Backyard Composting - Softcover

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A Crash Course in Composting Composting is like cooking, with many recipes and variations. Here is the basic approach: All composting "ingredients" generally fall under one of two categories: "browns" or "greens." Browns are dry, hard materials such as wood chips, dried leaves and other plants. Greens are fresh, soft, moist materials such as grass cuttings and food scraps (avoid meats, fats and grease, as these attract rats and flies - see Worm Bins, page 52). 1.

Collect as many browns and greens as you can to start your compost pile. Larger piles tend to hold moisture better and decompose faster. 2.

Place approximately equal amounts of browns and greens in a heap or bin. Always cover food scraps with other composting materials. 3.

Soak well with water to create uniform dampness (damp as a wrung-out sponge). Cover pile with an old carpet (preferably natural fibre of wool, flax or hemp), or cardboard or plastic to keep moisture in and prevent oversoaking from rain. For quicker composting (1-3 months):

Chop materials into smaller pieces and moisten.

Alternate 3" to 6" layers of greens and browns.

Mix the pile by turning and stirring.

Make sure the heap remains moist. For slower composting (3-6 months plus):

Just keep adding materials to the pile or bin and sprinkling it with water. It's that simple! Troubleshooting:

Odours? Turn and add brown materials.

Dry pile? Add water, greens and mix.

Fruit flies? Stir and add leaves or grass. Composting Questions & Answers

What is composting?

Composting is the natural process of decomposition and recycling of organic material into a humus-rich soil amendment known as compost. Is composting considered recycling? Yes. Composting is nature's way of recycling. The Government includes composting in its definitions of recycling. Are garden clippings waste? No. Just as a glass bottle is a valuable resource, so is a pile of garden clippings. Glass is scrap material waiting to be melted and reformed, while leaves, grass, food scraps, and paper towels are organic materials waiting to be converted into compost. How much material is already home-composted in Britain? Over 400,000 tonnes a year! What percentage of the household refuse in the UK is made up of garden clippings and kitchen scraps? Approximately 30%. Why shouldn't organic materials go to the landfill? In a landfill, organic matter reacts with other materials and creates toxic leachate that may contaminate nearby streams or groundwater. Organic matter placed in airtight landfills stops the earth's natural cycle of decomposition. This cycle plays a crucial role in the health of our environment.The airless (anaerobic) conditions mean that instead of composting the materials ferment, giving off methane - an explosive, potent contributor to the greenhouse effect. Furthermore, the site is unstable and liable to subsidence. How does compost benefit the soil? Compost improves soil structure, texture and aeration and increases its water-holding capacity. It loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils retain water. Adding compost to soils aids in erosion control, promotes soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development in plants. Plants grown in compost-rich soils are stronger and more resistant to disease and pests. Research carried out by Eco-Sci of Exeter has proved that compost-grown plants are resistant to red-core in strawberries, club-root in brassicas, white rot in onions, blight in peas, and take-all and foot rot in cereals. See reference to compost tea on p58. Roman Statesman Advocated Composting The Roman statesman Marcus Cato introduced composting as a way to build soil fertility throughout the Roman Empire more than 2,000 years ago. A scientist and farmer, Cato believed in the use of compost as a primary soil builder. He considered compost production and use essential for maintaining healthy agricultural soils. Cato insisted that all raw materials such as animal manures and vegetation be composted before being ploughed into the soil. Can compost replace petroleum-based fertilizers? Yes. Generous amounts of rich compost can supply the nutrients needed for healthy plant growth. In addition, planting green cover crops such as clover or vetch can significantly boost nitrogen levels in the soil.