Composting: On Going Brown

A compost pile should be turned every so often to both aerate the material and distribute heat, which, as readily storable energy for compost, is the sole decomposing agent a compost accumulation receives; a pitchfork works just fine for this. Compost returns nutrients to soil, in addition to aerating it, creating traction, and minimizing erosion; it can even replace harsh gardening chemicals. It is especially beneficial in that MiracleGro and similar products contain unnatural levels of certain elements. Particularly, MiracleGro contains very high concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, all of which it releases into the earth at very quickly. When it rains, MiracleGro and its chemicals are washed away, often ending up in groundwater, which leads to tributaries, rivers and eventually the now horribly-intoxicated ocean. In freshwater, it does its intended job on unintended subjects like duckweed and algae, causing them to grow as if on steroids and choke off other life forms in their habitats. Compost can do the same job as MiracleGro in a garden, only it will not move, and nutrient chemicals are released much more slowly. In short, it is healthier, cheaper and less maintenance to compost!