Greens and Browns
Organic things without a pulse love to decompose. Even you! When the time comes…in the meantime let’s use an apple for the example. Once the apple falls from the tree it will start breaking down. Put the apple in your bag and it may stay healthy a few more weeks. Let the apple stay touching the ground and it won’t last much more than a day. This is because the earth comes standard with natural decomposers.
These decomposers, microorganisms, or microbes, come in various types at various phases. What is important to know while starting out is that when composting, these microbes are your bestest friends in the world. So how can you help your new found friends survive and work their little hearts out for your benefit? The answer is simple! Greens and Browns.
What is brown? Brown things are dead. Brown things are also high in carbon so you may also hear them referred to as that. Here are some popular brown examples: dried leaves; shredded paper; eggshells; saw dust; dryer lint; vacuum cleaner sweepings; coffee filters; toilet paper & paper towel cores; cardboard; wool; cotton; eggshells; rice; perennial stalks.
What is green? Green things are alive but ready to go. Green things are high in nitrogen and may also be named such. Some green examples: apple cores; banana peels; whole fruits or vegetables gone bad; moldy food (not meat, fat, cheese or bones); fruit & vegetable peelings; green leaves; recycled water from cleaning fish tanks; coffee grounds; pet & human hair.
For more details and a larger selection of items please go to our What to Compost page.
Now I know when most of us got into the idea of balcony composting the most exciting part was recycling our kitchen scraps. You may notice that that may give you a higher amount of green than brown. This could be disastrous! Not to mention unneighborly to your microbial partners.
If you’re really looking to make your microbes and worms happiest you would be best to keep an equal balance of browns and greens. If you’re going to sway to any side it would be healthiest for your pile to sway to the brown side. In fact, if you’re doing hot composting, or yard composting you’re supposed to be 60/40 browns/greens. Microbes enjoy a mixed and varied diet of the two. I wouldn’t suggest going as far as weighing the two, but keep an eye on what you’re composting to steer clear of issues.
Remember, whenever you add a new batch of greens to your pile, follow up with a layer of brown. This will keep your microbes kickin’, your worms abundantly healthy, and your compost smelling foresty fresh.
Have any questions on whether something is Green or Brown? Check out our “What can you compost?” page for green and brown details, vermicomposting details and more!
September 27th, 2008 at 6:14 am
For balcony composting the Jora JK125 would be a fantastic choice. It is for the small family (up to 4 persons). It easily mounts on the wall, freeing up valuable floor space. It is also insulated, so one can compost year round! It is easy to spin and makes beautiful, rich compost in a matter of weeks, not months.