The GoVacuum Blog

In continuation of the GoVacuum Green Living series, we explore the benefits of composting and how people can easily integrate it into their daily routines. We hope you enjoy this two part series.

What is compost?
Kitchen scraps, garden debris, and lawn cuttings all make up what is known as compost. In fact just about any organic material that can be broken down to a crumble is compost. Filled with nutrients, compost that is ready for use is one of the richest products you can put in your soil.

How do foods and other organic materials break down?
Organic materials generally break down due to the action of bacteria and other microorganisms. Their positive action generates micro-nutrients and minerals that is easy for plants to assimilate as delicious and effective fertilizer.

How does compost compare with chemical fertilizers?
Naturally derived, compost does not harm the sensitive seeds and roots of plants. Containing nothing harsh, compost will never burn living things, unlike most chemical fertilizers. Have you noticed how chemical fertilizers come with warnings for use? Have you ever accidentally touched your eye with a finger that contains a mote of fertilizer on it and felt the terrible burning sensation? Or seen your pet react when it accidentally steps in the chemicals? This can never happen with compost.

Chemical fertilizers contain heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium. These metals build up over time and often are contained in run-off after watering or a rain storm, entering into our streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Using chemical fertilizers often creates a dependency on them, much like a person addicted to drugs. By wiping out the helpful microbes in a garden, your plants have only the chemicals to rely on for their growth.
Composting is cheap and easy to learn, but there is a little bit of an art to it that comes with practice. Breaking down waste requires the right amount of moisture, heat, soil aeration and a proper mix of materials.

Most chemical fertilizers are made from non-sustainable products such as petroleum. Not only do they not decompose, but they must be shipped from one place to another, making them susceptible to costs incurred by rising oil prices.

Compost does not require shipping or dependence on foreign oil as it is made right in your own backyard! And because you are using foods and organic debris from your home, there is no cost to make it.

Unlike most chemical fertilizers, compost releases nutrients into the soil and recycles them there, helps to decontaminate it, loosens the soil as it works its way to the roots of plants, retains water, allows roots to spread out, and reduces run-off that causes water pollution.
In continuation of our Green Living series, GoVacuum will investigate the benefits of composting and how anyone can integrate composting into their daily routine.

Is making compost a complicated procedure?
If you follow the “ground” rules, which are really easy, you will find that not only is making compost completely uncomplicated, but it is a cause for pride as you become more conscious of recycling your leftovers and see the results as your plants and flowers thrive.

Creating workable compost requires some attention. You will need to pay attention to its rate of decomposition as well as monitoring its odor. If your compost begins to smell badly, you can make some easy adjustments to fix the problem. This being said, if you ignore your compost, it will break down anyway, though maybe a little longer than if you maintained it now and then.

Tune in to Part 2 to read about compost proportions and recipes for your healthy lawn and garden.