After reading this article you may find yourself wanting to run out and start composting or vermi-composting (composting with worms) straightaway. The amount of organic waste that each household produces is huge. If we can micro-manage that waste in our own homes and turn it into healthy, nutritious compost, then we are doing a decent thing for our planet and ourselves.

Even if you live in a tiny apartment and don’t have any plants you should still compost your waste. You could give it to friends; put it in a hole around local trees, or ask your apartment manager to start a compost pile or bin.

Here are some things to keep in mind regarding composting, with or without worms:

• There should always be some moisture in the compost pile.  The pile should me moist, not drenched.  If you put too much water in the pile it will need to be drained (the worms will try to escape or they will drown). In this case a little less is better than too much.

• There are some disagreements on how often to turn the compost pile. Some people turn several times a week, and some never do. The purpose of aerating the pile is to allow oxygen to enter and help heat the pile, which kills seeds but can also harm helpful bacteria. You need to decide what works for you, but the most important thing to do is to start composting. To make it a habit, do what is convenient for you.

• The compost pile should have a balance of carbon and nitrogen.  Using a mixture of leaves or sawdust (carbon) mixed with grass clippings (nitrogen) and leftovers from your dinner salad will help keep it balanced. This will allow your compost to feed your worms and decompose properly.

• Using compost in your garden helps to reduce pest problems and plant diseases, since a strong healthy plant can generally fight them off.  Composting also reduces the need to use fertilizers containing chemicals.  The soil is assisted in a cost-effective manner and hazardous waste and toxins are eliminated from the process.

Vermi-composting is a great way to process your waste, especially over the winter. Basically you create a habitat for these little critters to live in comfort and feed them all of your organic waste. In return they produce lovely, nutrient-rich compost and keep you company on lonely nights alone in the house!

You need a flat large container with air holes. Add some damp newspaper, sawdust or soil bedding to get things started, and as a way to keep things moist. Put your eggshells (crushed), coffee grounds and filter, veggies and more in the container, and let the worms do the rest.

The best worms for the job are called Red Wigglers. You will probably be able to find a seller online. You only need a few and they will breed on their own, which then allows you to encourage your friends into starting worm composting too. Your friends and garden will love you!