181160 318 Environment Recycling Biodegradable Matter true Tue, 12 May 2009 13:14:08 -0700 /system/videos/0/60/11/18/181160.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, environment, ecology, eco-friendly How To Make Backyard Compost http://www.howcast.com/videos/181160-How-To-Make-Backyard-Compost http://www.howcast.com/videos/181160-How-To-Make-Backyard-Compost/edit approved 189 640 360 <object width="425" height="273" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=181160"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=181160" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="273" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 0 fennerjw http://img.howcast.com/images/icons/howto-xxlarge.png 121 false false false 70717 1 0 Step Select location Select a location for your compost. It should be outside in the fresh air, in the shade, and easily accessible to add and remove material from it.

]]> 70722 2 0 Step Shred or chop large pieces Shred or chop large pieces of compost material to help them decompose faster.

]]> 70718 3 0 Step Get container You can just pile the compost material in a heap, but having a container will be tidier. Buy a commercial one, or build one that will be well ventilated, like a cylinder of chicken wire or a crib made of wooden slats.

]]> 70721 4 0 Warning Never put animal-related items in your compost, like meat, bones, dairy products, or animal waste. If it’s something whose smell could attract a scavenger, like a rat or raccoon, it will.

]]> 70730 5 0 Fact In San Francisco, citywide composting operations pick up scraps from residents, businesses, and restaurants and turn them into mountains of compost for landscaping, farms, and vineyards.

]]> 70728 6 0 Step Check material Check to see if the material has been sufficiently broken down after around three to six months. A happy compost pile will produce black, crumbly, earthy-smelling material.

]]> 70725 7 0 Step Keep pile moist Keep the pile moist. Decomposition will slow if the materials are too dry. Sprinkle the pile lightly with water during times of little rain.

]]> 70724 8 0 Tip Look for signs of healthy decomposition, including worms and tiny white shreds of fungus.

]]> 70719 9 0 Tip Many towns give out composters or sell them at a discount as a way to reduce waste in local landfills.

]]> 70729 10 0 Step Spread finished compost Spread your finished compost on flower or vegetable beds and watch your plants flourish.

]]> 70726 11 0 Tip Stick your hand into your compost pile and check its temperature. A warm pile is decomposing well. A cool pile needs more green material.

]]> 70727 12 0 Step Maintain ratio As you add new material, maintain an even ratio of brown to green materials. Too many brown materials will slow the composting process down, and too many green materials will end up producing a nasty stench.

]]> 70723 13 0 Step Mix up compost pile Mix up your compost pile about every week to keep it well aerated. You can use a shovel for this, or your commercial composter may be designed to flip over.

]]> 70720 14 0 Step Alternate layers of waste Start your compost by alternating layers of brown and green waste. Carbon-rich brown materials include dead leaves, straw, sawdust, and chipped wood or branches. Nitrogen-rich green wastes include lawn clippings, vegetable peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds.

]]> 317 198213 How To Separate Your Recycling AssignmentGuide 617 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:49:32 -0700 6 Michael_Grosse ]]> 134 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/13/82/19/198213.flv recycling, environment, saving, separating, organizing, trash, planet, earth, eco-friendly, home Environment Recycling General Recycling 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/198213/Picture_6_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/198213-How-To-Separate-Your-Recycling 319 120585 How To Recycle Your Old Electronics AssignmentGuide 1032 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:21:09 -0800 7 FFTM_Creative ]]> 106 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/85/05/12/120585.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, environment, green, living Environment Recycling Recycling Electronic Products 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/120585/50_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/120585-How-To-Recycle-Your-Old-Electronics 319 199726 How To Recycle Batteries AssignmentGuide 1102 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:03:47 -0700 6 tbomb ]]> 113 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/26/97/19/199726.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, environment, recycling, recycle Environment Recycling Recycling Electronic Products 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/199726/Picture_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/199726-How-To-Recycle-Batteries 321 168965 How To Recycle Paper Towel Rolls AssignmentGuide 2699 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:47:35 -0700 13 omarsa7ili ]]> 107 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/65/89/16/168965.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, environment, green, recycling Environment Recycling Recycling Household Products 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/168965/Picture_7_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/168965-How-To-Recycle-Paper-Towel-Rolls 325 16075 How To Reuse Everyday Items AssignmentGuide 5272 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:15:43 -0700 25 shahb ]]> 122 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/75/60/01/16075.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, environment, green, living Environment Recycling Waste Reduction and Re-Use 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/16075/Picture_10_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/16075-How-To-Reuse-Everyday-Items 307 217170 How To Identify Eco-Friendly Products AssignmentGuide 244 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:15:42 -0800 2 rachybop ]]> 109 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/75/26/28/282675.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, environment, green, living, protection, eco-friendly, protect, earth, planet, products, buy, buying, shop, shopping, household, house, home, organic, recycle, recycling Environment Environmental Protection 0 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green, living Environment Green Living General Green Living 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/133644/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/133644-How-To-Go-Green-and-Save-Some-Green-At-the-Same-Time 309 135522 How To Plant a Tree AssignmentGuide 1784 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:17:31 -0800 6 wadee ]]> 179 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/22/55/13/135522.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, environment, ecology, eco-friendly Environment Green Living General Green Living 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/135522/Picture_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/135522-How-To-Plant-a-Tree