Adding Materials. Speeding up the Compost Process

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2 Composting Problems If your compost pile is smelly and wet, chances are it has an overabundance of anaerobic microbes. They are doing a great job of breaking down the organic material, but at the same time are creating a big stink. Usually turning your compost pile regularly will put a stop to it, and encourage the less smelly compost microorganisms to grow. If your compost is damp and warm only in the center of the pile, your pile is probably too small. Smaller piles can not generate the heat necessary for plant material to decompose. Add more material to the pile, making sure to mix the new materials with the old. Do not go too large with the pile either, as it becomes harder to manage and may not decompose uniformly. One meter, by one meter, by one meter is ideal. If the pile does not heat up, you probably have too much coarse and dry material. Add green and wet material such as grass clippings. If your pile smells like ammonia, there is too much nitrogen material (grass clippings). Add dry material like straw, leaves and dry stalks. Finished compost is usually less than half the volume of the materials you started with but it is much denser.

3 Adding Materials When adding organic waste to your compost, include a mixture of brown fibrous ingredients and greens. A good balance will ensure that composting does not take too long and that you do not end up with a slimy, smelly heap. After you have added kitchen vegetable waste, throw some leaves or grass clippings on top. This will help keep things balanced, reduce smells, and make your compost pile less attractive to critters. Speeding up the Compost Process Compost decomposes fastest between 60 to 70 degrees Celsius (120 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit), so anything that will increase the heat will cook your compost faster. Here are four tips for fast composting: 1. Chop and shred larger items, which makes it easier for the bacteria to break them down. Chop garden waste. Shred newsprint or cardboard. 2. Turn, turn, turn 3. Give your compost a `big meal` versus small snacks. Collect all your organic waste over a couple of days and then add it in one big bunch. The more you add at one time, the more your compost will heat up. 4. Keep your compost pile in the sun. The heat will speed up the process.

4 This booklet offers practical information for converting yard, garden and kitchen waste into soil building compost. Soils that include compost produce healthier plants. Adding it is a smart way to boost plant health. Making your own compost is beneficial to you, your garden and it also helps your environment by reducing the amount of organic material that literally goes to waste (and becomes waste) in your landfill. Composting can reduce yard waste that needs to be hauled to the landfill by anywhere from 50 to 70%. How to Compost Composting involves mixing yard and household organic waste in a pile or bin and providing conditions that encourage decomposition. The decomposition process is fueled by millions of microscopic organisms (bacteria, fungi) that live in your compost pile, continuously devouring and recycling it to produce a rich organic fertilizer and valuable soil amendment. All you need to know about composting is a basic understanding of a few simple principles; add a little bit of work; and nature will do the rest! Location Where you place your compost pile depends on function and aesthetics. You may construct or purchase a bin. From a functional standpoint, you will need a place with good air circulation. It is not recommended to place your compost next to your home or other wooden buildings. Partial shade is a good idea so the compost does not get overheated. Also make sure the spot of land where you place your heap gets good drainage. Close to a garden and to a water source are both good places for building your compost pile since it will be easier to move the materials to and from the garden and it will be easier to water it.

5 Temperature As they eat, the organisms responsible for composting generate large amounts of heat, which raise the temperature of the pile or compost bin and speeds up decomposition. A compost pile that is working well will produce temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees Celsius ( degrees Fahrenheit). At these temperatures almost all weed seeds and plant diseases are killed. Size Make your pile one meter by one meter by one meter. This is probably the perfect size because it is sufficient enough to cook your waste and transform it into compost, but not so large that it will become unmanageable and hard to turn. Moisture The microbes that work in the compost pile require water for survival, but it can be hard to judge how much water to add and when. Too much water means your organic waste will not decompose and you will get a slimy and smelly pile. One rule of thumb is the more green material (cut grass, weeds, leaves) you put in, the less water you will need to add. In general your compost should be moist, but not sopping wet. Aeration Oxygen is also required by many of the microorganisms responsible for successful composting. You can make sure that the bacteria in your compost get sufficient air by turning the pile often and well. With a little care, you can move the less decomposed material on the edges to the middle of the pile to heat up.

6 Using Compost The Finished Product Compost is finished when it is a dark, rich color, crumbles easily and you can not pick out any of the original ingredients. It should have a sweet earthy smell. It can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months to produce compost. Decomposition depends on a number of things including temperature, what organic matter you have put in the bin, the type of compost bin used, how fine the waster material was chopped, how often you have turned it and more. Once you have achieved finished compost, you can add it to the soil any time of year without the fear of burning plants or polluting water. The benefits of compost are numerous. It builds good soil structure, enables soil to retain nutrients, water and air; protects against drought helps maintain a neutral ph, and protects plants from many diseases commonly found in gardens. It also feeds earthworms and other microbial life in the soil. In general it does not matter what kind of soil you have. All soils can be improved with the addition of compost. One easy way to apply compost is to mulch with it. Spread the compost in a thick layer on top of exposed soil. Worms and other creatures will help the compost meld with the soil. Compost is great for mixing into the soil when you are planting a new plant. You can also use compost when potting indoor plants. Use seven part soil to three parts compost to two parts sand.

7 Compost Recipe (Here`s What to Do!) The micro-organisms that recycle leaves and other plant parts need an even mix of brown material and green material. They also need air and water to live an work. Put all this together and in time you will have compost! It is easiest to build the bin in layers. Start with brown material by spreading a layer of leaves about six inches (15 cm) thick. Add a layer of green stuff 3 to 4 inches (7-10 cm) thick. It is helpful to mix the layers a little as you make them. Then sprinkle a shovelful of soil or compost to add microorganism to the bin. Sprinkle water to wet all the ingredients. It is important to wet each layer as you build it. Repeat each of the layers until the bin is full. The microorganisms will go to work breaking down the ingredients into humus. If you want faster compost you can mix the ingredients every few weeks but this is not necessary. Now tiny microorganisms go to work breaking down the organic matter into compost. Later as the compost cools down, you may see larger organisms such as millipedes, sowbugs, earthworms and others. Compost is teeming with living things! Brown Leaves Kitchen Scraps Straw Grass Clippings Brown Leaves Green Leaves Wood Chips

8 What to Compost Organic waste is the best raw material to make compost from. This can come from your garden, lawn and kitchen. Ingredients that make good compost include: Browns = High Carbon Ashes, wood Bark Shredded Cardboard Fruit Waste Leaves Newspaper, Shredded Peanut Shells Peat Moss Pine Needles Straw Sawdust Greens = High Nitrogen Alfalfa Clover Coffee Grounds Food Waste Garden Waste Grass Clippings Hedge Clippings Manures Vegetable Scraps Materials to Avoid Coal ash, colored paper, diseased plants, inorganic materials, meat, bones, fish, fats, dairy, pet droppings, synthetic chemicals like fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.