Composting Good for Landfills and Your Backyard

Reducing waste and giving back to the earth is a growing need. One of the easiest ways to do this is to start a compost pile in your backyard. Composting is the process of turning waste into rich soil amendment called humus. Compost improves soil structure and enriches the soil with nutrients. This makes compost soil great source for the garden.

Where to place your compost pile. Before anything else it is good to decide where you will place your compost pile. A compost pile should be kept above ground in a location where it drains well. Heat is needed to help in decomposition so you may want to place that's gets shade as well as sunshine.

You will want to place it near a water source such as a water-hose since a compost pile needs to be kept moist. For convenience, you may also want to place it near your garden, but if it is unappealing for the garden you may want to put it in a more remote area. Also remember, bugs will be attracted to this pile so don't keep it near your home or your neighbors. A small corner in your back yard will do fine.

On the ground or in a bin? Depending upon where you live and your need for convenience you can just place your compost pile on the ground and cover it with a plastic bag, but this can get kind of messy in strong winds or rains and is easier access to animals.

A compost bin can be bought or homemade instead. Homemade compost bins can be made of various materials: wood, wire mesh cement blocks. As long as it has a trap door near the bottom and is at least 3 feet by 3 feet and is 3 feet high in size to get it going. Anything smaller than this will be difficult to maintain with enough heat or enough airflow.

To start the compost pile it is important to add some garden soil to the compost because the microorganisms in the soil help the compost pile decompose. Shredding or cutting up material before adding it to the compost pile will also assists the decomposition process.

What works best? Weeds, grass clippings, old leaves, mulched leaves are the most common materials added to a compost pile. Other materials that can be added are: egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds, vegetable scraps and fruit scraps. After adding any kitchen scrap cover it with leaves or grass. This will help cover up any smells.

Shredded paper, wood, fire ash, sawdust, cardboard, newspaper can be added too, but only in small portion. Too much too fast can slow down the process. A good balance to maintain in the compost is 50 wet (green)/50 dry (brown) material. Green material contains nitrogen and brown material contains carbon.

Avoid putting meat products, dairy products, weed seeds, diseased plants, oils, fat or plants that have been treated with chemicals into the pile.

Pet waste? Adding pet waste to a compost pile is up for debate. Pet waste can spread disease. Manure may contain traces of E. collie or other bacteria that can be harmful to humans, so it is probably best not to add any animal waste to the compost pile you will use for your vegetable and fruit garden.

Oxygen, moisture and heat are important. It is important not to pack the compost tightly because air needs to circulate. It is also important to turn the compost about every week to two weeks. If it is not getting enough oxygen it will begin to smell like ammonia. If it is not turned enough decomposition will take longer and will not reach as high temperatures as a mixed pile. Heat helps destroy weed seeds and pathogens. Keep the compost moist too, but not waterlogged or the organism will drown. Compost decomposes fastest between 120 and 160 F.

Once you get a good pile going you can add things in any order as long as you keep your pile covered. This will help odor from forming and will keep hungry critters out. If bugs or smells are problems add another layer of dry soil, grass clippings or leaves. Also mix the pile frequently so that the heat can destroy any fly eggs and pupae. Most of the plant disease organisms and weed seeds are killed when the center of the compost pile reaches degrees of 150-160F, but not all of them. Note that the outer parts of the compost pile are cooler than the center so make sure to mix it well.

Compost can be ready to harvest as soon as 3-6 months. The time depends on the material added and so on. Finished compost ends up with less than half of the volume of the materials you started with, but it also denser. Compost that is ready should look fluffy and dark, loose-like rich soil. It should also smell like earth. You should not be able to distinguish individual items put in the compost pile.

Remember composting reduces yard waste volume by 50 to 75 percent. When you add kitchen scraps you reduce waste even more. So get ready to give back to the earth, reduce landfill waste, grow a healthy garden, save money and feel good about yourself for composting. Don't forget to let your neighbors know that you compost. If your neighbor is anything like mine he wont compost himself, but he will be more than happy to give you all the dry leaves and kitchen scraps from his household that you ask for. He'll even help you spread the word.

Via:
Composting 101
Ecomall
Enviro Facts
Extension
Gaiam
Planet Natural