An Interview About Composting

I personally do not have any experience with composting, but I have always wanted to learn more about the process. I have never had a backyard or garden to experiment with, but after moving earlier this year, I have started raising plants on my balcony, and I wanted to know what else I could do to help my plants and the environment. I asked around the office to see who else engages with composting, and Lauren Chwastek, Kele Chwastek 's wife, generously agreed to offer her expertise and input. Thank you, Lauren, for all your help!

This interview touches upon the basics of composting and gets an inside look into the process, while next week's article will dive deeper into the science and explore different methods, including the difference between residential and industrial composting.

Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

Ava: How did you first get into composting? What did you find difficult, or wish you had known then?

Lauren: We started composting to reduce what we put in the trash can and also to make our own organic garden fertilizers. Composting is very natural and easy.

A: Do you structure your household purchases and menus around ingredients to put into compost? In other words, does composting factor into purchases you make?

L: We try our best to buy foods that would require us to make things from scratch. Our aim there isn’t centered or focused on composting but ends up being a nice way for us to use our scraps.

A: What are your favorite items to throw on the pile? Least favorite?

L: I don’t think I have a preference for what I toss on the pile! It’s always fun to process a large batch of something from the garden and have a lot to take out. I feel at that point I’m going to be feeding my plants well!

A: What do you like about composting? Dislike?

L: I like that it’s a free way to supply the garden with good nutrients. The only dislike that I have is the waiting time for the pile to be ready to take out; we haven’t found a good system yet, and gnats are annoying.

A: What does your daily/weekly/monthly routine look like with composting?

L: Daily: fill the container with food scraps and take out compost at the end of the day. Weekly: We try to turn the pile.

A: Are there habits you developed that you didn’t have before starting composting? Or habits you would like to develop?

L: A habit that I would like to implement is actually having less compost. We don’t utilize our food scraps in our diet enough. There are ways to do it, but it takes time and I’m quite busy.

A: How do you personally use compost?

L: It all goes to the vegetable garden!

A: Is there anything you would tell people who are hesitating to get into composting? Any advice you would like to impart?

L: Not really, I think it’s really easy and if you want to compost… you’re going to compost. If people would rather spend time doing other things and buying commercial fertilizers, I think that’s their business, but composting is easy to learn.

For anyone who is interested in starting but hasn’t yet, I would suggest making sure you have dirt (which has different necessary things in it) in your mix. You can’t just have all the scraps and no “activators” to break down the organic matter. I would also suggest making sure you know what can go into your pile (never put in dairy or meat!) and the quantity of something-- too many acids, for example, will throw off the microbiome you are interested in having. I’d also suggest setting up your pile far enough away from the house and any trees, and ensuring it is not in direct sunlight.

A: Bonus question! Do you (or plan to) teach your kids how to compost and engage with the environment? How and why?

L: We involve our kids in everything we do! Currently, our daughter helps take the compost out and watches Papa turn it. Later I will teach her and our other children what goes into a compost pile and the science behind it. I think it is good to know, both for the environment and for personal development.

Once again, special thanks to Lauren Chwastek for consenting to an interview! It was very educational and fun!