Composting and composters: a basic introduction

Why compost?

Recent studies show that an average family throws away approximately 200 pounds of organic kitchen waste each year. Combine this with all the leaves, grass clippings, and other organic yard waste accumulated over time and that’s a lot of household waste adding to the already mountainous waste disposal problem. Some local authorities refuse to remove green garden waste and others charge for the service in an effort to curb rising costs and then, when you add the environmental costs of adding new landfills, the road transport emissions of transporting all these wastes and potentially the incineration and fumes it releases the environmental advantages of composting are clear.

In slightly more selfish terms, if you are a gardener, you will know the relatively high cost of fertilizer. Well, okay, the average gardener’s annual fertilizer spend isn’t going to break the bank, but when you can get free fertilizer from the stuff you throw away, then it starts to look extremely expensive. Composting just makes sense from an environmental and financial point of view and is so easy to do that nothing stops you.

What do I need to start?

A compost bin, box, enclosure, or handy place to put an open compost heap. Cheap plastic composters and compost bins can be purchased at all good garden centers and are quite inexpensive depending on your requirements. A plastic compost bin is generally the cheapest, while wooden composters are generally more attractive additions to your garden but a bit more expensive. An open pile (just create a pile somewhere) is also an option, but it is advisable to have some type of cover such as a tarp available for periods of colder weather.

Another slightly different alternative to composting in the traditional sense is vermicomposting or worms. These use a special type of worms to break down kitchen waste and produce a fine compost-like material from their molds and a nutrient-packed liquid plant food that is ideal for feeding indoor potted plants. If you do a lot of gardening in a greenhouse or have a lot of houseplants, then a worm bin may be the best option for household waste disposal.

If you don’t want to spend money on a composter, building your own isn’t exactly difficult if you don’t mind grabbing a hammer and nails. Nail down a few wooden pallets, for example, and you’ll have a proper composting enclosure. For plans and ideas on how to build your own composter on the cheap, just head to your favorite search engine and type in phrases like “build your own composter” or “composting bin plans” for tons of simple ideas that you would normally They cost less than $30.

Where to put your compost

Whether you buy a composting bin or make your own composter, you want to make sure you have a flat, well-drained spot in your yard, not too far away that you’ll mind carrying your kitchen scraps. Compost bins should not be placed on concrete, patio areas, etc. You want to allow the insects, worms, and microorganisms that help break down your waste materials the freedom to migrate in and out of your compost without hindrance.

Also, choose a site that suits your climate. Heat and moisture help the composting process, so put your composter in a place that gets a good amount of sunlight and is sheltered from the wind if you live in a colder climate, and if you’re in a warmer climate, be sure to shade it to prevent it from drying out. .

What materials can be composted?

Virtually all organic household and yard waste is an eligible candidate for composting, although there are some exceptions. Things to avoid in particular are meat, fish, bones, fats and oils, dairy products such as milk and cheese, dog and cat droppings, as they can attract animals, create bad odors as they degrade and transmit unpleasant diseases. Also, although weeds and plants can be added, it is recommended that persistent weeds be dried out and seed heads removed before adding. Ashes are also best avoided, as are glossy magazines, though it’s fine to add shredded paper and cardboard. Feel free to add fruit and vegetable scraps, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds (worms love those!), and tea bags, hair, leaves, grass clippings, and other organic debris. As a general rule of thumb, leave it outside when in doubt, but most organic waste will rot just fine and if you shred it or cut it into smaller pieces it will compost faster.

How long before it becomes compost?

This depends on the material balance in your compost heap, the weather, and the amount of time you can devote to the project. If you want to take an active management approach to your composting, you can have a fully composted pile in 3 months, but if your only wish is to dispose of kitchen and garden waste in a more “green” way, then it can take 6 months to a year or more.

Managed composting can produce a ‘hot rot’ with very quick results, but it takes some extra effort on your part to keep it going. A hot managed compost heap with an excellent balance of materials can reach temperatures of 70 degrees Celsius but requires regular turning and tending with careful layering and a balance of browns and greens in the mix, grinding the materials and maintaining a good level of humidity.

However, an unmanaged cold heap is much easier to maintain and will rot at up to 30 degrees Celsius with little intervention on your part. Simply tossing your waste into the heap will give you a fresher heap that will rot more slowly, but it’s fine for green waste disposal.

There are ways to increase the speed of the composting process in both cases, for example by adding composting worms or using an activator that helps speed up the process. Adding a handful of soil from time to time or horse manure will also add microorganisms to speed up the composting process for free.

For the Best Compost…

…use a wide variety of different materials. The more varied the materials you add to the compost pile, the richer in nutrients your final compost will be. Compost made from kitchen and yard waste is the best food for your plants while helping the environment and saving you and your local government money.