Do-It-Yourself Composting

Have you ever thought about composting but was not sure where to begin? If so here is everything that you need to know to begin composting. From what you can compost, methods you can use, and even how to build your own composter for much less than buying one new. Here is all you need to know about do-it-yourself composting.

Let's start with what is composting. In simple terms composting is the breaking down, or decomposition, of biodegradable matter. Composting happens naturally anywhere that plants grow. When leaves, flowers, and other parts of the plants fall to the ground they begin to decompose. The nutrients stored in these plants are then released into the soil to aid the growth of other plants. Composting at home is controlling the decomposition of the matter rather than letting nature take its course. By maintaining the materials being composted and using various methods the natural breaking down is sped up to quickly produce the rich substance perfect for houseplants and gardens.

You might be asking "Why composting?" Choosing to compost your scraps and using the results in your garden has several benefits for both you and the earth. Adding composted scraps can give you healthier, stronger plants from the improved soil that it creates. The soil becomes lighter and more absorbant, it can soften extreme alkaline or acidic soil, it increases micronutrients in the soil such as copper and magnesium, and it improves water penetration in sandy or clay soils. not to mention that earthworms love it, and earthworms are great for any garden as they aerate the soil and their castings are a great source of nutrients.

Composting is also great for the earth in that waste that was once headed to the landfill is now being used in your garden. By composting you can reduce your waste output, which not only reduces pollution it also means less space that is being used as landfill. Imagine if everyone composted their scraps how much less trash would be generated!

Composting will also save you money. If you are finding yourself buying special fertilizers, soil amendments, and chemicals for pests you can benefit financially by using composting. Plants grown in soil with compost are healthier, more resistant to pests, and exhibit resistance to some diseases. Because the soil is more absorbant you also will use much less water in your garden, which can also save you money.

There are several things that you can compost that you use in your home every day. Egg shells, coffee and tea grinds, and left over fruits and vegetables all decompose wonderfully and are common household waste. From your yard you can add in leaves, cut grass, and any dead plants. Even ashes and some animal dung, such as cow or rabbit manure, can be added to your composting pile with great results. Even things that you would normally toss in the trash you can find a second life for by composting. Matches, old receipts, hair clippings, stale bread, shredded newspaper, the list goes on. The only things that you cannot use are thing that do not decompose quickly or have no nutrient value. Plastic, glass, metal, meat, and rock are the few things that you cannot compost. When you see how much garbage you could save by composting it almost seems silly not to.

There are several different ways that people choose to compost. Some prefer the passive approach of putting the scraps in a pile and letting them naturally decompose over time, and some prefer a more hands-on method of constant maintainence and adjusting. Most composters use methods that are more in the center of those two extremes.

One common way of composting is called vermicompost. This method uses worms to break down and add nutrients to the composting matter. The worms eat the material and breaks it down, it is then passed out as casings which are then harvested to use in your garden. when you are using worms it is important to know that raw fruits and vegetables work best. Meats, oils, and dairy products take longer to break down and can attract pests. Because many cooked fruits and vegetables are coated in oils or butters, it is generally safer to stick with raw.

To set up a vermicompost bin all you need is a box, moist shredded paper such as newspaper, and the worms. Red worms are the preferred worms, such as Eisenia foetida or Lumbricus rubellus. Worms can be ordered and shipped from many worms farms easily if you cannot find them locally. A five to ten gallon box is a good size for doing vermicomposting. The box should be shallow, as worms generally prefer to stay in the top six inches of the compost. You will also need a loose fitting lid to cover the box but still allow air to get inside. Vermicomposting usually takes between three to five months for most of the material to be composted. When you notice that the box is full of composted material and very little bedding you can harvest out your compost and start anew. You can either push all of the composted material to one side, fill the empty space with new material, and wait for the worms to migrate over and leave the compost, or you can take a more hands on approach such as dumping your box onto a plastic tarp and picking your worms out manually to put back in to the box with new material.

Another method of composting is the simple pile. In this method a heap is created from the materials, often layered in a certain pattern and turned every six weeks to allow air penetration. This method takes roughly three months to be prepared for the soil. The basic "recipe" for the heap is a layer of green matter such as weeds and leaves, then a layer of manure, and topped with a layer of soil. The layers are piled up in order until the heap is about five feet, then the entire pile is watered. Though many prefer to mix the materials rather than layering them, as this helps the decomposition be more complete and only needs to be turned once rather than twice.

For faster composting many grind or shred all of the material before mixing it into the heap. The smaller the pieces are the more surface area they have. The shredded pieces are mixed together and piled five feet high, then turned every three days for two weeks. At the end of this two weeks the pile is ready to be used. For some this faster method is much more preferable if you need to have your composting ready soon or do not want to deal with the heap for weeks into months.

If having a pile of material composting in your yard sounds unsettling, you are not alone. Bin composting is very popular for many composters today. You can easily build your own, or buy one of several different styles available. To make a ton of compost you only need a space that is four feet square by four feet high. A box made out of chicken wire, old fencing, boards, or even bricks can be easily attained. All you need to do is make sure that one side opens easily for you to be able to turn and harvest the compost. Besides being compact and neat, another advantage is that you can insulate the bin and continue composting during the winter when it would normally be too cold to work.

While it may seem as easy as just tossing in your day to day scraps, there are some important things you need to know about composting in order to get the best effect. Carbon and nitrogen are two very important elements in composting. A good ratio of 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen is essential for efficient composting.With too little nitrogen the composting process can slow down, and too much can cause a strong odor to come from your composting. Leave and fresh grass are great sources of carbon that you can add or remove from your composting to fix the balance. Oxygen is another important element you need to be aware of. The decomposition used the available oxygen to break down efficiently. Having proper ventilation to your composting and turning your pile helps to get fresh oxygen through out the material. Keeping your compost oxygenated also helps to cut back on the unpleasant odors that can happen.

You should also consider surface area, moisture, and temperature when planning your composting. Microorganisms in the compost pile help break down the material quickly and efficiently. Shredding, chopping, or mowing your material into smaller pieces gives them more surface area with which to work. Moisture is also important for the microorganisms in your pile. Your composting should have a moisture content of 40 to 60 percent, too much moisture will slow the microorganisms ability to work and can cause a strong odor to come from your pile. Too little moisture can cause the microorganisms to become dormant and stop working. The temperature of your composting pile is also something important to be aware of. As the pile breaks down heat is generated. A temperature between 90 degrees and 140 degrees F (32 degrees -60 degrees C) is the ideal temperature for your composting. If the temperatures are too high or too low many of the microorganisms may stop breaking down the material.

Composting is a great way to enrich your garden, reduce your waste, and save yourself money on gardening supplies. No matter which method you choose or how much you choose to compost you can gain from the many benefits it has to offer. Now that you know the basics of composting I hope that you all consider it for your own homes and gardens.