Compost Basket - Less waste, good soil and one's own grown food! Composting Unit and Planter in one

Transcription

1 Compost Basket - Less waste, good soil and one's own grown food! Composting Unit and Planter in one The idea of the Compost Basket originates from ecologist Iván Gyulai, who developed the Compost Basket in the Organic Farming programme of the Gömörszőlős Educational Centre. The Permaculture structure in a woven basket design is equally suitable for the composting of kitchen greens and garden waste. It is also perfectly suitable for raised beds and cold frames! Its application is primarily indicated for gardens with limited space or with soil of limited (possibly contaminated) quality - (see busy road side gardens or "urban farms"). The inner circle (1 metre in height) is the compost container itself, while the outer circle (40 centimetres in height) is the seed bed. The nutrients move nicely from the composter to the seed bed, thanks to the effect of gravity. This provides nourishment on a continuous basis. If we compost organic waste of good quality, our vegetables and spice herbs will reward us with speedy growth and rich harvest! 1. Operating Instructions and Assembly Aids Components for compos ting unit 8 Salix branches (these will be the pillars/spokes of your inner basket ) measuring roughly 1,20 meters in length. 1

2 20 Salix branches (thumb-thick, these will be the pillars/spokes of your outer basket ) measuring about 0,5 meters in length. 6 bundles of flexible (willow) twigs or canes measuring 1,50 (min.) to 2,00 meters in length. About 1,50 2,00 m² of your own patch of garden. Some ready soil or compost. 2. Choosing the right Location for your Composting Unit It is important that you build your composting unit in a place that is easy to reach. It is a practical extension of your kitchen and housing space. You can deposit your organic waste directly in your composting unit once installed - there is no further need for an in-house compost bin. Soon you can harvest your home-grown tomatoes, herbs and salads. Install your composting unit in a sunny space and avoid that your composting unit is exposed to high winds. 2

3 3. Step by step Instructions: 1. Prepare all necessary tools: axe, secateurs, loppers, hammer, rope and tape measure. 4. Assess your available terrain. Please note that your composter requires 1, 70 2, 00 meter in diameter. Additionally, the composting unit should be comfortably accessible from every direction. If you have limited space available, please take a look at our 3

4 2. Alternative Solutions. 3. Construction of the inner circle of your composting unit. Sharpen the ends of your about 8 Salix branches and stick them in the ground until they are tight. The extent of the inner circle should have a range of 1,20 meters. All in all, we recommend centimetre in diameter for the inner circle - according to your needs. The decision upon the size of you composting unit is based on the amounts of compost you can supply. Large amount of compost equals large diameter of inner circle. When you finished constructing the inner circle and your pillars (spokes) of Salix branches are of equal height you may start with the basket weaving process. 4. Start with one long willow twig that will be used as you weaver, it should thinner in diameter than your spokes. The thicker end shall be placed inside of one of the spokes, hold the end of the weaver tight and lead the weaver over the outside of the next spoke. Go on in an under-and-over-weaving motion until your twig ends. Continue with a new twig until you reach the ends of your spokes at a height of about 1 meter. We recommend a dense weave to ensure a steady inner basket for your composting unit. 5. The Outer circle of your composting unit. Measure an equal distance from the outside of your inner basket of about centimetres, this measurement determines the size of your vegetable patch. With this size the inner and outer basket can be conveniently reached. 6. Sharpen the ends of your 20 Salix branches (0,5 meters in length) and drive them into the ground in order that centimetres remain above the ground. Distribute the branches evenly on the edge of the outer circle. 4

5 7. Prepare an external wicker basket as done in step Once you finished weaving the outer basket your composting unit is ready for filling. If you do not have composting material ready leave it empty for starters. 9. Start preparing the plant bed in the outer circle. Use as much ready soil compost as needed. If you only have soil of low quality you can improve it by mixing in cow dung, potting soil or fertilizer. 5

6 10. Once your composting unit is in place the Salix branches, which are working as your basket spokes, may sprout. If this happens we advise you to cut the shoots to prevent the composting baskets from overgrowing. Another way is to weave some of the shoots into the basket, this will further stabilise the baskets. 5. Ready for planting. Two ways to go forward: 1. The Compost Basket, as a planter As a planter, it is very good for those kinds of plants that like to hang, and for whom it is not advantageous if their fruits touch the ground. Strawberries and tomatoes really like it there. We also recommend zucchini, peppers, lettuce, kohlrabi, onions, garlic, etc. We can also plant spice herbs there, but since they have less need for rich soil, we suggest to place them right next to the outer basket. This is a benefit, since lavender, sage, lemon grass, calendula and mint may also help to keep pests away. 2. Compost Basket, as a cold frame In spring we can also use the composting unit as a cold frame, in this case, we construct a vault out of twigs or canes, which are used to hold a cover of clear plastic. In this case the outer circle has a different filling. We place fresh compost material and fertilizer in the lower area and in the inner circle, to warm it. We recommend the cold frame for every seed, one must only pay attention to occasional ventilation and the necessary humidity. 6

7 6. 5. Alternative Solutions Build your ow n compos ting unit to suit your specific needs! As with every farmer, every garden is different. Adapt the use and features of the composting unit according to your needs. The composting unit below uses "industrial" materials. The composting solution below is created by compost masters this "compost ship" is a true hybrid of "industrial" materials and a full organic outcome. Waste reduction, composting, gardening, planting, germination all in one place. Pictures: Composting A to Z (hungarian) : Compiled by Gregory Hankó gergely@okopack.hu 7