What Can Be Composted?

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  Compost Components: person holding dirt with sprouting plant

Did you know?

Composting improves soil’s ability to retain water, which may help you save money on the water bill!

Aerobic Bacteria vs. Anaerobic Bacteria

Composting can be a carefully curated cast of characters. True, it’s easy enough to pile your leftover fruit and veggie kitchen scraps in with lawn clippings and leaves to create a basic compost. That will yield results—eventually. But if you’re interested in attaining some DIY soil a little more quickly, or curious to know more, here are some of the key characters you’ll want to become familiar with in order to direct the best production.

The Cast of Characters

  • Compost Heroes: Aerobic Bacteria

    These little powerhouses are the star of the show. They need oxygen (aerobic) to help break down all the matter you put in your compost bin. To create nutrient-rich matter in a timely manner, you need the right environment to encourage a healthy population of these good guys.

  • The Baddies: Anaerobic Bacteria

    These guys steal the scene when the pile has gotten compacted and has little to no air flow. Because they thrive in an airless environment (anaerobic), they have the power to overwhelm the population of the aerobic bacteria. A burgeoning population of anaerobic bacteria can bring composting to a near standstill.

  • Browns: Carbonaceous Matter

    Carbon-rich matter, or browns as they’re also known, are like the carbs in the diet of those good-guy bacteria. Think of browns like the colors they often are: dried grass cuttings, dried leaves, sawdust and shredded newspaper.

  • Greens: Nitrogen-Rich Matter

    Those hero bacteria also need to consume protein—enter the nitrogen-rich matter, or greens. These are your kitchen scraps from fruits and veggies, as well as things like coffee grounds (and your coffee filters, though technically, they are a brown) and green grass clippings.

  • Water

    Water stars as herself in this mellow-drama. You’ll need the right amount of moisture to ensure your good-guy bacteria neither drown nor dehydrate.

  • Pitchfork

    This character enters to stir things up when the plot … uh, compost thickens.

Use Your Nose

Properly tended, compost does not smell! Rather, it does not smell bad—it should smell rich and earthy. Here are some troubleshooting tips if your compost develops an unsavory scent. An ammonia odor means you have too much nitrogen-rich, green matter. Adding some browns to the pile, like shredded newspaper, dried leaves or straw, and giving it a swirl with the pitchfork should help immensely. Also, compost that has been layered, but not turned recently can emit this eye-watering aroma. Smells like sulfurous rotting eggs? If the pile is too damp or has become too compacted the result is a distinctive undesirable odor. If it’s been layered too tightly, simply turning the pile may alleviate the odorific problem. If it’s too wet, adding some carbonaceous materials and turning the pile will help give our compost heroes, the aerobic bacteria, a chance to breathe and thrive.

Happy Ending

Our bacterial heroes require a proper ratio of green/nitrogen-rich to brown/carbonaceous matter or N:C. This proportion can be anywhere from 50:50 to 20:80 depending on environmental conditions and how quickly you want your pile to become useable. Additionally, they are living organisms and require a balance of air and water which you’ll achieve by turning the pile (aeration) and occasionally watering it if it becomes too dry. Ultimately, your compost pile should look like dirt when it’s done, with an earthy smell (not like decayed, rotted food) and you shouldn’t be able to recognize any of the matter you added to it earlier.

Did you know?

The rapid composting method, also known as the Berkeley Method, can effectively create compost in as little as 14 days!

How to Start Composting

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Did you know there is a difference between soil and dirt? Soil is nutrient-rich because it contains microorganisms, decaying organic matter, earthworms and other helpful insects. Dirt lacks all of those nourishing and living things. Even earthworms will not thrive in dirt—composting to the rescue! You can turn your dirt into soil with these composting steps.

How to Start Composting: composting in the back yardWhat is Compost?

Compost is a mixture of decaying organic material that helps to fertilize soil. At its simplest form, you can easily make compost by taking your vegetable-based kitchen scraps and yard waste like leaves and grass, putting them in a pile, and letting nature decompose it into nutrient-rich fertilizer for your house plants, garden or plants in your yard.

1. Pile vs. Bin

Decide whether you’re a super-DIYer and want to build a place for a compost pile in your yard or you’d rather use a bin. There are loads of simple plans for containing a compost pile online as well as various types of compost bins. Choose whichever best suits you.

2. Placement

You’ll want to find a spot in your yard to place your composting bin or pile. Ideally, this spot is not too sunny and easy to access from your kitchen. (The easier it is, the more apt you’ll be to continue your new composting routine!)

3. Save up Stuff

You’ve got your bin or pile space all situated and ready to go, now’s the time to rake your yard for dried leaves to use as the base of your pile. You’ll also want to start saving kitchen scraps of veggies and fruits. (Remember, no animal products can make their way into your compost pile!)

4. Layering

Ideally, you’ll want to have about three times as much dried matter to the wetter fruit and veggie scraps from your kitchen. Put down the dried matter first, then add your kitchen scraps on top. Add a layer of soil and a little water to moisten and there you have it—your beginning compost pile!

5. Turning

You’ll need to turn your compost from time to time. Also, if it is dry, give it a little water. If it smells, it has too much water, add some crushed leaves (not more kitchen scraps), turn it and that should do the trick! If it’s really dry, it needs to be turned and watered, or add more fruit and vegetable scraps.

6. Ready to Use

You’ll know your compost is ready to use when it looks like dark rich soil. Add it to your houseplants or garden—they’ll love you and so will the environment! Tip: Crushing or shredding your dried yard leaves and cutting your kitchen scraps into smaller pieces will help your compost turn into usable compost more quickly.

Did you know?

Crushed egg shells are the only exception to the no-animal products rule in composting. Including them in your compost pile adds calcium—an important nutrient in helping plants build cell walls!

Composting 101

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The Why

Nourishing to your plants, the environment and even your own wellbeing, composting is a pretty easy and straightforward endeavor. The EPA reports food and yard waste make up 20–30% of what we throw away. When those food and yard scraps make their way into the landfill, they break down anaerobically (without oxygen) and release methane. The less of this greenhouse gas we are able to produce, the better for the environment. Knowing you’re making a difference by utilizing those scraps to feed your plants and help the environment is good for you too!

Compost Video

Video Description: Creating & maintaining a compost pile is easy, here’s the 411 on how you can get started!

What If You Don’t Garden?

Even if you don’t garden in what you might think of as the traditional sense by growing your own fruits and vegetables, you might have a yard full of plants that could benefit from the extra nutrients in your DIY soil. Even without a yard, there are still plenty of things to do with your compost. If you have houseplants, they’ll benefit from the extra nutrients. Local schools may have garden programs and would welcome compost, likewise for community or urban gardens in your neighborhood. If you like the idea of composting but don’t have space to dedicate to it, look for a curbside composting service in your area. These kinds of services usually provide the bins and all the education you’ll need to get composting quickly!

How to Get Started Composting

You can learn how to start composting in our article Composting: How-to Basics. You’ll find even more details and helpful tips in our article Composting Cast of Characters.

Did you know?

Methane gas is 30 times more potent than CO2 (carbon dioxide), another greenhouse gas.

Natural Grill Cleaner

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How to Clean a Grill in Three Steps

This natural and non-toxic grill cleaner produced by food journalist, Kate Kordsmeier of Root + Revel, is a must during summer! Homemade grill cleaner is not only safer and cheaper, but also makes a perfect Father’s Day gift. You just need four natural ingredients (no harmful ammonia) to clean your grill grates, improve taste, reduce gas expenses and prevent rust!

  How to clean grill

You’ll need:

  • 1 Tbsp. Baking soda
  • 1 Tbsp. Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds
  • 1 Tbsp. Cleaning vinegar (can substitute distilled white vinegar)
  • 1 ball Aluminum foil, or grill brush if preferred)
  • 2 Tbsp. Sprouts Avocado Oil Spray

Instructions:

  1. Fill a shallow tin (I recommend an aluminum baking tin) with boiling water and stick it in the lit grill. Close the lid and let steam for 10 minutes to loosen any dirt, grime and stuck on food. Remove water pan and turn off heat when ready to clean.
  2. Meanwhile, combine baking soda and Sal Suds with 12 ounces of warm water. Pour into a glass bottle fitted with a sprayer and add vinegar. Gently swirl to combine. Spray cleaning mixture onto grill to thoroughly coat the grates. Ball up aluminum foil until it’s the size of a baseball and scour the grill to clean. If you prefer a grill brush, that works great too.
  3. Once the grill is clean, spray avocado oil onto a paper towel and give your grill a quick wipe over to stop it from rusting and season it for future use.
   
Kate Kordsmeier_RootRevel

Meet Our Food Blogger

Kate Kordsmeier is a food journalist and restaurant reporter turned real food expert after her own chronic health issues (PCOS, Hypothyroidism + IBS/Leaky Gut) catapulted her into a long journey of trying to heal her body naturally. Today, she blogs full-time over at Root + Revel, a natural living site helping people strike the balance between good and good for you. Root and Revel logo

DIY Father’s Day Gift Baskets

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Still searching for a last minute Father’s Day gift? Check out these DIY gift baskets your dad will love!

Father’s Day is coming up fast, and you may still be looking for the perfect gift for dad. A gift basket personalized just for him is a great, practical gift any dad would be excited to receive. Get some inspiration from these easy, DIY gift basket ideas created by our friends at Fresh Mommy Blog; Food, Pleasure & Health; and Root + Revel!

The Manly Pampering Gift Basket by Fresh Mommy Blog

While dads might not purchase pampering items for themselves, it doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy a manly pampering gift basket, or a “man-pering” basket! Impress dad with natural products that smell incredible and give him the gift of taking his morning routine up to the next level.

Fresh Mommy Blog

 

Supplies:

From the grocery section:

  • Lucky Jack and Sumptown Cold Brew Coffee
  • Tillamook Country Smoker Beef Jerky

From the body care section:

  • Cologne – Dusk by Herban Cowboy
  • Aftershave – Dusk by Herban Cowboy
  • Beard Oil – Bull Dog
  • Soap –The Grandpa Soap Pine Bar
  • Razor – Every Man Jack
  • Deodorant – Dusk by Herban Cowboy
  • Body brush or natural sponge – Bass Brushes

From a craft store:

  • Bucket

Instructions:

  1. Start with a color theme! Choosing a color theme really completes the overall look of the gift. While browsing the bath and personal care aisles of Sprouts, the masculine, neutral color theme of black and brown popped, not only because so many of the men’s products fell into this color range, but I truly loved the packaging and the scents.
  2. Gather any items that would make dad feel special, and don’t forget the little touches that he might not purchase for himself. A cologne is a top gift for dads, as well as shaving products. Add some soap and deodorant, as well as a body scrubber, to complete his pampering routine.
  3. Next, it’s time to add a few extra treats. I stuck with a masculine theme, and our color scheme as well, and went for beef jerky.
  4. Don’t forget something to drink! What does the dad in your life love to drink? You could find a good beer, and I love that Sprouts stocks their beer section with local brews, so there’s always something new to discover. Is dad a coffee drinker? There are some amazing cold brew available, too. Whatever you choose, try and stick with the color theme.
  5. Choose an unexpected container to use as a gift basket! A tool box or wooden tool chest, a cooler or an ice bucket… the list goes on and on. A great container is like a gift in itself.
  6. Once you’ve settled on a container, load it up with the goods and some shredded paper, which helps with the natural masculine feel, keeping in mind height and placement.
  7. Give dad his gift and watch his face light up!
 

Grilling Guru Gift Basket by Food, Pleasure and Health

Surprise your dad with a gift basket filled with essentials for both indoor and outdoor grilling.

Food, Pleasure & HealthSupplies:

From the grocery section:
  • Sprouts Original Barbecue Sauce
  • Sprouts Honey Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
  • Colgin Liquid Smoke Natural Hickory Original
  • Sprouts Avocado Oil
  • Sprouts Grapeseed Oil Spray
  • Organic Sprouts White Corn Tortilla Chips
  • Farmhouse Culture Zesty Garden Veggie Kraut Krisps
  • 2 boxes Sprouts Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese
  • LaCroix Natural Lime Sparkling Water
  • Pamela’s Honey Grahams Graham Style Crackers
  • Sprouts 54% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar
  • Sprouts Toffee Caramel 33% Milk Chocolate Bar
  • Cabo Fresh Authentic Guacamole
  • Mocajete Salsa Roja Cup
  • Sprouts Broccoli Slaw
  • Mix of veggies, like bell peppers, squash, onions
  • Fresh ground chicken breast
  • Butcher Shop boneless, skinless chicken breast
  From the body care section:
  • Everyone Lavender & Aloe Lotion
  • Everyone 3-In-1 Lavender & Aloe Soap
From a craft store:
  • Basket or galvanized tub
  • Cardboard
  • Tissue paper
  • Fabric
  • Cellophane bag

Instructions:

  1. Gather all the supplies from your favorite craft store such as basket, galvanized tub, cooler, riser, tissue paper or fabric for décor.
  2. Purchase all the groceries including produce, meat, condiments and personal items from your local Sprouts.
  3. Lay the basket or galvanized tub flat on a floor and put empty cardboard box or riser for height.
  4. Cover the riser/cardboard box with tissue paper or fabric.
  5. Arrange the non-perishable ingredients – think about color combination and height to make it visually appealing.
  6. Cover with cellophane bag, bows or other decorations as desired.
  7. Add ice to the cooler and pack it with perishable items like produce, raw meat, etc.
 

Mindful Man Gift Basket by Root + Revel

This Father’s Day, instead of picking just one gift for your mindful man, how about putting together a fun collection of delicious, yet healthy, foods and practical personal care products that he is bound to love?

Supplies: Root + Revel

From the grocery section:
  • Hope Foods Buffalo Blue Hummus
  • Sprouts Organic Blue Corn Chips
  • Surf Sweets Organic Candy
  • Sprouts Organic Pink Salt Popcorn with Coconut Oil
  • Sprouts Organic Salt + Vinegar Chips
  • Sprouts Organic Teriyaki Beef Jerky
  • Sprouts Thai Chili Beef Jerky
  • Wild Tonic Blackberry Mint Jun Kombucha
  • La Colombe Draft Latte in Vanilla and Mocha
From the body care section:
  • Dr. Bronner’s Shaving soap
  • EveryOne soap for Every Man
  • EO Lotion for Men
  • Badger Anti-Bug Balm
  • Badger Beard Oil
  • Sprouts Salt Stone Deodorant
  • Gaia Herbs Male Libido Supplement

Instructions:

  1. Rather than using a girly gift basket that the Father in your life will likely toss or forget about entirely, wrap all these healthy goodies up in something they’ll actually use. I opted for a veggie grill wok because what dad doesn’t love to grill?
  2. Gift and watch dad enjoy all his goodies!

DIY Upcycled Terrarium

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Recycling is what happens when you put things in the recycle bin at home or work. These items (paper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, etc.) are broken down and recycled into other similar-type products. Upcycling though, is taking something you might put in the recycle bin and turning it into something different—that generally is of greater value than the original object. These DIY upcycled terrariums definitely add value!

DIY Upcycle Terrarium:

Supplies needed:

  • Empty, upcycled glass jars
  • Gloves (optional)
  • Potting soil
  • Funnel
  • Long brush
  • Scoop
  • Dish soap
  • Vinegar
  • Cleaning sponge

Instructions:

  1. Begin by removing labels from empty glass jars: Soak them in warm water with equal parts of dish soap and vinegar.
  2. Carefully peel off the label and scrub the outside of the jar removing any label residue.
  3. Once the glass jar is dry, fill it a quarter of the way with potting soil. (Using a funnel will help when scooping the potting soil into the jar.)
  4. Once potting soil has been added, use the long brush to clean the inside edges of the glass, removing soil from the sides of the bottle. This will help ensure that the plant remains clean when added to the jar.
  5. After adding the potting soil, hold glass jar at a 45-degree angle so that soil falls to one corner of the jar, leaving the opposite side open
  6. Carefully add your fern or plant to the jar. Using chopsticks, maneuver the plant so that its roots rest on the bottom of the jar—in the space on the opposite side of the soil.
  7. Once plant is placed, carefully fill the gap at the bottom with the soil so that the roots of the plant are covered and the plant sits up once you bring the bottle to a fully upright position again.
  8. Again, using the long brush, brush the sides of the glass bottle cleaning the dirt from the edges.
  9. Finally, decorate the jar with twine and a tag then place terrarium in an area with sufficient sunlight but avoid direct sun.
  10.  Add a small amount of water when soil is try but be sure not to over water the plant.

 

DIY Citrus Bird Feeder

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Whether you’re making fresh squeezed orange juice for brunch or snacking on flavorful citrus, save those peels to create colorful and easy bird seed feeders! Upcycling citrus peels is friendly to the environment and adds a fun pop of color to your yard—plus, it’s fun to bird watch straight from your backyard. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

Citrus Bird Seed Feeder:

  • Citrus, like a large navel orange, halved with flesh scooped out
  • String, like twine
  • Toothpicks
  • DIY bird seed (see step 6 for recipe)

Instructions:

  1. Cut two pieces of string, each about 12-inches long.
  2. Tie a knot at the end of each piece of
  3. Using a toothpick, weave one piece of string through the citrus (from the inside out) until you reach the knot, trimming any excess string.
  4. Take the loose end of the string you just threaded through the citrus and, directly across from the first hole, weave string through from the outside, knotting it on the inside.
  5. Repeat steps with second string.
  6. In a small bowl, mix together dried fruit, nuts and seeds.
  7. Hang citrus in a tree and fill with bird seed.

Video Description: Simple Shortcuts–DIY Citrus Bird Feeder

Cupid’s Arrow Pancake Kabobs

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What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with adorable pancake kabobs! Whether you’re celebrating with a morning treat or having breakfast for dinner, these kabobs by Birch Benders are easy to make and are a fun way to get the kiddos involved:

Video Description: Facebook Live with the founders of Birch Benders, Matt and Lizzi!

 

Pancake kabob arrowsCupid’s Arrow Pancake Kabobs:

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag Birch Benders, original flavor; prepare according to package
  • Fresh blueberries
  • Fresh strawberries, tops cut off
  • Fresh clementines, peeled and separated
  • Wooden skewers

Instructions:

  1. Heat a griddle or skillet to medium-high heat. The pan is hot enough when flecks of water sizzle off quickly after contact. Lightly grease the pan.
  2. Combine Birch Benders Pancakes Mix following the recipe on the back of the bag and pour mixtures into a squeeze bottle.
  3. Use the squeeze bottle to draw heart shapes onto the hot griddle. Cook until bubbles have formed and popped then cook on the other side for an additional minute.
  4. Remove the pancakes from the pan and build skewers by placing two clementine slices, one strawberry, followed by four to six blueberries, and heart shaped pancake.

DIY Chocolate Covered Strawberry Sugar Scrub

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Homemade sugar scrubs are not only a great way to soften and nourish your skin, but they make great gifts too. Inspired by the classic treat, this DIY Chocolate Covered Strawberry Sugar Scrub will make your Valentine’s Day a little sweeter—whether you’re sharing with a friend or keeping some for yourself!

Video Description: Simple Shortcuts–DIY Chocolate Covered Strawberry Sugar Scrub

 

DIY Chocolate Covered Strawberry Sugar ScrubChocolate Covered Strawberry Sugar Scrub:

Ingredients:

  • For the Strawberry Layer:
    • 1 cup Turbinado sugar
    • 1 bag Sprouts Freeze Dried Strawberries
    • 1/2 cup Coconut oil, slightly melted
    • 1 Tbsp. Vanilla extract
  • For the Chocolate Layer:
    • 1 cup Turbinado sugar
    • 1/4 cup Cocoa powder
    • 1/4 cup Coconut oil, slightly melted
    • 1 Tbsp. Vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. For the strawberry layer, pour freeze dried strawberries into a food processor and mix until a powder has formed.
  2. Add the strawberry powder, sugar, coconut oil and vanilla extract into a medium bowl and mix until well combined. Set aside.
  3. For the chocolate later, add ingredients into a medium bowl and stir until well combined.
  4. In a glass jar, layer the strawberry mixture and chocolate mixture and seal with a lid.

Valentine’s Day Crafts for the Kiddos

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Spoons covered in chocolate

Chocolate Dipped Spoons

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp. coconut oil, 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips, Sprouts’ Eco-Friendly Plastic Spoons and treats from the Sprouts Bulk Department (peanuts, slivered almonds, dried cranberries, gummy bears).

Directions:

Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil together over low heat. Once chips have melted, remove chocolate from heat. Dip spoons into warm chocolate, place on a serving platter and sprinkle with treats from Sprouts’ Bulk Department.

Naturally Scented Play Dough

Ingredients:

1 cup flour, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp. cooking oil, 3 tsp. cream of tartar, red food coloring and essential oils of choice.

Directions:

Mix dry ingredients in a large pot. Add water, oil and food coloring and stir over medium heat until mixture has a play-dough consistency. Remove dough from pot and place on wax paper to cool. Once cooled add desired essential oil scent and knead until incorporated. Divide play dough into even portions and seal in 4 ounce Mason jars.

Valentine’s Produce Stamps

Supplies:

Celery, potato, small heart cookie cutter, knife, cardstock and red paint.

Directions for Rose Stamp:

To begin, simply cut celery close to the bottom of the stock. Save end of celery stock and put aside remaining celery for snacking. Coat end of celery with red paint and press firmly onto cardstock for a natural, rose-shaped stamp.

Directions for Heart Stamp:

Begin by cutting potato in half. Insert a heart-shaped cookie cutter into the cut/flat end of the potato. With a knife cut into and around potato using the cookie cutter as your guide. Coat stamp with red paint and press firmly onto cardstock.