Beuna Tomalino owns Basil & Rose in Bountiful and teaches classes to people wanting to learn more about gardening.
One of the topics that is popular is composting.
She says many people would like to do more of it, but don't know how.
Beuna joined us with some tips of what (and what not) to compost.
First, she says for a good smelling compost you need to only put the correct things in your pile (see the list below). Her pro tip: do not have a wet pile, it should be no damper than a wrung-out sponge.
Second, she says correct proportions are a must. Her pro tip: Make it 1/3 to 1/2 green (fresh veggies and fruit peelings and green plants). The other 1/2-2/3 should be brown (brown leaves, straw, cardboard and dried plants).
When it comes to what to put in the compost, she says these are all right:
- Vegetable and fruit peelings
- Egg shells
- Coffee grounds
- Teabags
- Straw
- Leaves
- Cotton fabric
- Newspaper and cardboard (avoid slick or dyed papers)
- Parakeet clippings
- Fish tank water (fresh water)
- Manures from chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, cattle and horses
Do not put these items in:
- Fat or vegetable oils
- Meat
- Grains
- Bones
- Cog, cat or human waste
- Hog and pig manure (not recommended)
- Weed seed or roots
- Grass clippings (leave them on your lawn)
You can learn more at basilandrose.com.
