At-Home Composting
Composting at home is an effective way to transform organic waste into enriching material for your garden. It’s also an easy way to make a personal contribution to a healthy environment for future generations. By turning organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, you can create a valuable resource for your own plants while minimizing the amount of garbage sent to landfills. If this hasn’t crossed your news feed yet: over 11 million tons of textile waste goes to US landfills alone. The US is also notorious for shipping our clothing waste overseas where it pollutes and damages other cultures and environments.
A word of caution, you shouldn’t try composting your wardrobe! To do so would introduce microplastics and chemical pollutants (yes, this is what most fashion is made of) into the soil. Tend intentionally designs our products and care practices to eliminate plastic and chemicals from the equation. If you own a pair of Tend, you can feel good about safely following these at-home composting tips:
Choose a Composting Method
Traditional Compost Pile/Bin: Ideal for larger yards. Requires a balance of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials.
Tumbler Bin: A contained system that speeds up the composting process and is suitable for smaller spaces.
Vermiculture (Worm Composting): Uses worms to break down organic waste. Perfect for apartments or indoor composting.
Set Up Your Compost Area: Find a convenient, well-drained spot for your compost bin or pile. Ensure it has good airflow and access to moisture.
Balance Your Materials: Aim for a mix of green materials (fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings) and brown materials (leaves, paper, cardboard). This balance helps maintain proper decomposition.
Maintain Your Compost: Regularly turn your compost to aerate it, which speeds up decomposition and prevents odors. Keep it moist, but not too wet.
Harvest Your Compost: After a few months, your compost should be dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling. Use it to enrich your garden soil, nourish houseplants, or even share with neighbors.
Take Note
Avoid: Meat, dairy, oils, and diseased plants, as they can attract pests and cause odors.
Chop Materials: Smaller pieces decompose faster, so chop or shred large items before adding them to your compost. *Interestingly, we found that composting Tend underwear worked better by tossing in the whole garment rather than shredding. This result has surprised us, so we will do some follow up tests.
Patience: Composting is a natural process that takes time. Be patient and let nature do its work.
At-home composting can feel very rewarding as a loving way to tend your garden (or community garden!). As a practice, it benefits you and the environment. We hope you enjoy wearing Tend products for a long time (PS: they will last as long or longer than standard cotton underwear). When the day comes to phase them out of use, you can feel good about tossing them into your home compost.