7 Surprising Things You Can Compost Right Now ...

Coffee grounds are one of those things you produce every day, so it pays to know that they are one of the best things you can compost. You can even throw the coffee filter in the compost heap as well. I like to keep a small bucket under my sink for the day’s compost. At the end of each day I take it out and bury it with the other compost. You can also buy standing compost holders that you keep in your backyard.

If your pets are anything like mine, they produce a mass amount of hair on a weekly basis. Next time you comb your furry friend’s hair, collect all the clumps from the ground and the brush and toss them into your compost heap. Hair contains nutrients, which is great for creating effective compost. You can also put your own hair in the heap when you clean your brush.

Ok, you can’t just toss a pizza box into the compost heap; you’re going to have to shred it into smaller pieces first. But this is an excellent way to give your compost a boost and get rid of the cardboard in your house too. You don’t want your compost to be primarily cardboard, so don’t put in too much. Remember, you can recycle cardboard, so put some in the compost and put the rest in your recycle bin.

I kept eggshells in my compost last winter and when I spread my compost on the garden, I was amazed how quickly my plants grew and how much I got when I harvested them. I’ve also heard that you should use the water you boil eggs in for watering your houseplants. So, the same is true of your outdoor plants. Crush the eggshells so they break down faster and cover more ground when your compost is ready to use.

Do you ever shred all that paper from your office and then wonder what to do with it? At my house we use it as fuel for the backyard fire pit, but it’s also great fodder for your compost pile. As the paper breaks down it helps create usable compost that will have your entire yard looking great in no time. Plus, it keeps personal information from falling into the wrong hands.

Next time you mow the grass, prune your outdoor bushes or cut away dead leaves from your houseplants, put the remains in your compost heap. These are perfect because they release all their nitrogen into the compost, which is great for your plants when you get your garden going in the spring. Even if the plant materials are dead, they still work wonders in your compost pile.

Instead of throwing away all those wine corks, put them into your compost pile. You can crumble them a bit first, so they break down faster. If you have leftover wine (what?) that’s gone bad, you can pour it into the compost pile too. After all, it’s made primarily from plant materials so it’s perfect for keeping your compost going.

Do you compost? It makes me feel virtuous and the benefits to my garden are great too! What else can I compost?