What You Need For Composting
COMPOSTING BASICS
Compost is what you get when yard and garden debris, kitchen scraps and other organic materials have completely broken down into a rich, dark, crumbly material. Gardeners call it “black gold,” because it is so rich in nutrients and adds so much value you when add it to your soil. Finished compost is also often called humus. In the right conditions, bacteria and other microorganisms quickly break down organic material into rich, fertile earth that you can add to your soil to increase its fertility and health. After the organisms have done their thing, they generate finished compost, which has lots of minerals and micro-nutrients in an easily accessible form for plants.
Composting keeps waste out of landfills, and it fertilizes without chemicals. Just think of it as recycling. Instead of plastic bottles and aluminum cans, it’s dead leaves and veggie peels. It is cheap and easy to learn, but there is a little bit of an art to it that comes with practice. Breaking down waste requires the right amount of moisture, heat, soil aeration and a proper mix of materials.
Location and Appearance
First you’ll need to select your location for composting. Where you put it depends on function and aesthetics. In terms of appearances and good relations with your neighbors, you probably don’t want to place your bin on your front lawn. Your neighbors will appreciate a more behind-the-scenes location. Instead, opt for the backyard. Close to the garden and to a water source are both good places for building your compost pile or bin since it will be easier to move the materials to and from the garden and easier to water it. Another idea may be to place it near your kitchen to make it convenient to place table scraps on the pile or in the bin.
Bin or Pile, Buy or Build?
It’s entirely up to you whether you purchase a compost bin or build your own. A wide variety of compost bins and tumblers are available for backyard composting. They vary in price, style and function but all are designed to help you compost more efficiently. If you don’t want to purchase a bin, you can build your own using cement blocks, brick, wood or pallets and wire. If you have adequate outdoor space and are willing to wait a little longer for the finished compost, simply start heaping your compost in a corner of the yard.
What to Compost
Now that you’re ready to start making compost, you need to know what materials can and cannot be used in the compost bin or pile. You need to provide food, air and water. The water and air are easy. The food is a little more complex. Food for your little micro friends consists of two classes of materials, simply referred to as “Greens” and “Browns.” Green materials are high in nitrogen, while brown materials are high in carbon. The green materials provide protein for the micro bugs, while the brown materials provide energy.
Typical green materials are:
• Fresh (green) Grass clippings
• Fresh manure (horse, chicken, rabbit, cow)
• Kitchen scraps (fruit/veggies, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, egg shells)
• Weeds (avoid weeds that have gone to seed)
• Green leaves
• Leftover fruits from the garden
Typical brown materials include:
• Brown, dry leaves
• Dried grass
• Stems, twigs and cornstalks (shredded)
• Straw
• Sawdust (in moderation)
• Newspaper and cardboard (shredded)
Leave Out/Reason Why:
• Black walnut tree leaves or twigs
o Releases substances that might be harmful to plants
• Coal or charcoal ash
o Might contain substances harmful to plants
• Dairy products (e.g., butter, milk, sour cream, yogurt) and eggs
o Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
• Diseased or insect-ridden plants
o Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants
• Fats, grease, lard, or oils
o Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
• Meat or fish bones and scraps
o Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
• Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter)
o Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans
• Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides
o Might kill beneficial composting organisms
Moisture
- Composting materials should feel moist but not overly soggy.
- Temperature
- Compost should feel warm to the touch except in the cold winter months.
- Air
- To prevent unpleasant odors that can occur when materials decompose without oxygen, compost should be turned regularly to ensure that air is reaching the center of the pile.
Speeding Up the Compost Process
Compost decomposes fastest between 120 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit, so anything that will increase the heat will “cook” your compost faster. Here are four tips for fast composting:
- Chop and shred larger items, which makes it easier for the bacteria to break them down. For example, one easy way is to slice and dice garden waste is to run your lawn mower over leaves and other garden waste. Take scissors to newsprint or cardboard.
- Turn, turn, turn.
- Give your compost heap a “big meal” versus small snacks. Collect all your waste over a couple of days and then add it in one big bunch. The more you add at one time, the more your compost will heat up.
- Keep your compost pile in the sun. The heat will speed up the process.
Compost is finished when it’s a dark, rich color, crumbles easily, and you can’t pick out any of the original ingredients. It should have a sweet, earthy smell. If it’s too stringy or lumpy, it may need more time. Keep in mind that the amount of time can really vary. It can take anywhere from three to 12 months to produce compost. Decomposition depends on a number of things including temperature, what organic matter you’ve filled your bin with, type of compost bin used, how fine the waste material was chopped, how often you’ve turned it.
Benefits of Composting
The benefits of composting are numerous. It builds good soil structure; enables soil to retain nutrients, water, and air; protects against drought; helps maintain a neutral pH, and protects plants from many diseases commonly found in the garden. It also feeds earthworms and other microbial life in the soil. In general, it doesn’t matter what kind of soil you have. All soils can be improved with the addition of compost. Let’s not forget about reducing the amount of waste that goes into the landfills.
I hope you enjoyed this article and found it inspiring and informative. If you have any questions, give us a call. We’d be happy to help.
Happy composting!
Cindy K.