When I first started my garden 9 years ago in my super small yard in Phakalane, I read various gardening books. They all had one thing in common – gorgeous soil. I looked from the books to my yard full of dry, brown, sandy dirt that seemingly lacked any nutritional value with dismay and hopelessness.
Now… years later, that is no longer the case. My soil teems with life and nutrients – many thanks due to composting in Botswana. Let me share with you three reasons why you should compost in Gaborone Botswana.
1. Composting Helps Your Garden
Healthy soil produces healthy vegetables! I am constantly amazed at how gardening gets easier and easier each year as my soil gets healthier and healthier!
Our world is amazing, in that the healthy plants literally know how to defend themselves against disease and various predatory bug attacks. And a healthy plant produces delicious food.
Why buy the expensive composted dirt in shops when you can create your own for free in your backyard?
2. It’s Good For The Environment
I am not sure about your neighborhood, but over here in Phakalane, our rubbish men are not consistent. Piled up rubbish full of food remains means we are susceptible to roaches, ants, and flies.
However, through composting, much of our food scraps are going to the compost meaning less smelly fruit fly invested rubbish. And, I get to feel good about myself not needing extra plastic garbage bags to add to our carbon footprint.
Instead of adding to some landfill, I am actively improving the soil quality on my little piece of land. Imagine if we all did that! It would actually add up to making a huge difference in improving our environment!
3. It Gets Your Kids Involved
Have you read books about how you need to get your children involved in chores?
A compost pile is an excellent way to get your kids involved in household chores, plus it provides hours of entertainment for the younger children as they dig for bugs and becomes a visual aid for the older ones learning about entomology.
Since my children were 2-3 years old, they have been dumping our compost bowl, watering our compost, stirring it and helping me harvest the rich soil our compost creates.
4. It Grows New Food
Due to the amount of seeds we throw in after eating (mango seeds, avocado seeds, slice a red pepper for a salad and throw the seeds in, etc.), we are constantly growing “accidental” seedlings in the compost pile. Now that is cool when you don’t even have to TRY and produce food!
As I type this, I have a grape vine, some peppers, potato, and sweet potato growing out of my compost pile. Just last week, I transplanted 3 mango trees which had grown in the heap… exciting!
5. It Can Save You Money
If you don’t compost, you need to hire a garden rubbish removal service. Again, why pay someone to take the ingredients your yard is freely giving you to make perfect nutritious rich soil?
I have actually gone to my neighbours who are throwing their yard waste away and asked them to GIVE it to me. That is how valuable I believe garden waste is.
For more information on my backyard garden, contact me through my listing Mom to Mom: Parenting Consultations. Feel free to inbox me, Ashley Thaba, there for more info as I offer gardening classes and consultations if you want to start your own garden today! ☺
- 5 Reasons To Start Composting in Botswana - 11/09/2017
