WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR COMPOSTING?

 

The basic elements needed for composting are:

 

• organic materials (Kitchen & Garden Waste)
• air
• water

 

For added efficiency, you will also need:

 ·        kitchen waste bucket

·        a garden fork, or other turning device

·        and a composting bin

 

Materials to compost:

 

All organic materials contain a mixture of carbon and nitrogen, this is known as the carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio.  Items containing carbon are generally brown in colour, such as autumn leaves or straw, items containing nitrogen are generally green in colour, such as kitchen scraps and grass cuttings.

 

A rule of thumb is to have roughly equal amounts of browns (carbon) and greens (nitrogen).

 

The following is a list of some of the different green and brown materials that can be composted:

 

Greens...Nitrogen Rich

 

These materials are usually moist:

 

·        green leaves

·        weeds

·        vegetable/fruit scraps

·        green grass cuttings

·        coffee grounds, including the filter

·        tea bags

·        crushed egg shells

·        breads

·        cooked pasta and rice

·        flowers

 

Browns...Carbon Rich

 

These materials are usually dry:

 

·        evergreen needles

·        dry leaves

·        dried brown grass cuttings

·        bark chips

·        straw

·        prunings and cuttings

·        kitchen paper

·        shredded newspaper

 

Materials to avoid:

 

Do Not compost...

 

·        meat, bones, and fish scraps

·        dairy products

·        fatty/oily foods, including cheese, butter, oil, and salad dressing

·        disposable nappies

·        pet wastes

·        rhubarb leaves

·        plants treated with chemicals

·        diseased plants

·        charcoal or coal ashes

 

Grass Cuttings:

 

Grass cuttings can be generated in large quantities and may be difficult to handle in your composter.  It is important not to add too many at once since they tend to mat together and smell.  Instead, put in limited quantities of green grass and mix them into the compost pile or add some brown material, like torn up paper.

 

If you let some of your grass cuttings dry out in the sun, they will become a carbon source and can be mixed with fresh cuttings.

FACTORS IN COMPOSTING

 

Air:

 

Air is necessary as it allows organic matter to decompose in an aerobic environment.  This will result in fast, odour free decomposition. If there is a lack of oxygen in the compost pile, it will begin to smell like rotten eggs. Aerating will eliminate odours and speed up the decomposition process. 

 

Air can be incorporated into your pile in a couple of simple ways:

 

·        Turn your pile with a pitchfork or shovel or use a special aerating tool.  Turning the pile will also help the composting process by mixing in new material.

·        Place an aeration stack in the centre of the pile. You can use a piece of pipe or a bundle of brush. This allows air to circulate down into the pile.  This method will save you from having to turn the pile.

 

There is no set rule for how often to turn or aerate your compost.  There are many factors that determine the frequency of turning such as: the size of the pile, the types and amounts of material being added to the pile, and how fast you want finished compost.

 

A basic rule of thumb is the more work you put into the compost the faster the compost will work. Turning the pile every week or two will result in faster composting, provided that all the other factors in composting are maintained.

 

Moisture:

 

Moisture is needed to maintain composting activity in your pile. The microorganisms that decompose the organic matter need moisture to move around and break down the material. A good rule of thumb is to keep your pile about as moist as a well-wrung sponge. A good way to test the moisture level is to take some compost and squeeze it in your fist, you should get a couple of drops of water coming through your fingers.

 

If the pile becomes too dry, composting activity will slow down and eventually stop. Adding moisture to the pile is easy:

 

·        use a hose or watering can. Turn the pile as you add water to allow for even distribution of the moisture.

·        another simple way of adding moisture is to leave the lid off during rain storms (providing you have a lid on your composter).

If the pile gets too wet, it may begin to smell like rotten eggs. There are a

couple of ways to fix this problem:

 

·        turn the pile to allow excess moisture to evaporate.

·        add some dry (carbon) materials to soak up the excess moisture.

 

Heat:

 

If a compost pile has enough water and oxygen, a good balance of material, and enough volume, temperatures in the pile may reach above 55! C. Heat is the result of the work of the micro-organisms that are decomposing the organic material. The higher the temperature, the more work is being done. The compost pile should feel warm or hot to the touch when you dig into it.

 

Temperatures of 55! C are desirable because they kill weed seeds and speed up the composting process. However, don't worry if yours doesn't reach this temperature, cooler compost can work just as well.

 

Choosing a Bin Location:

 

Choose a corner or spot in your yard that is easily accessible in both summer and winter. This location should also have good drainage and a mixture of sun and shade. If the unit is in the sun all the time you will have to ensure that it doesn't become to dry. And if the unit is in the shade all the time, it will not benefit from the sun's heat and may have a tendency to stay wet. However, in either circumstance the compost will work fine with a little care.

 

Building Your Pile:

 

When you are first building your compost pile, it is a good idea to layer the

materials being put in:

 

·        Start with a layer of twigs or other coarse materials at the bottom of the composter. The layer should be at least 5 cm thick. This will allow air to get to the pile from below.

·        Next add a layer of brown material, followed by a layer of green material.  Each of the layers should be between 5 - 10 cm thick.

·        Add a thin layer (no more than 2 cm) of your own garden soil that will introduce micro-organisms to the pile.

 

This layering method is a good way of getting the composting processes started.  After a few days you can begin combining the materials, by either turning the compost or just adding materials to your composter as you accumulate them. When adding fresh material, especially kitchen scraps, it is good idea to bury them into the compost pile. Cover the fresh material with a thin layer of soil or some brown material. Doing this will reduce any problems with pests such as fruit flies.

 

Remember to try to follow the 50/50 rule (i.e. half greens, half browns) as you

add new material. Also, if you can, try to mix coarse and fine materials to

avoid compaction of the pile.

 

HELPFUL HINT: If you want to activate your pile, try adding some manure.

 

 

HOW LONG DOES COMPOSTING TAKE?

 

The length of time to compost organic matter varies greatly due to all the different factors involved.  If you meet all the nutritional needs of the pile, shred the material being used, maintain the optimum moisture level, and turn the pile every week, then compost can be ready in as little as two or three months, although on average, you will have finished compost within 12 months.

 

Your compost is ready when it is dark in colour and has an earthy smell. The finished compost will appear at the bottom of your heap. Remove this to use on your garden. If some of the materials have not finished composting, simply put them back into your composter.

 

 

USING YOUR COMPOST

 

There are many ways to use your finished compost such as:

 

·        adding it directly to the garden or flower bed, working it into the soil. It is best to do this in autumn or spring.

·        mound it around the base of plants and trees during the growing season. The nutrients from the compost will leach into the soil and roots of the plants.

·        Use it for bedding plants or add it to your house plants. For starting or transplanting it is recommended to use a mixture of half compost and half potting soil.

 

 

WINTER COMPOSTING

 

As winter approaches and temperatures fall, you can still continue to compost. Your compost pile may freeze, but the freezing of the material will help it break down and compost in the spring.  When spring arrives, allow the compost to thaw, turn it over and the composting process will begin again in a few days.

 

 

 

 

Troubleshooting you Home Composting

 

Problem:             Smell

Reason:             No air getting through

Solution:      Aerate the compost by turning it with a fork (this should be done once a month to give better compost)

 

Problem:            Wet and smelly

Reason:             Too much green material such as grass

Solution: Put in less green material.  If you have a lot of grass, let it dry out first or mix it with brown materials such as straw or sawdust

 

 

Problem:             Material not breaking down

Reason:             Compost mix not right or bin not sited in the best place

Solution:        Your compost bin should be sited on bare soil for drainage and preferably in a sunny position for fast composting.  If already sited correctly add more sappy nitrogen-rich materials (eg grass)

 

Problem:             Compost heap dries out in summer

Reason:             Evaporation of water due to hot weather

Solution:             Water until compost is moist. Keep lid on composter

 

 

Problem:             Flies

Reason: These are fruit flies that feed on vegetation. These are harmless but you don’t want too many.

Solution: Avoid using pesticides. Bury kitchen scraps and cover the pile with paper or a layer of soil or sand.