Think of compost and you might think of a farm. Or, at the very least a large backyard garden. However, gardeners living in small, urban spaces can benefit from composting, too. So can their plants.

Composting in a small space can be a challenge. That’s where compact, well-designed composters like the Urban Compost Tumbler come in handy. The ability to make well-composted, nutritionally dense, odor-free compost in a small space benefits the urban gardener. Here’s why composting is important to gardeners with spaces large and small: Compost adds nutrients to the soil. Intensive gardening that takes place in small spaces can “use up” the soil, depleting it of nutrients. Compost adds nutrients-both macro and micro-back to the soil. Synthetic fertilizers do not generally include trace nutrients, like copper, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium, which are as important for plant growth as the “big three” Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium.

• Compost improves the soil structure, resulting in healthier plants. Synthetic fertilizer may provide plants with nutrients, but it does not improve the structure of the soil. Compost creates space for water, air and nutrients, and makes it easier for plants to grow.
• Composting recycles waste that would otherwise take up space in landfills. Vegetable scraps, newspapers, leaves, wood chips, coffee grounds, and other items can be recycled back into the earth through composting.
• Composting saves money. The less trash a household produces, the less money it has to spend to dispose of it. Compost is a natural fertilizer, so using it saves money on gardening projects.
• Using compost instead of synthetic fertilizer reduces pollution to rivers, lakes and streams. Nutrients from compost break down slowly, and are used by plants more efficiently, which keeps excess nutrients away from water, thus reducing algae problems in the immediate area, and downstream.
• Compost can keep heavily-used urban areas hospitable to trees and other plants. Urban areas generally have lots of foot traffic, which causes compaction. Compacted soils do not support street trees, parks, or turf very well. Homeowners with small lawn spaces can keep their urban green space healthy by regularly adding compost to their soil.

Compost could easily be called the “duct tape” of gardening. Using it improves almost every garden or lawn situation. Soil that drains too quickly will hold water better with the addition of compost. Soil that stays mucky and does not drain will drain more quickly with the addition of compost. Compacted soil is healthier when compost is added, and loose soil is improved with the addition of compost.

It is possible to compost in a small space, with the right equipment. Doing so will benefit the trees and wildlife in the local area.