|
Material
|
Carbon/Nitrogen
|
Info
|
|
table scraps
|
Nitrogen
|
add with dry carbon items
|
|
fruit & vegetable scraps
|
Nitrogen
|
add with dry carbon items
|
|
eggshells
|
neutral
|
best when crushed
|
|
leaves
|
Carbon
|
leaves break down faster when shredded
|
|
grass clippings
|
Nitrogen
|
add in thin layers so they don't mat into clumps
|
|
garden plants
|
--
|
use disease-free plants only
|
|
lawn & garden weeds
|
Nitrogen
|
only use weeds which have not gone to seed
|
|
shrub prunings
|
Carbon
|
woody prunings are slow to break down
|
|
straw or hay
|
Carbon
|
straw is best; hay (with seeds) is less ideal
|
|
green comfrey leaves
|
Nitrogen
|
excellent compost 'activator'
|
|
pine needles
|
Carbon
|
acidic; use in moderate amounts
|
|
flowers, cuttings
|
Nitrogen
|
chop up any long woody stems
|
|
wood ash
|
Carbon
|
only use ash from clean materials; sprinkle lightly
|
|
chicken manure
|
Nitrogen
|
excellent compost 'activator'
|
|
coffee grounds
|
Nitrogen
|
filters may also be included
|
|
tea leaves
|
Nitrogen
|
loose or in bags
|
|
newspaper
|
Carbon
|
avoid using glossy paper and colored inks
|
|
shredded paper
|
Carbon
|
avoid using glossy paper and colored inks
|
|
cardboard
|
Carbon
|
shred material to avoid matting
|
|
corn cobs, stalks
|
Carbon
|
slow to decompose; best if chopped up
|
|
dryer lint
|
Carbon
|
best if from natural fibers
|
|
sawdust pellets
|
Carbon
|
high carbon levels;add in layers to avoid clumping
|
|
wood chips / pellets
|
Carbon
|
high carbon levels;use sparingly
|
