Man was made to rule over and take care of His creations. But religion is not the only aspect in our life that calls us to be concerned of the welfare of the environment. Our health, happiness and the future generations likewise depend on how we use and manage the Earth at present.

Caring for the environment begins from the basic unit of society, the family. It is through the awareness of the responsibility of each member of the household to protect and nurture the planet that you are able to globally participate towards the achievement of a better life. It doesn’t require much labor for you to be earth-friendly. There are so many simple ways that when done consistently the right way, can make a significant and huge difference. Here are some suggestions on easy ways to make a greener home and living:

1.       Replace appliances to energy-efficient models. Check for the “Energy Star” logo when you use or purchase appliances and gadgets because they consume up to 10%-50% lesser energy and water compared to typical ones. Use energy-efficient lights. Standard incandescent light bulbs consume more energy compare to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL). The latter can last 10x longer and consumes about 66% lesser than the former.

2.       Water conservation. It doesn’t require products for you to implement the wise use of water rather it only needs some behavioral change on your part. Simply turning off the faucet every time that it’s not used can make a great difference. Installing a low-flow toilet or adjusting its float bulb can greatly minimize 2 liters of water used to flush the toilet. Save up to 80 liters of water when you use the broom instead of using the garden hose every time you clean the driveway. .

3.       Use less paper. Paper comes from trees. Whenever we recycle or use a post-consumer paper, we save money, trees and the environment.

4.       Minimize plastic use. Polyethylene plastic is usually found in grocery, trash and sandwich bags. Throwing plastics away to the landfill increases greenhouse gasses which in turn contribute to the occurrence of global warning. Additionally, burning and processing plastics is a major contributor to global warming since they are made from petroleum.

5.       Organic gardening. Instead of using fertilizers and other chemicals to grow plants at home, use compost. Not only does it contain the right amount of nutrients, but also a good degree of soil organism is present to keep the soil fertile and healthy for plant growth.

It’s a cliché but as a matter of fact, recycling and cutting down on what you consume are the basic means for living a green and earth friendly life.

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Plant the area with the plants such as kangaroo paws to continue the food supply to the micro organisms.

A wet agent such as a Wettasoil product was applied using the hose but it is recommended to only use this three times a year during dry times.

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According to Nance Trautmann and Elaina Olynciw of Cornell University, microorganisms break down organic matter, producing heat, carbon dioxide, water and humus in the process. Because piles can get too hot, aerating, or turning the pile, is essential for your compost to cool, allowing it to mature and become ready for application. The lack of oxygen is needed for aeration. If the pile is not properly aerated or has too much nitrogen and not enough carbon, rotting and stinking can occur. A compost pile should never smell.

You can’t just put any old thing in the compost bin, here is what should be going in:

• Food scraps – Vegetable peelings are a common material produced by households and make a great compost amendment. However, never add animal-based leftovers (fat trimmings, meat, cheese, milk, etc) as the oils and fats are not conducive to a backyard composting operation.
• Fresh grass clippings
• Manure – If you have access to manure from horses, cows, sheep, goats or chickens, it is a great compost ingredient because it speeds up the decomposition process. It is not a requisite for a successful compost pile, however. Never use manure from carnivores.
• Plants and plant cuttings – Just-picked weeds from around the backyard (as long as there are no developed seeds or seed heads) are permissible, as are flower tops. Green leaves from a freshly cut branch work as well (just make sure to shred them).
• Brown materials: Dead, dry leaves, hay and straw, simple paper products such as newspaper, paper and cardboard, crushed egg shells, coffee grounds – tea bags and loose-leaf tea work as well and wood ashes and sawdust – use sparingly. Wood ashes can make the pile very alkaline, which limits microbial activity, and sawdust can take a long time to break down.

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Compost provides food for the microorganisms that help keep soil balanced and encourage healthy root development in plants, it being a good natural mulch to add to your garden. It is a good way to help the environment using its own products, helps reduce overflowing landfills and is a good way to manage household waste.

Over the years, composting has turned into something more than just a decomposing of food, it has become a science- and there are endless books and instructions on how to layer, what temperature it should be at, telling you to buy a compost starter and a tool for aerating the pile. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter what you buy, compost will be produced the best if you work with the environment. All good compost takes is a bit of time and management.

What exactly is Compost?

Compost is a combination of decomposed carbon rich materials (such as leaves) and nitrogen materials (such as food scraps). The result of this is from feeding the different organisms that live in the soil such as insects, bacteria, earthworms and fungi. To get the best compost, you need a mixture of carbon-rich materials, which are referred to as browns and nitrogen-rich materials, referred to as greens. A combination of heat, air and moisture will also speed up the composting process.

Choosing a Site-
For the best compost, set the pile on bare ground in a flat area, and ensure it has good drainage. Earthworms migrate into soil and won’t be able to if the compost bin sits on concrete or asphalt. Place it in a spot that doesn’t ruin the look of your garden, and is close to your home. Keeping the compost pile in a sunny area will help it decompose faster.

Creating an Enclosure-
In theory, you don’t really need a big enclosure to make compost- it will happen without one. But it will work better and be easier to manage in an enclosure. You can purchase pre-made compost bins or you can enclose your compost pile with three-sided wood, fencing or cement blocks.

If you are going to make one, ensure you leave opening in the walls for air. A bin no larger than 4′x4′x4’- this is the standard bin recommendation. If you have room in your yard, set up a second bin for more convenience.

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1- Buy a large composting bin from your local garden centre. Some local councils will sell them at a lower price, or alternatively you can build your own.

2- Make sure it is on level soil and is in a well-drained, sunny area of your yard. If it is placed on soil the microbes and insects can break down the waste also, and it will be better for drainage and aeration. If you don’t have soil in your yard, place a thick layer of soil at the bottom of the bin instead.

3- Compost should be ready in around six or nine months, as it takes a while to break down the products. Once it is broken down and fully composted, it will look a very dark brown, almost soil-like and have a spongy texture. Place this compost in your flowerbeds, vegetable patches and pot plants to enrich the soil and help retain moisture.

For compost to work effectively you first need to have good ingredients. You need ingredients that are rich in nitrogen and carbon to get the perfect balance.

Nitrogen rich greens are- old vegetable plants, grass cutting, vegie peelings, animal manure from vegetarian animals like rabbits, tea bags and coffee grounds

whereas Carbon-rich browns are- shredded or crumpled paper, wood twigs or stems, fallen leaves, egg boxes, hay or straw and wood shavings.

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