Composting is the natural process of turning everyday organic waste into rich, living soil. Instead of sending food scraps and yard waste to the landfill, composting allows those materials to break down and return valuable nutrients back to the earth. What you end up with is compost—often called “black gold”—a powerful soil amendment that improves soil structure, increases water retention, and feeds beneficial microbes that help plants thrive.
Anyone can compost, whether you have a large backyard, a small garden, or just a kitchen counter and a bin. From vegetable peels and coffee grounds to leaves and grass clippings, many common household items can be transformed into something useful instead of wasted. Composting reduces trash, lowers methane emissions, and creates healthier soil without relying on synthetic fertilizers.
At its heart, composting is about working with nature, not against it. By learning the basics of what to compost, how to balance materials, and how decomposition works, you can turn waste into a valuable resource and grow healthier, more productive plants.
Gardening Tips for Lubbock: Composting Basics
Join Master Gardener Betsy and Arla as they talk all things composting on the Lubbock Public Library YouTube channel! In this video, they break down what composting is, why it matters in our West Texas climate, and how everyday kitchen scraps and yard waste can be turned into nutrient-rich soil. Whether you’re brand new to composting or looking to improve what you’re already doing, this conversation is full of practical tips to help you build healthier soil and stronger gardens—right here in Lubbock.
Texas AgriLife has a free downable factsheet.
Easy Gardening: Composting– The composting process changes leaves, kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and other landscape debris into a rich soil amendment. This publication explains what materials to use for composting, how to build a compost bin, and what elements and conditions are essential for decomposition to occur.
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