Composting

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Composting

• For the best garden you have ever grown or seen.

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What is Composting?

• Composting is the natural way of degrading
  organic material into humus and minerals
• It is a natural aerobic microbiological process
  that returns plant nutrients to the soil where
  they can again be absorbed by plants for new
  growth.
• It supplies plants with nitrogen or nitrogen
  containing materials, additional nutrients and
  beneficial microorganisms

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Why should we make Compost?

• Compost is an excellent soil additive that
  increases the productivity and workability of
  soil.
• It is also inexpensive and solves the problem of
  disposing of plant, kitchen wastes and other
  waste products.

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Carbon/Nitrogen ratio(C/N)

• Maximum composting efficiency occurs when Carbon
  is properly balanced with Nitrogen.
• To achieve this, blend equal parts by volume of
  grass clippings with dry leaves and shredded
  twigs or branches.
• Urea fertilizer or other nitrogen source can be
  used in place of green vegetation if necessary
• 1 lb. urea to 1 cubic yd. leaves
• 6 lb. urea to 1 cubic yd. wood chips
• Collected urine from healthy people can also be
  used.

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How can you make compost?

• Add extra nitrogen to shredded leaves
• Or mix 5 parts leaves to 1 part manure
• Or add dried blood meal, alfalfa meal at the
  rate of 2 cups to a wheelbarrow load of brown
  leaves or other carbon rich wastes such as
  shredded paper.

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How much to water (H2O)?

• Ideally you should maintain moisture level at
  about 50
• Compost should feel about like a wet sponge.
• If compost is dry with no residue of water you
  should add water.
• If, when a handfull is squeezed, water runs
  freely, then there is too much water.
• In that case, allow compost to dry out by
  removing any coverings or add more dry material
  and mix.

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Is Oxygen (O2) neccessary?

• Yes, The bacteria and actinomycetes (fungi) that
  do the work must have access to oxygen.
• If oxygen is in short supply anaerobic organisms
  will take over and cause a bad undesirable smell.
• Provide adequate ventilation by turning the pile
  frequently or by venting.
• Restrict size of the pile to no more than 5 ft.
  high and 5 ft. wide. 4x4 makes an ideal size. Any
  length will do. Or make additional piles.

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Composting Temperatures

• Optimum temperatures are between 100o and 140oF
  because those higher temperatures kill disease
  organisms, insects, and some but not all weed
  seeds.
• Composting at the center of the pile is complete
  when temperatures within the pile drop below 100o
  F.
• Material on the outside edges of the pile may not
  have reached proper temperatures. If so, turn the
  pile, putting outside edges inside and allow it
  to compost more.

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Will shredding the materials help?

• Yes. Smaller particles decompose faster as there
  are more surfaces for the bacteria to work on.
• You should shred brush and prunings to compact
  them and leaves to prevent layering.
• However, very small particles may compact and
  restrict oxygen availability.
• Therefore a blend of small and large particles
  will be most efficient.
• A shredder although expensive is well worth the
  cost to the devoted composter.

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For a Successful Compost Pile

• Step One
• Select a Site that
• 1. Gets shade in the summer and sun in the
  winter to take advantage of natural heating and
  cooling.
• 2. Is convenient for adding materials and for
  removing finished compost.
• 3. Has a source of water nearby
• 4. Does not detract from the landscape and is
  not a problem for you or your neighbors.

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Choose your method
Step Two

• II. Containers if used should
• - be accessible
• - resist decay
• - allow air flow
• i.e. - poles w/chicken wire, wooden pallets,
  cinder blocks, prefabricated structures.,
• III. Open composting
• sheet composting, pit composting, etc.

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III. Select the Proper Materials

• Acceptable
• Grass clippings
• Leaves and Weeds
• Manures
• Coffee Grounds
• Wood Chips, Sawdust
• Bark, Stems, Stalks
• Garden Canning Waste
• Fruit Vegetables

• Not Acceptable
• Meats
• Bones
• Large Branches unless chipped
• Synthetic Products
• Plastics
• Pet or Human Solid Wastes

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IV. Make the Pile Work

• A compost pile is not just rotting garbage.
• Successful compost piles are structured as
  follows
• 1. Build layers of green plant waste alternating
  
• 2. with carbonaceous materials
• 3. Add water to keep all materials moist but not
  soggy.
• 4. Occasionally mix so all the contents are
  composted.

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V. Trouble Shooting

• If the pile or bin develops A strong odor from
  insufficient oxygen
• Turn the pile or bin
• Pile is damp, but wont heat - insufficient
  nitrogen
• Add fertilizer, urea or grass clipping
• Pile is dry and not composting - insufficient
  water
• Form pile so center is lowest to collect
  rainwater or
• add water.
• Ammonia smell - too much nitrogen
• Add sawdust of other high carbon material and
  turn pile

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Using your Compost

• Your compost is ready to use when the
  temperatures within the pile begin to cool and
  remain steady even after turning.
• Screening to remove particles larger than 1/2
  diameter improves handling and quality.
• Red worms that may inhabit the pile do not need
  to be removed when using the compost. They will
  continue to work on the organic matter present in
  your soil but they may be unwanted in flower pots.

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The final product will be dark, have an earthy
smell and can be used as an excellent source of
plant nutrients. Apply it to your garden and
flower beds to create an ideal environment for
everything that grows.