Gardening!

There are many things you can use to make a good compost humus (which is what the final product is called).  There are also quite a few items that should never go into your compost bin.  Listed below are many of the materials you should not try to compost and why it is not a good idea.

Ashes from charcoal should not be added to your compost, you can add very small amount of ashes from a fire that was made with untreated wood.  It is not a good idea to add a lot though because it can change the composition and make it too alkaline.

Do not add any kind of droppings from an animal that is not a vegetarian.  Animals that pass the compost inspection include horses, cows, rabbits, and goats.  You can even add droppings from hamster or other indoor pets.  But stay away from bird, dog, and cat droppings (including cat litter).  They all can contain harmful organisms.

Read the rest of this entry »

There are some rules to learn and follow about what you can put into your compost bin in order to keep your pile healthy and working properly.  The most widespread organic material that you will add to your compost will be kitchen scraps.  The kitchen scraps are considered green food that you feed to your compost as they contain nitrogen – an essential element to the process.

It is a good idea to have a container with an airtight lid to store the food waste in your kitchen.  You do not want to attract insects or pests inside your home nor do you want to be running to your compost bin every time you make a meal or snack.  If your kitchen container is airtight you will also cut down on unpleasant odors.

Here is a list of the most commonly used compost items from the kitchen:

Read the rest of this entry »

The most common location for a compost pile or bin is in close proximity to your kitchen or garden.  You want it in a convenient location to make it easy and second nature to bring your food scraps or garden waste to the composter.  If you have a large yard, the yard waste can get quite heavy and you don’t want to be transporting the heavy material be a deterrent to composting.

There are other considerations that need to be taken into account when choosing a composting site.  Keeping all the below suggestions in mind, you also want to make sure that it is in an area that children or animals will not disturb or get into the compost bin.

The ground should be level and not prone to collecting excessive water (it needs good drainage).  Your compost pile needs to stay moist but you do not want too much water or it will not work properly.  In addition to level ground, make sure you can easily access the area with a wheelbarrow.

Read the rest of this entry »

The most common way to compost organic material into usable fertilizer is to make use of the naturally occurring microbes to use the material as food and energy.  Other than ensuring your pile has enough water, food, and air you can leave the rest of the job to the ever helpful fungi and bacteria. 

The types of microbes you want to inhabit your composter are aerobic, meaning they need oxygen to thrive and live.  You can make sure they have enough air by aerating the compost heap (turning it over with a rake).  Another way to ensure there is good air circulation is to add a material such as wood chips or hay – both are bulky and are not easily compressed.  This makes sure the air can get in and do its job.

Read the rest of this entry »

Patience is needed when you compost.  It can take anywhere from one month to one year for your first batch of humus to be ready to use.  It will depend on the size of your bin, if you are using cold or hot composting, what you are putting into the compost and the weather.  Another factor to consider is what you will be using the finished product for.  Different uses can utilize the compost at different stages of the process.

The longer a compost is allowed to decompose the finer, darker, and richer it becomes.  But you do not have to wait until it reaches this state to use it.  If you want to use the compost as mulch for your flower beds or other areas of your garden you can use it when it is still in a chunkier state.  The mulch is used to keep an even temperature for the soil and discourage weed growth.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you do not have a large backyard or live in an apartment but still want to compost, there are options available.  You can still compost easily and conveniently.  Some options include composting on a balcony, in your garage, or even under your kitchen sink.

The best way to compost in a small space or indoors is using worms to help with the decomposition process (known as vermicomposting).  This is a clean and odor-free way to compost and can be done on a small scale.  You will need quite a few worms to start the process.  Even though with this method you will add mostly green food (kitchen scraps) the brown food is also necessary (the carbon is needed).  A good source of carbon for an indoor composting bin is shredded newspaper – just remember not to use the glossy pages.

Read the rest of this entry »

Composting can benefit your garden and the planet (when done on a large scale) in many ways.  A lot of people may shy away from composting because of some common myths or misconceptions.  Listed below are some of the most common untruths followed by the real information.

* Composting is creating new dirt.  Actually composting is not dirt, soil, or earth but it is humus – decayed matter that provides nutrients to soil.
* It takes a lot of time and effort to compost.  Once you have your compost bin set-up all you will only have to add new materials and turn or rotate the piles once in a two day period.

Read the rest of this entry »

There are living creatures that you want in your compost bin such as microbes and red earthworms and then there are the creatures you wan to stay away like raccoons, rodents, and bears).  A compost bin can be very appealing to an animal, easy access to food.  As a rule, you should never put animal matter into compost (left over meat and bones) not only do they not make for good composting they will be a magnet to wild animals.  Following are some more tips to help keep your compost bin free from pests of all sizes.

An odor-free compost bin is less likely to attract bears or any other animal friends.  You can achieve this by rotating or turning the compost pile at least once per week.  Another precaution that should be taken is to have a bin with a cover whether it is commercially made or one you make yourself.

Read the rest of this entry »

Besides a free and nutrient rich fertilizer for your soil and plants there are many other benefits to starting a compost in your yard.  A few of the benefits of composting are listed below.

* You can reduce or eliminate weeds in your garden by using compost as it prevents weed seeds from sprouting and prospering.  This is a natural alternative to pesticides.
* Mature compost material has been used to stop or prevent erosion in certain areas.  The binding capability in the compost can keep the soil in place and prevent
dangerous drop-offs.

Read the rest of this entry »

Now that you have decided vermicomposting is for you, you need to get some worms (a lot of them).  For a standard size composting bin you will need two pounds of worms for every one pound of raw material you add.  The earthworms you will need (known as red wrigglers) do not go very deep underground so your pile or bin should be between 8-10 inches deep.

You may be tempted to go to your backyard and start digging up some worms, but you really should invest in the proper kind.  The worms in your backyard are not the recommended breed for composting.  You will need to buy worms that bear the name of red wriggler (also known as redworms) or brandling worms.

Read the rest of this entry »