Boba straws and acupuncture aren’t usually things we associate with gardening, but there’s a compost hack making waves at the moment which could be about to change all of that. Especially as it could make a traditionally laborious task much, much easier on our backs!
It’s important to learn how to make compost at home, especially if you want a more sustainable garden, but let's not forget the golden rule: you’ve got to turn it to keep it healthy. And here’s where it can become less appealing, because hauling out a fork every couple of weeks and flipping heavy compost? That’s not exactly everyone’s idea of fun – even if it does increase the chances of a solid source of “black gold” at the end of it all.
The good news? There’s a simple composting hack that keeps your pile aerated without any backbreaking work. All you need are a few hollow reeds, sunflower stalks, bamboo canes, or (yes) boba straws.
Possibly The Easiest Compost Hack Yet?
If you’ve ever started a compost bin, you’ll likely know that compost breaks down best when it has a good balance of greens, browns, moisture, and – most importantly – air. Without oxygen, the pile can go anaerobic, which means slow decomposition and a deeply unpleasant stench.
“When a compost pile smells like rotten eggs, it's a sure sign that it's going anaerobic, decomposing without the necessary oxygen," explains Sally McCabe, Associate Director of Community Education at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. "This process is slow, gunky, and can create an unpleasant stink. An aerobic, oxygen-rich pile, on the other hand, breaks down materials quickly and cleanly, often heating up significantly in the process,” she adds.
How This Composting Hack Works
While the traditional advice is to turn your pile, Sally says a better approach is to build it with airflow in mind from the very beginning. However, for ongoing maintenance, a nifty compost hack like acupuncture can work wonders. Sally reveals that you can simply poke several deep holes down into the pile to create channels for air. “You don’t need a pitchfork – a simple, long-handled tool like a piece of rebar, an old broomstick, or even a sturdy branch, can work wonders.”
The best compost bin ideas, however, are those that do this job for you. This is where Sally’s all-natural approach, using hollow-stemmed plants from your own garden, comes into play.
Whether you've built a DIY compost bin from wood or opted for a pre-made option (like the HuggleGreens Plastic Garden Compost Bin from Amazon), Sally points out that there are plenty of naturally grown items in the garden that can help with compost acupuncture.
“Reeds, bamboo stems, or sturdy, dried stalks of sunflowers can be cut into foot-long sections and inserted vertically into your compost pile,” Sally says. “This creates a network of air passages that won't collapse as the pile settles,” she adds. However, if you don’t have any hollow stemmed plants to hand, you could try using reed straws or even recycled boba straws made from plant stems.
“Along with being biodegradable and environmentally friendly, these do an excellent job of incorporating oxygen into the middle of a compost pile,” says Sally, noting that they will act like natural chimneys, allowing air to flow right through the heap.
What You Need for This Compost Hack
The success of this compost hack hinges almost entirely on the items you use for it. The main thing is to use something that will retain its shape for long enough to be beneficial. Horticulturalist and broadcaster Ellen Mary Webster says it's also vital you opt for something on the sturdier side, such as artichoke or sunflower stems.
“If thin stems are added, the weight of the materials and decomposition will likely crush them before they can help with aeration," she points out, noting that larger stems are far better as they "take longer to break down and create natural air pockets" as they do so. However, if you don't have anything in the garden that works, you could also use these handy items:
- Boba straws: Try something like HAY! Straws Jumbo Reed Stem Straws from Amazon.
- Bamboo stakes: You can pick up a bundle of Bamboo Plant Stakes from Amazon easily enough.
- Metal tubing: Try the Metal Copper Brass Round Tubes from Amazon.
Easy Aeration for Smart Composting
The best thing about this compost hack – other than the fact it allows us to really lean into our lazier goblin-mode alter egos – is that, over time, the stems will slowly decompose along with the rest of the material… leaving you with yet more rich, crumbly compost. If you’ve ever felt guilty about neglecting your compost pile, compost acupuncture is the hack for you. By staking your heap with hollow reeds, you’ll be gifting nature the air it needs to do the hard work – at least in the short term.
“It’s an easy, passive aeration technique that can make your composting experience less about back-breaking labor and more about smart, efficient gardening,” adds Sally. “This, along with a little planning, could be all it takes to maintain a healthy, odorless compost pile that will reward you with beautiful soil for seasons to come.”
Of course, if compost acupuncture isn't for you, you could create or buy a compost turning unit to make turning yours easier instead. Try mounting a barrel on a frame, attaching a handle to allow turning. Alternatively, you can speed up the process and pick up an electric composter or the Exaco 43 recycled plastic tumbler composter from Lowe's.
The Right Foundation for Your Compost
Whether you opt for our boba-friendly compost hack or a twirling-whirling compost bin, just take care that you start with a sturdy foundation. "Before you add a single food scrap, lay down a 6-inch base layer of coarse, chunky materials like chopped-up cornstalks, sturdy twigs, or small branches," says Sally. 'This creates a permanent airspace at the bottom of the pile, which acts as a natural air vent that allows oxygen to circulate from below."
And just like that, you have a new compost hack in your arsenal. Time to unleash your inner acupuncturist and set to work...
