Let's Go Compost is a Garden for Wildlife fundraising partner and non-profit with a mission to make composting free and accessible throughout the United States.
Composting, the natural process of decomposing organic materials into nutrient-rich soil amendment through microbial activity and decomposition, is a fundamental practice in sustainable gardening, offering numerous benefits for both the environment and garden health while turning waste into "black gold" for your soil. Learn how and why composting plays such a vital role and how it contributes to sustainable gardening practices.
Soil Health Means Planetary Health
End-use compost acts as a natural soil amendment, enriching soil with essential nutrients necessary for plant growth. Its organic matter improves soil structure, promotes microbial activity, and enhances water retention, creating a fertile environment for plants to thrive.
Reduce, Reuse, Rot, and Recycle
Did you know the average person creates 4.9 pounds of food waste each day? Composting facilitates the recycling of organic waste materials, like kitchen scraps, garden trimmings, and plant residues, into nutrient-rich compost. By diverting organic waste from landfills, composting reduces methane emissions and conserves valuable landfill space. In fact, if everyone in the U.S. composted, it would be the equivalent of removing 7.8 million cars from the road.
Grow, Grow, Grow: Chemical-Free Fertilizer
The creation of artificial, chemical fertilizers accounts for 0.8% of the global greenhouse gas emissions and 2% of global energy. Unlike chemical fertilizers, which create these adverse environmental impacts, compost provides a sustainable alternative. It releases nutrients slowly, reducing the risk of nutrient leaching and groundwater contamination, while also improving soil health over time.
A Simple Solution to Carbon Sequestration
Soil stores an estimated 2,500 gigatons of carbon, three times the atmospheric amount and four times the combined carbon content of all living organisms on Earth. Composting contributes to carbon sequestration by storing carbon in the soil, helping to mitigate climate change. Through the decomposition of organic matter, composting helps capture atmospheric carbon dioxide and incorporate it into stable soil organic carbon.
Save Some H2O: Reduce Water Usage
The organic matter in compost improves soil structure, creating a porous texture that enhances water retention. This reduces the need for frequent irrigation, conserving water resources and promoting drought resilience in gardens.
Goodbye to Pests and Plant Diseases
Between 20% to 40% of global crop production is lost to pests annually. Healthy soil enriched with compost supports a diverse microbial community that can help suppress pests and diseases. Beneficial microorganisms compete with harmful pathogens, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and promoting natural pest control.
Prevention is Key When It Comes to Soil Erosion
Compost helps prevent soil erosion by binding soil particles together and increasing soil stability. Its organic matter forms a protective layer on the soil surface, reducing water runoff and erosion caused by wind and rain.
It’s All Connected: Compost Promotes Biodiversity
Composting fosters biodiversity by supporting a wide range of microbial life in the soil. This diversity contributes to ecosystem resilience, improves nutrient cycling, and enhances overall soil health, creating a thriving habitat for plants and beneficial organisms.
Say Yes to Sustainable Garden Management
Integrating composting into garden management practices promotes sustainability by closing the loop on nutrient cycles, creating true circularity. It reduces reliance on external inputs, like synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, while building soil fertility and resilience for long-term garden productivity.
Composting is a cornerstone of sustainable gardening, offering endless benefits for the health of our soil and planet. By embracing composting practices, gardeners can grow their gardens while reducing waste, conserving resources, and promoting a healthier planet we all can enjoy. To learn more about composting, visit LetsGoCompost.org.
About the Author and Let’s Go Compost
Lauren Click is the founder of Let's Go Compost, a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to make composting free and accessible throughout the United States. Through their programs, they are able to provide workforce development to grow the composting industry, encourage and aid the development of decentralized composting infrastructure, and provide public education to proactively reduce compost contamination and increase demand for infrastructure.
Let's Go Compost's programs are community-led with a focus on supporting school gardens and community gardens, all working to ensure composting and free food waste drop off sites reach all, irrespective of location or income.
Lauren works both in the dirt (literally) with public schools and community gardens, while also remaining focused on the big picture - working with large organizations and policymakers to ensure composting accessibility and affordability are kept front of mind as infrastructure is developed. Lauren also holds various key positions, including board membership with the Arizona Composting Council, board membership with Circular Arizona, and environmental membership with 1% For the Planet. Additionally, she is an active member of several committees and organizations dedicated to sustainability, waste management, and environmental advocacy.