One man’s trash is a gardener’s “black gold.”

From kitchen scraps to crumpled napkins, cultivating the decay of many organic materials destined for landfills can infuse landscapes with new life. A well-managed compost pile promotes decomposition of those organic materials that eventually crumble into a nutrient-packed humus.

Lawns, vegetable gardens and flower beds thrive with compost as an organic amendment. Organic materials also improve soil structure, reduce erosion and runoff, and feed beneficial insects and microorganisms.

Composting also has significant environmental benefits. An estimated 35% of compost-worthy solid waste material in landfills comes from food and yards, which generates greenhouse gases.

Even those living in an apartment or condo can reap the benefits of composting. Composting tumblers are available commercially, while homemade bins can be constructed with planks, concrete blocks, pallets, hardware cloth or chicken wire.

Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests:

• Do compost: grass clippings without herbicide; fallen and dead leaves; shredded twigs; weeds free of seedheads and chemical residues; vegetable and fruit peelings; coffee grounds, filters and tea leaves; crushed eggshells; sawdust from untreated wood; manure from herbivores only; hay or straw; uncoated paper products like bags, cardboard, towels and napkins; and food service ware specifically labeled “for home composting.”
   
• Do NOT compost: Meat, fish and bones; cheese and dairy products; fats, oils and grease; cooked good (small amounts are fine); herbicide-treated yard debris; aggressive weeds/ weeds with seeds; diseased and pest-infested plants; treated or painted wood products; pet waste and cat litter; dryer lint; glossy paper; unknown inks; and produce stickers. These materials attract animals or won’t fully decompose in residential setups.

For safety purposes, wear gloves, moisten compost just before use and ensure it’s cooled. Avoid inhaling directly over compost or dry leaf piles.

For a comprehensive guide to composting, read more in Virginia Farm Bureau’s February 2024 Cultivate magazine