Composting is a great way to help the environment. By collecting bio-degradable household waste and mixing it into your soil, you can make a real difference. Composting reduces the volume of waste that ends up in landfills, reduces the amount of greenhouse gas produced by putting biodegradable material in landfills, and improves soil fertility.

Composting is a process that happens naturally when carbon- and nitrogen-rich material combines and decomposes aerobically to produce nutrient-rich humus or compost. The process of composting has been accelerated and used by humans for centuries. In Asia and the Middle East, farmers have long understood that healthy, arable soil relies on maintaining the balance between decay and growth. When decomposing food waste interacts with beneficial bacteria, earthworms and other soil organisms, natural plant growth hormones are released and nutrients from the waste are recycled, fostering new growth. Even dried-up, infertile soil can be replenished and restored by introducing compost. In the past few decades, some farmers have tried to take a quicker route to improving soil by using artificial manures and chemicals, but the consequence is that more toxins are in the soil, and therefore, in food. In organic farming, composting is an essential method for maintaining healthy soil without the use of chemicals and pesticides.

For the average gardener, it's easy to start composting right in your backyard and use the material in a garden or on house plants. Collect dried leaves, grass clippings, vegetable and fruit peels, egg shells, coffee grounds and other food scraps (not meats, bones, cheese, oils and other fatty foods) in a bin in your yard. For details on how to create a successful compost pile, you can consult a local nursery or botanic garden. Many towns encourage composting and provide educational material to get started. You will be doing your part to reduce the amount of garbage in landfills, and creating healthier soil for your own garden or yard.

For more information on composting, visit these sites:
http://www.ecocycle.org/compost/index.cfm
http://www.compostguide.com/
http://www.mastercomposter.com/
http://vegweb.com/composting/
http://journeytoforever.org/compost.html
http://www.howtocompost.org/
http://www.epa.gov/compost/
http://www.compostingcouncil.org/index.cfm
http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/index.html