Making Compost
Organic Gardening Tip — Making Compost
compost (noun) A mixture of decaying organic matter, as from leaves and manure, used to improve soil structure and provide nutrients.
Compost is often referred to as a gardener’s “Black Gold” because it’s such great organic fertilizer and mulch. Although you can buy it some places, the best organic gardening tip is to make your own. It’s a great way to use up the debris around your yard and garden.
In a compost pile, microorganisms break down the materials to make humus – the dark colored, stable form of organic matter that remains after most of plant or animal residues have decomposed. Finished compost is dark brown and crumbly.
You can make compost in containers, bins, or simply make a pile on the ground. Homemade bins work well, using pallets, wire or whatever is handy and sturdy. Commercial bins and tumblers work well too. It’s all a matter of preference and economics.
Compost piles should be at least a 3 feet square and 3 feet high. You can make it bigger, but there comes a point around 5 feet where the materials will pack down too tightly so that not enough air gets in the pile to allow rapid decomposition.
There are two main methods for making compost.
Cold Compost
The easiest way to make compost is to layer the materials and leave it sit until it decomposes. It’s best to start with a layer of brush or straw as a base. Throw grass clippings, leaves and weeds on the pile and leave it until it decomposes. You can speed up the process by turning the pile occasionally if you wish.
Hot Compost
It’s called hot compost because the materials heat up and decomposition happens more quickly. Keeping the right ratio of materials helps speed up the composting process.
The Single Pile Method for Hot Compost: Place a layer of straw on the ground, 3 or 4 feet square. Next add a layer of plant matter and/or kitchen scraps. Leaves and straw work well for this layer. Add a layer of manure or old compost. This provides the starter microorganisms needed to speed up decomposition. Water the layers until moist.
Continue adding layers until the pile is 3-5 feet high. End with a layer of straw to help keep the materials in place. You may need to water the pile occasionally to keep it moist. A dry pile won’t decompose very quickly.
The Two Bin Method for Hot Compost: Start with two enclosures side by side, each about 3 feet square, and 3 or 4 feet high. Use the same layering method as above to fill one container, then cover it with a tarp.
Every day or two remove the tarp and turn the pile by using a pitchfork or shovel to move the materials into the second container. As you move the pile, try to put the outer layers toward the middle and the stuff that was in the middle towards the outside.
make sure it stays moist by watering when necessary, and replacing the tarp after each turning of the pile. If you turn the pile every day, it will take about two weeks to decompose. The less often you turn the pile, the longer it will take.
Black Gold
Whatever method you choose, you’ll find you can never have too much compost. It’s great for enriching the soil and mulching around and plants. Keep those compost piles going and enjoy your Black Gold!
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