So…it has been a year since I started on the composting journey, and the results have been mixed at best.  So far I have tried composting leaves, dog poop, and food.  Here’s what I have learned.

I don’t know exactly what went wrong in the great leaf composting debacle of 2019 – 2020, but it wasn’t pretty.  I have decided to throw in the towel, and instead of composting leaves I am now mulching them.  This is working out GREAT!  I bought an electric leaf mulcher, which is basically a weed wacker with a funnel feed on top, and a bag attached at the bottom.  In 5 minutes, I can shred a barrel full of leaves!  And they make fabulous mulch for the flower beds!!! YAY!!

The dog poop is disgusting, but after 4 months I have some real compost that is now worked into the soil of the future bee/butterfly garden in the front yard.  YAY!!

Food composting has not been satisfying.  Even after months, the food compost is not looking very compost-y. No matter how many YouTube videos I watch, I’m not getting it right.  So I started doing some research to figure out what to do, and here is what I’ve found out.  

Each of these organizations has a variety of different services and a unique mission, but all are striving to decrease food waste and restore the soil.  

• Compostable LA:  a non-profit operating in LA and the San Fernando Valley that will come to your home and pick up your food scraps!  Easy Peasy if you don’t want to get your hands dirty!  www.compostableLA.com      
• LA Compost:  another non-profit with locations where you can bring your food scraps to make compost for community gardens.  www.LAcompost.org 
• 301 Organics: a non-profit with educational services for home owners who want to do their own composting, or they will come to your home and do your composting for you!   www.301Organics.com ​