately or it will start to stink. If this concept piques your interest, you might enjoy our article on human.