This is part eight of a 10-part series on how changing ones eating habits may be the most accessible and impactful way to improve the world.

Now that we’ve tightened our grasp on how to use eating habits as a powerful vote for the environment, let’s dive back into the soil and discuss how to both make our gardens grow and eat with little-to-no garbage.  Both questions develop into a single and truly magical answer: composting.  Even amongst a “concrete jungle,” you too can experience the magnificence of watching life be recycled from death.

When a plant’s life has freshly ceased, its body is full of organic components that’d be completely wasted if thrown to the landfills.  As putting organic matter in a landfill encourages the release of methane gas upon decomposition (with 21-percent the global warming potential of carbon dioxide), Mother Nature would approve of no such thing.  Therefore, it’s best to put them into composting bins where they can be broken down by friendly microorganisms into inorganic forms highly-demanded by newly born plants.  These plants will convert the elements back into organic forms (like enzymes, antioxidants, and structural material) that can then be utilized by animals that leave “presents” behind to serve as promoters of the next cosmic cycle.

As you learn about composting, the colors green and brown will become very important as they represent the vital reserves of carbon (brown) and nitrogen (green) that will fuel your microbe’s activity.  Their ideal habitat is one in which items within each color category are layered and incorporated with water and air.  Never invite cooked/processed foods, meats, bones, dairy, and oils to your compost, as they will send fragrant lures to vermin throughout your neighborhood. The door should also be kept closed on pet feces, diseased garden plants and pernicious weeds.

While there is slightly more to learn (see below), I hope this post plants a thought seed that will grow into actions helping to combat global warming, overflowing landfills, and unsatisfied gardens. The process is truly easier than you could believe and can be quicker than imaginable when worms are incorporated into the bin. For more on composting check out this helpful website (or download this great composting guide), and be sure to purchase this book if you’d like to give your thumb a green hue in the garden.

You’ll find this entire series in our Food Category