How Can I Start Composting Without Any Yard Waste?

13 March 2025 3 answers
Asked by g4rdenL0ver22
I'm eager to start composting but I'm facing a bit of a challenge: I don't have any brown or green materials lying around my yard to kick things off. I've heard that picking up a small bag of compost from the store might not be a good idea because it may lack essential microbes. So, I'm wondering if I'm totally out of luck or if there's anything I can buy from the store to help me get started?

Answers

leafLover97
Do you have a specific spot at home where you're planning to compost, like a bin? Starting to collect your kitchen scraps is a great idea! There's nothing wrong with grabbing some garden soil from the store to mix in with what you have. Just remember, composting is a marathon, not a sprint!

g4rdenL0ver22: I'll be using a 32-gallon trash bin and yes, I do have a yard. I'm not planning on growing a lot of vegetables. Would regular garden soil work? And does it matter if it's organic or not?

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cardboardCompostChamp
I’ve had success composting kitchen scraps with cardboard from Amazon boxes. It works just fine!

g4rdenL0ver22: Oh awesome! Thank you!

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natureExplorer45
You definitely need something to compost, like leaves. If you have a local park or forest, you could check there for some fallen leaves. It’s an easy way to gather what you need! In urban areas, cleaning out tree pits might also be an option.
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