Composting Basics- Greens vs Browns – Morning Girl

Composting Basics- Greens vs Browns

Greens = nitrogen

Browns = carbon

A healthy, sweet-smelling compost pile typically thrives at about 2 parts browns to 1 part greens.

Here’s a simple list:

GREENS (Nitrogen-Rich Materials)
Moist, soft, quick to break down. They heat the pile and feed the microbes.
Kitchen Scraps

Fruit peels
Vegetable scraps
Coffee grounds
Tea bags (without staples, and check that bag is compostable)
Fresh herbs
Eggshells (crushed)

Yard & Garden Greens

Fresh grass clippings
Fresh garden trimmings
Coffee grounds
Green leaves
Spent flowers
Weeds (before they go to seed)

Animal & Misc.

Manure from herbivores (chickens, rabbits, cows, goats, horses)
Alfalfa or fresh hay
Seaweed & kelp

BROWNS (Carbon-Rich Materials)

Dry, woody, papery. They add structure, prevent odor, and allow airflow. Yard & Garden Browns

Dry leaves
Straw
Dried hay
Pine needles
Wood chips
Sawdust (untreated wood only)
Small branches/twigs

Household Paper Goods

Dry leaves
Shredded newspaper
Paper towels (unbleached)
Toilet paper tubes
Cardboard (shredded or torn into small pieces)
Paper bags

Other Carbon Sources

Coffee filters
Natural fiber dryer lint (cotton/wool, not synthetics)
Natural cork
Dead houseplants
Old potting soil

Items to Avoid

These can disrupt the pile, attract pests, or introduce toxins:

Meat, fish, dairy
Greasy/oily foods
Plastics, stickers on produce
Diseased plants
Pet waste (dogs/cats)
Glossy or coated paper
Synthetic dryer lint
Large branches or treated wood