Most of my food waste used to go directly in the trash until I started growing my kitchen garden. I realized the need for organic fertilizer and how important they are for the kitchen garden. Well, isn’t it true we throw all our kitchen waste directly in the bin without giving it a second thought?
This practice is essentially wasteful considering how that waste can turn into organic goodness. It is an effective and eco-friendly way to get rid of food matter without wasting anything. Not only that, it is extremely good for your kitchen plants or garden.
In today’s article, you will find out How to make organic fertilizer from kitchen waste. But before going through the list, let’s understand the importance of organic fertilizer.
What is compost/organic fertilizer?
Composting is a natural process of recycling and converting kitchen waste into rich golden soil known as compost. It is done by using millions of microbes that digest the kitchen waste into a composite.
This fertilizer is free from any chemicals and the best fertilizer for your plants. It offers a well-balanced blend of nutrition that is essential for the health of the soil. Healthy soil = healthy plants.
Now that we have understood the importance of organic fertilizer, let’s grab a pen and paper and get started.
1. Go through your waste.
Look for vegetable waste, fruit peels, eggshells, nuts, etc. Anything dry and less moist is ideal for good compost. Strictly avoid oils, greasy, fatty meat, cheese, milk products in your composite as they can create an awful odor to the same.
2. Add kitchen waste in a container.
Add the collected waste into a container, use an appropriate container according to your fertilizer needs. I would recommend you to make a small batch before going for a full big batch. Place the container in a well-drained, dry and open area.
3. Add other organic materials to the composite.
Arrange for browns like dry leaves, sawdust, or other dry organic things to control the moisture in the compost. If you have access to livestock or manure, then definitely add them to the mixture. Adding manure to the compost helps loosen the soil and increases the soil carbon.
This works as an important source of energy that makes nutrients easily available for plants. Unfortunately, if you can’t find any sawdust or manure, you can easily buy them from a gardening supply store.
4. Create the compost.
Start with putting all these components together into a mixture. Now you need to provide oxygen to the mixture, this plays a vital role in forming a good batch. Aerobic composting helps in getting rid of any foul odor and any crawlies like maggots.
For better air circulation and draining of excess water, make some holes in the container. Make sure to spin the mixture 2 to 3 times a day for a good result.
5. Layering
By using this method, the compost is usually prepared in 40-45 days. All you have to do is keep adding more organic waste into the mixture and ensure a constant flow of oxygen to avoid bad odor. If you notice the mixture getting too moist or soggy then add some dry leaves or sawdust to balance the ratio.
6. Ta-da, time to use the fertilizer.
After 30 to 40 days, you’ll start noticing a major change in the color of the fertilizer. It must achieve a soil-like texture and a dark color. Once the fertilizer has reached this stage it is ready to be used.
You can use a garden fork to fertilize the soil and make sure to never use your bare hands during this process. Apply the right amount of fertilizer to each plant and see the magic work.
I would recommend you to start minuscule and then slowly and gradually increase the quantity. Keep a close watch on plants and observe how they are reacting to the fertilizer.
Two ways to make organic fertilizer from kitchen waste.
1. Use a container.
As mentioned above you can easily use a container to make your own organic fertilizer. It is an easy and compact method. It is ideal for people with less space or no backyard. I personally use this method for my kitchen garden.
All you need is a container and an organic mixture. If you aren’t able to find the right container, then you can always buy a fertilizer container from a gardening supply store.
2. Use a big plastic sheet.
This method is ideal for people with a huge balcony or backyard space. Rather than using a container you can lay the mixture on a plastic sheet and spread it evenly. This is great for big batches and gets rid of any stinky odor.
In both methods, you have to wait for at least 30 to 40 days for the fertilizer to fully be prepared.
Conclusion
Let us not waste our kitchen waste by just throwing it in the bin. This is a small step towards being more sustainable and reusing waste. I hope you find this article helpful and can make your organic fertilizer at home from everyday kitchen waste.
Just keep two things in mind, moisture ratio and oxygen supply. Let’s take a step towards organic products and a happy lifestyle.
