Composting 101

Composting is a natural process that works with little or no human intervention. It can be as simple as throwing organic materials, such as food scraps and yard waste, into a pile and letting nature do its work. Start with a mix of materials, such as leaves and grass, then turn the pile once every month or so to keep the process going.  This form of composting is simple and requires little effort, but it will take a year or longer to produce compost.

For faster results, you just need to put in a little more effort. By buying or building a bin, turning the pile every two to four weeks, getting a good mix of carbon (browns) and nitrogen (greens), and keeping an eye on moisture levels, a compost pile can decompose very quickly. People who actively manage their piles can break down organic material and create rich compost in three months or fewer.

Compai was designed to help you get started composting and then continue the habit, tracking your progress and providing simple guidance such as “add water” or “turn the compost”.  The Compai app also includes a list of most common types of food and yard wastes, and categorizes them as “greens” or “browns” and provides specific relevant information.  An example is that avocado peels and pits make great compost but typically take two or three cycles to fully decompose.  Happy composting!