How To Composting

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YAY FOR COMPOST!!

The earth really is so very wise all on its own - it does everything right.

I said composting is easy - and it is - there are things that need to be understood to achieve success - or remain in the mystery of compost failure. So more preliminaries first.

All we need to do is learn is how the earth does it best. The biggest frustration I find is that people see it as a big 'mystery'

1."Well I put the stuff in the bin and it looks the same a year later"
2."It doesn't break down, I just have a growing heap of stuff."
3."oooo! - There are rodents in the compost!"

Whether you have a plastic bin or a heap or side by side bins, compost all works the same - nature does the same thing depending on the conditions. There are different methods - hot compost, cold, long, slow, etc.

Which method do you think is fastest?

Of course, steaming hot! At the Community Garden here, there is some amazement at how quickly the earth creates compost. I have simply learned the optimal conditions. People still buy plastic bags of manure / dressings which is unnecessary and the plastic bag creates waste. Gardens can and should be self supporting

I prefer hot and fast! Composting hot is fast & active, requiring specific conditions to work:

MOISTURE - dry material will take absolute years to break down! You need to water it.
ORGANISMS to break it down - where are they? They're in soil, in compost.
BUGS! - yes bugs and worms decomposers - they attend without invitation ;)
LAYERING with soil or composted or even partially composted material.
TURNING over - mixes all the goodies amd aerates
ELEMENTS - oxygen, carbon, nitrogen






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Composting cold, is passive and takes a long time with minimal results.

Hot compost works hottest & fastest in hot weather, but is not dependent on it.

Can reach temperatures of 160' - hotter in summer, when more water is needed
Produces nitrogen ash - a sign of a terrific working compost
Set up properly, it can even be working in winter!
The heat is created by the complex, layered working of micro-organisms.
Even in cool weather, one can feel the heat to the touch, of a 'working' compost. I loo-oVe that feeling!
Destroys weed seeds & harmful organisms at the hot center

Composting is easy, yes. But it is also a complex process. I am laying some foundational knowledge here, then will give specific steps.

Okay, next the composting steps!

Patricia Colleen Altree Working in the Vegetable Garden



WOW! I'm so impressed with the eagerness to compost! I am trying to make this as simple as possible. Part of the confusion is information that complicates a simple natural procedure.

CREATING GARDEN GOLD How To Start Composting!

What To Put Into Your Compost:

Kitchen waste excluding animal products
Coffee grounds are spectacular! They promote breakdown - some cafe's are more than happy to give you their grounds
Yard waste - tough sunflower or corn stalks will break down easier if you first break them up
Leaves & grass clippings - these will clump, so mix with other materials

Precautions:

Wear gloves - complex soil and composting organisms can be harmful
Animal products - meat trimmings, manure, contain harmful organisms that can affect growing vegetables, thus your health

Composting Containment:

Heap or Pile - simplest form
Plastic Compost Bin - difficult to control and least effective
Single bin or 2 or 3 side by side bins - easily banged together using wooden pallettes
Layering Recipe For Hot Compost - the purpose of layering is to get all elements eventually mixed to maximize breakdown.






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Here it is .....tada!!!!!!! ......

The Process

FIRST LAYER - up to six inches waste - Use a garden fork to level out each layer.
Water over the entire surface, especially for dry materials like leaves. If this layer is all kitchen waste or fresh grass clippings, it may already be pretty wet.

SOIL LAYER - Cover the waste layer with several scoops of garden soil, sprinkling composted or even partially composted material over the entire surface.

REPEAT & CONTINUE LAYERING

CONTINUE WATERING - check the heap frequently for dryness. Use the garden hose to moisten dry 'edges'.

TURNING
1) Turning over the heap mixes in oxygen and creates increased contact between micro-organisms and waste materials
2) Whether you have a big heap or a small one, compost should be turned every 1 - 6 weeks
3) Use a garden fork to turn over the entire mass, in the same spot, OR into the next bin, or space adjacent.
4) Of you use a plastic bin, perhaps empty & refill it

FEEL THE HEAT !

Check for heat in a week, by placing your hand on the top center
Heat in a working compost can be noticed sometimes within a week
A small compost is less likely to achieve the 'heat' of a larger contained heap
If the compost does not achieve the 'heat', it needs air, water, &/or organisms (soil)

NOTES

A loose cover can help keep moisture in - remember though that air is needed
animal waste and manure may be composted, but requires special treatment and should be fully composted for 6 months before use on food crops.
Consistency & wetness should be about that of a damp sponge
Water well in hot weather - can dry out very quickly
That's it!

What's the magic?
1) water 2) oxygen 3) organisms - in soil

When Is It Ready?
- when it no longer looks like what it started out as, just beautiful rich brown humous (pronounced hyoo'mus, not hummous, the wonderful stuff we eat... ;)

Composting Organisms
Easy Composting Tips
Why Compost Fails
Tips For Animal Waste

Let me know how you're doing and if you have any questions as you go along. (Please do use the 'Guestbook' below.)






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Some Notions That Make Composting Difficult AND Crazy:

1.Composting without BUGS
2.Composting without mold
3.Enzymatic composting ??? if you want to complicate it, go for it!

1) Composting Bugs & Organisms - break down waste

Bugs are natural decomposers. Sow bugs, earthworms, centipedes, beetles, among many others.
Common green mold was BORN to compost
If you have a healthy (moist) compost, there will be lots of bugs; earthworms are terrific.
Decomposing bugs will be happy in a healthy compost and leave the gardens alone
Bugs leave completely composted humous for new new waste - keep it coming!
various complex levels of micro-organisms are involved in creating heat up to 160'.

2) EASY COMPOSTING TIPS

Dig waste directly into the garden between the rows. It will break down very quickly this way during the warm growing season, feeding plant roots.
Leaves in the fall, can be turned into the garden soil; turn again in early spring a couple of times, before planting

You are invited to leave your helpful tips in the comment box at the bottom of the page.

3) WHY COMPOST FAILS

not enough moisture
insufficient mix of moisture, organisms, with waste
If the compost doesn't appear to be 'working', do the layering process over

4) Tips For Animal Waste - manure, meat, etc.

Can be composted (separately) instead of throwing in the garbage
Carries potentially harmful organisms
Manure is still great for growing, but needs to be completely composted for at least 6 months before application to food crops
Keep separate from main compost, but layer & maintain the same way
Can be dug (at least 8") into the ground around ornamental plants - not too close

WANT MORE? .html">COMPOSTING PODCASTS - BASICS, INGREDIENTS, TIPS






Ornamental Cabbage, Mixed Autumn and Winter