Let s Compost! Village of Weston, May 13, 2017 Speaker: Karin Sieg
But first things first! Keep composting in perspective; it s one of many management tools Try to avoid/reduce materials you generate Landscape choices? Grasscycle! ~Equals (1) fertilizer application per summer ~Does not cause thatch ~Remove only 1/3 of growth at a time Begin with the End in Mind
SaveTheFood Click below to watch a 2-minute video about the life of one strawberry. If link here doesn t work, go to www.savethefood.com.
Avoid Wasting Food 40% of food in U.S. is wasted. Consumers account for 43% of all food waste. The average American family of four spends $1,500 on food they throw away each year. Each individual tosses 20 pounds of food per month. Feed yourself and others first, then feed your compost.
Composting speeds up the natural decay of organic materials into a humus-like material called Grass clippings compost! Food scraps Leaves
Composting controls: Air / Oxygen Water Food Temperature
What is finished compost? It s NOT Dirt! It s NOT Soil! It s a Soil Amendment!
Why MAKE and USE Compost?
Soil Health Supplies organic matter Attracts earthworms Reduces erosion Increases water holding capacity - sandy soils Improves drainage - clay soils Improves soil structure
Plant Nutrients Compost is not a fertilizer, but it does contain some plant nutrients: Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Trace nutrients Released slowly to plants!
Save Money! Avoid purchasing: Soil amendments Fertilizers & pesticides Save Tax Dollars: Municipal costs for curbside pick-up & managing drop-off sites
Meet State Landfill Bans In January 1993, Wisconsin s Recycling Law banned yard waste (materials) from landfills & most incinerators. No leaves, grass clippings, garden debris or twigs, brush & branches smaller than 6 inches in diameter can go into landfills.
OK, but NOW WHAT?
Decide on Location! Sunny or Shade? Near where it will be used Minimum 2 feet away from a building Near water source, but not near a well Good drainage Enough space to store browns & to turn Check out local ordinances!
Do I make a bin? Ideal size is approximately a 3 x 3 cube ~ Retains sufficient heat ~ Piles larger than 5 x 5 x 5 are difficult to turn and become anaerobic
Do I buy a bin? Many options out there!
Is there some secret to this? Follow the Recipe, and you won t go wrong!
Ingredients & Measurements Equal Weights Different Volumes 2-3 Parts BROWN : 1 Part GREEN
BROWNS: CARBON materials Dried grass clippings Dried leaves Dried garden debris Hay / straw Paper, cardboard Small amounts twigs, brush
GREENS: NITROGREN materials Fresh grass clippings Fresh leaves Fresh garden debris Coffee grounds Kitchen scraps (vegies, fruit) Fur, hair, feathers
Please, not at home: Meat, bones or fat Dairy products Oils cooking & salad Whole branches, logs Pet or Human waste Charcoal briquette ash Sawdust from treated wood Diseased plants (unless fast composted) Persistent weeds (quack grass, chickweed, spotted knapweed) Thorny branches
Do I add anything else? Maybe I should add that compost starter stuff I saw at the hardware store? NOPE!
How Does It Work? Microbes (Bacteria, Fungi & Actinomycetes) are the Workhorses of the Compost Pile!
The Secret Life of a Microbe Food Oxygen Water Keep them Happy and they will Work for you!
Joining in: Macro Organisms Macro Organisms help finish the process. Earthworms Sow bugs Mites Springtails Beetles Millipedes & Centipedes Even Snails and Slugs!
Making a Hot Pile Mix browns & greens. Water as building the pile. Keep damp like a wrung-out sponge Turn pile every 5-7 days, moving outer material in During first few days and weeks will reach 130 140 F Get a full batch in 6 weeks 12 months Finished when pile no longer heats after turning Let it cure or mature (stand without turning) for at least 4 weeks before using finished compost Pile will be about 1/3 of original volume
Making a Cool Pile Build compost pile as materials accumulate Water and turn pile when possible Dig some finished compost from bottom or center of pile in 6-12 months Will get a full batch in 1-2 years
Home Composter Bin Demonstration
The top layer should always be CARBON! Reduces smells Discourages animals from scrounging Helps retain moisture
When is compost finished? Compost is mature when: Color is dark brown Crumbly, loose, and humus-like Earthy smell Can t recognize materials Pile has shrunk to 1/3 of original volume & doesn t reheat
Using finished compost Soil amendment Mix into top 4 to 6 inches (2 of compost) Be sure to use mature compost Surface mulch Garden / landscape Maximum 3 depth Start 3-4 from trunk Extend out to dripline
More Ideas Lawn top-dressing Sprinkle over lawn before a rain, or rake lightly to settle compost down to root level Potting mix Compost very mature & screened Mix no more than 1/3 compost by volume
Odors Rotten odor: Putrid smell or rotten egg smell Usually results from anaerobic conditions Excess moisture, compaction Turn pile, add dry porous material (browns), cover kitchen scraps Ammonia odor: Too much nitrogen (greens) Add high carbon material (browns), turn pile
Temperature Low pile temperature: ISSUE: Pile too small, cold weather, too dry, poor aeration, or lacks nitrogen Make pile bigger or insulate sides, add water, turn the pile, add greens or manure High pile temperature: ISSUE: Pile too large, insufficient ventilation Reduce pile size, turn
Animals Pests: raccoons, rats, insects ISSUE: meat scraps or fatty food waste, rotten odors, fresh foods not mixed in Cover pile with 2-3 of CARBON Compost in an animal-proof bin Use worm composting indoors
Thank You! Questions? Call Marathon County s Solid Waste & Recycling Info. Line 877-270-3989