The Chew: Can You Compost Dairy Products & How To Compost In Layers

The Chew: Containers For Composting

Michael Symon showed Clinton Kelly his composting secrets January 11 2013. There are many different containers to keep your compost in. Michael Symon said he likes to compost right on top of the soil in late summer, which he covers with a tarp until spring so his soil is ready to go. You could also use one of the store-bought barrels specifically made for this purpose or a garbage can with holes in the bottom to let it breathe.

The Chew: Michael Symon’s Composting Don’ts

There are many things Michael Symon said you do not want to put in your compost. A lot of people think that whatever breaks down is cool to put in the compost, but Michael Symon said this was false. Some things you shouldn’t put in are:

1. Meat bones
2. Dairy products
3. Fatty food waste

The Chew: Michael Symon’s Compost Layers

The most important thing in composting, he said, is that you use plenty of layers. You want the things you use to break down in a certain way to best benefit the things you want to grow. Here are the layers that Michael Symon used:

1. The first layer should be more fluffy biological things. Things like leaves and twigs. Michael Symon said that even though it might seem to make sense to use grass for this layer, he cautioned against it, because you might get weed seeds in your compost and have it all go to waste.
2. The next layer is topsoil.
3. After that, Michael Symon recommended using used coffee grounds. He said he didn’t like to use coffee filters, but if you wanted to use them, make sure they aren’t the bleached kind, but the kind that break down easily.
4. The next suggestion for a layer is an unusual one: dried deer blood. This is used for several reasons. One, it keeps critters away because it says to them you’re serious about gardening. It also has a lot of wonderful nutrients in it.
5. Finally, put kitchen scraps on top – things like carrot peels and onion skin.