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I am wanting to start composting, how do I get started and what do I need to start inexpensively?

what type of materials can be used for composting and what should not be used?

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1. You can compost anything that is plant based (i.e. veggie cooking scraps, refrigerator cleanout, yard waste) that has not been cooked in oil or with animal fat. While you can compost animal waste (e.g. litter box waste, dog feces) you should not use that compost to fertilize anything you will eat--it can harbor parasites--but you can use that compost on decorative plant beds. While the compost process will theoretically kill weed seeds, never put diseased material in your compost or animal matter like leftover beef or chicken (vermin will love it). Also, citrus peels won't break down well and the oils could inhibit breakdown of other parts of your compost. Making an inexpensive compost pile is easy: Get some leaves and cover them with dirt as a base. Put your plant waste in the pile, make sure the dirt under it is damp, and cover that with some dirt. Every time you add something to your pile, cover it with dirt or mulch to encourage organisms to break it down. Every couple of weeks use a spade or fork and turn over the pile. When you get enough material that you need to hold it together, make a cage with chicken wire that's about 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet. With some patience and time, you'll have rich compost that you can use in your garden!
2. Well, start out by getting yourself a composter and an aerator (can be found at the hardware store, garden centre, or sometimes your municipal works yard) You can put all yard waste, paper, wood chips, and most of your kitchen waste in the compost heap. You want to avoid putting meat, poultry, fish, and dairy in the composter because they will attract flies, rodents and other pesky animals. (however, egg shells can be composted) You want to use your aerator once in a while (I do once or twice a week) to turn the compost so that all of it is exposed to oxygen to properly breakdown without producing methane. (Methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, and has a very offensive oder. It is formed when organic materials are left to breakdown without being exposed to oxygen.