What?!

Composting is the controlled natural decomposition of organic material, such as leaves, grass clippings, prunnings, and fruit and vegetable scraps. Microorganisms break down these materials into compost, or humus, a nutrient rich soil product.

Where?!

Composting can be setup almost anywhere…in your backyard, at work or school, even if you live in an apartment! All you need to get started is a bit of space, a bin or container, and a basic understanding of the composting process.

Space: Your compost pile will need an area about 3 square feet at minimum. It should ideally be located in a shady spot or be covered, so that the sun doesn’t dry out your compost too quickly.

Compost Bins: Compost bins can either be homemade or purchased from a bin manufacturer. A basic size is 3 feet wide x 3 feet deep x 3 feet tall. Homemade bins can be easily constructed out of wood, wire mesh, or scrap pallets. Need instructions?

Here are some examples of homemade bins:

Wiremesh Compost Bin

Photo: mjmonty

Wire Screen Compost Bin

Photo: amber in norfolk

Compost bin with pallets

Photo: London Permaculture

Why?!

Composting has many benefits for the homeowner and the environment:

- Saves You Money by reducing the need to purchase expensive commerical fertilizers and soil amendments.

- Benefits Your Yard and Garden by improving soil heath and fertility and preventing erosion.

- Conserves Water by helping the soil hold more water and reducing the need for frequent watering.

- Helps the Environment by recycling valuable organic materials and reducing the amount of trash you send to a landfill.

How?!

Four basic ingredients are required for composting: Greens, Browns, Water and Air
Mixing the proper amounts of these ingredients together will provide the composting organisms (microbes and insects) with enough nitrogen, carbon, moisture and oxygen to break down the material efficiently. Meat, fish, bones, oils, grease or lard, dog or cat droppings, fresh weeds with mature seeds, charcoal, treated wood products, or dairy products will not work in any compost pile!

Greens include: grass clippings, green leaves, fresh prunings, and fruit and vegetable scraps.

Browns include dry, woody materials such as dead leaves, wood chips, twigs, sawdust and paper. It is best to shred or chop these materials up before adding them to the pile, as this helps to aerate and “bulk-up” the compost pile.

Water is important to any compost pile. The compost should be kept moist at all times. Too little moisture will inhibit the composting process, and too much water can cause your pile to smell.

Air is essential to preventing any bad-smelling odors. Turning your compost once or twice a week will inhibit the growth of odor-causing an-aerobic bacteria, and also result in faster composting.

The correct combination of these ingredients will encourage and sustain the micro and macro organisms that are required for composting to work.

Microorganisms (basteria and fungi) are the main workers of the compost pile. Although too small to see, they are on everything you throw into the pile.
Macroorganisms (insects, worms, and grubs) usually enter the compost pile from the surrounding landscape in the later stages of decomposition.

So that’s the basics of composting. In an upcoming post, I’ll go over the different types of composting: active, passive and composting with worms!

Get out there and start decomposing! Composting, that is.
If you are already composting, let us know your tips on what methods work best!

Good Compost

Photo: normanack