What are "greens" and "browns" in a compost pile?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What are "greens" and "browns" in a compost pile?

The Big Idea

Compost turns scraps into rich soil! It needs two kinds of ingredients. What are greens and browns?

Greens

Step one: Greens. Greens are wet and rich in nitrogen. They include fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and fresh grass clippings.

Browns

Step two: Browns. Browns are dry and rich in carbon. They include fallen leaves, shredded cardboard, and straw.

The Right Mix

Step three: The Right Mix. A good mix is about two or three parts browns to one part greens. Too many greens make a smelly, slimy pile, so add more browns to balance it.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Green. Green. Brown. Brown.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Eggshells count as greens, though they don't break down quickly. Greens have nitrogen. Browns have carbon. More browns than greens.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! List ten things from your kitchen and yard. Make two columns, greens and browns. Sort each item. Count each side. Do you have enough browns?

Outro

Compost needs greens, which are wet and rich in nitrogen like fruit scraps and coffee grounds, and browns, which are dry and rich in carbon like leaves and cardboard. About two or three parts browns to one part greens keeps a pile from getting slimy. Science is amazing! What will you discover next? Every question is a new adventure, so keep wondering and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!