The Art and Science of Composting

Y.M. Saegusa
Satoyama
Published in
6 min readJul 10, 2021

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Composting enriches the soil and reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills

What is composting?

Compost is an organic material and the end product of composting. Composting is the natural process of turning organic matter into fertilizer that can be used to enrich the soil and feed plants. Though organic matter will decompose on its own if left to nature, a properly managed composting system will provide an environment that is suitable for microorganisms, bacteria, and insects that all aid in breaking down organic matter, speeding up the decomposition process.

Compost can be bought at your local hardware store or nursery or you can make them on your own. Though some composting methods will require a backyard (local regulations might prohibit it), you can effectively compost using nothing but a bucket on your balcony or even in the kitchen.

Composting options / Chart created by author using PowerPoint / CC-BY-NC

Based on the space that you have available while factoring in the quantity of organic waste produced by your household and the amount of time that you have at hand to manage the composting process, you can select the option that best suits your lifestyle.

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Y.M. Saegusa
Satoyama

Advocate for regenerative agriculture and environmentally sustainable living. Future homestead owner. Editor of https://medium.com/satoyama