My 2013 New Year’s Resolution!

Composting! Heck, I guess it’s my New Year’s resolution?

The whole idea of composting is overwhelming to me. I do feel composting is an important component in my quest to recycle, reuse and sending less refuse to a landfill. Incorporating it into my day to day life will be an adjustment.

Here a few of my fears about composting:

Fear #1: My house or backyard will smell like a garbage dump!

Fear #2: Family rebellion or lack of cooperation when it comes to throwing things away in appropriate containers for recyclables, garbage or composting.

Fear #3: It may require too much time and work to maintain my compost piles, collecting organic matter and rotating the heap.  

Fear #4: No experience! I’ve never done this and feel nervous about mastering the moisture, heat and chemistry needed for the composting magic to happen.     

Just because I’m apprehensive, I shouldn’t let that stop me. 

I live in the Deep South in the USDA Plant Hardiness zone 8a, which means my area’s average minimum temperature is 15 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Since I’m starting this in January, I’ll concentrate on kitchen composting for the rest of the winter. Then in the spring, as it gets warmer, I’ll conquer outside composting.

I’ll further explore kitchen composting in an upcoming post. I’m still trying to figure out how I’m going to do it, but if anyone with experience has advice on this subject, I’m all ears.

For more information on composting, here are a few great resources available online for free: