Compost Ingredients

Garden Supply Stores And Catalogs Often Sell Compost "Starters," Which Supposedly Speed Up The Composting Process. Develop A
Recipe For A Compost Starter And Design A Research Project To Test Its Effect On The Compost Temperature Profile.

How Well Do Human Nutrition Concepts Apply To Compost Microorganisms? For Example, Will The Microbes Get A "Sugar High,"
Demonstrated By A Quick, High Temperature Peak When Fed Sugary Foods, Compared With A Longer But Lower Peak For More
Complex Carbohydrates?

Measure The Ph Of A Number Of Different Compost Mixes. How Does The Ph Of Initial Ingredients Affect The Ph Of Finished
Compost?

Some Instructions Call For Adding Lime To Increase The Ph When Compost Ingredients Are Mixed. Other Instructions Caution To
Avoid This Because It Causes A Loss Of Nitrogen. How Does Adding Various Amounts Of Lime To The Initial Ingredients Affect The
Ph Of Finished Compost?

Microorganisms

Composting Recipes Sometimes Call For Inoculating The Pile By Mixing In A Few Handfuls Of Finished Compost. Is There Any
Observable Difference In Appearance Of Microbes Between Systems That Have And Have Not Been Inoculated?

Does The Ph Of The Initial Compost Ingredients Affect The Populations Of Microorganisms During Composting?

Compost Physics

What Type Of Insulation Works Best For Soda Bottle Bioreactors? Does It Help To Have A Reflective Layer? Do Different Insulative
Materials Or Different Thicknesses Affect The Temperature Profile?

When Constructing Compost Bins Or Piles, Some People Incorporate Perforated Pipe, Wire Mesh, Or Other Systems To Increase
Passive Air Flow. What Is The Effect Of Different Methods Of Aeration On The Temperature Profile Of Any One Compost System?

How Do Various Means And Schedules For Turning A Pile Affect The Temperature Profile And The Time Needed For Production Of
Finished Compost?

What Is The Effect Of Forced Aeration (With An Aquarium Pump Or Similar Apparatus) On The Temperature Profile In A Soda Bottle
Or A Two-Can Bioreactor?

Try Mixing The Same Ingredients In A Large Outdoor Pile, A Two-Can Bioreactor, And A Soda Bottle Bioreactor. Which System
Reaches The Hottest Temperatures? Which Remains Hot The Longest? How Does This Affect The Compost Produced?

What Is The Effect Of Layering Versus Mixing Organic Ingredients On The Compost Pile Temperature Profile?

Worm Composting

Do Organic Wastes In Compost Break Down More Readily In The Presence Of Worms Than Through Composting That Depends Solely
On Microbial Decomposition?

In Some Experiments, Plants Have Not Show Increased Growth When Planted In Fresh Worm Castings. Does Aging Or "Curing" Worm
Castings Increase Their Ability To Enhance Plant Growth? Are There Chemical Differences Between Fresh And Older Worm Castings?
Should Worm Compost Be Mixed With Soil Before Being Used To Grow Plants?

How Do Different Food Sources Affect Reproductive And Growth Rates Of Red Worms (Eisenia Fetida)?

Red Worms Grow Best In Wastes With Ph Between 5.0 And 8.0. How Sensitive Are Their Cocoons To Ph? Will They Hatch After
Being Exposed To Extreme Ph? How Sensitive Are They To Extreme Drought Or Temperatures?

Effects Of Compost On Plant Growth

Some Leaves, Such As Those Of Black Walnut Or Eucalyptus Trees, Contain Chemicals That Inhibit Growth Of Other Plants. Are
These Compounds Broken Down By Composting?

Finished Compost Is Near Neutral Ph. Can You Design An Experiment To Answer One Or More Of The Following Questions: Is
Compost Detrimental To Use On Acid-Loving Plants Such As Blueberries Or Azaleas? Does Compost Buffer The Soil Ph, Making It
Harder To Provide Acidic Conditions? How Does It Compare To Peat Moss In This Regard?

Water In Which Compost Has Been Soaked (Often Called Compost Tea) Is Said To Be Beneficial To Plants. Can You Design
Experiments To Test Whether Different Types, Concentrations, And Amounts Of Compost Tea Enhance Plant Growth?

In China, Farmers Dig Parallel Trenches And Fill Them With Organic Wastes Mixed With Cocoons Of Eisenia Fetida. Soybeans Planted
In Rows Between The Trenches Are Highly Productive. Can You Design And Test A Planting System Using Vermicompost?
Project Objectives

The Main Objective Of The Project Is To Develop An Integrated And Environmentally Sound Waste Management System, Which The
Target Groups And The Final Beneficiaries Of The Project Will Benefit Of Its Results And Specific Objectives In Terms Of:

1. To Develop An Integrated And Environmentally Organic Waste Management System That Ensures The Adequate Collection And
Treatment With Sustainable Methods, In Tourist Areas With Close Agricultural Activity.
2. To Involve The Different Necessary Stakeholders To Ensure The Proper Application Of The Project: Municipalities, Tourist
Activities, “Existing Recyclers” And Farmers, Collection And Treatment Companies And Other Complementary Agents.
3. To Enhance The Knowledge And Good Practices Of The Stakeholders Involved

In General, The Project Brings A Contribution To The Overall Sustainability Of The Area: Improvement Of Overall Waste Management
In The Area; Increased Recycling Levels And Reduction Of Organic Waste In Landfills; Obtaining A Quality Compost To Be Used As
An Organic Amendment That Contributes To Improve Soil Fertility, To Stop The Desertification Process And To Capture Carbon In
Soil. These Factors Add Up To The Climate Change Mitigation (Reduction Of Biogas Generated In Landfills), To The Use Of
Resources (Closing The Cycle Of Organic Fraction) Or Reducing The Overall Impact Of Landfills (Including The Reduced Capacity Of
Needs).

Main Goals Launching The Program

1. Creating A Change In Perception And Raising A Global Awareness For The Long Term.
2. Implementing The Process In House Works, Farms And Among The Tourist Sector Around The Globe, By Efficiency And
Improvement Of Recycling Services.
3. Making The Young Generation A Change Agent Of The Environmental Change.

In General, The Project Brings:

 Contribution To The Overall Sustainability Of The Area

 Improvement Of Overall Waste Management In The Area
 Increased Recycling Levels And Reduction Of Organic Waste In Landfills
 Obtaining A Quality Compost To Be Used As An Organic Amendment That Contributes To Improve Soil Fertility
 To Stop The Desertification Process And To Capture Carbon In Soil.
 These Factors Add Up To The Climate Change Mitigation (Reduction Of Biogas Generated In Landfills), To The Use Of Resources
(Closing The Cycle Of Organic Fraction) Or Reducing The Overall Impact Of Landfills (Including The Reduced Capacity Of Needs).

Compost Is Decomposed Organic Material, Such As Leaves, Grass Clippings, And Kitchen Waste. It Provides Many Essential
Nutrients For Plant Growth And Therefore Is Often Used As Fertilizer. Compost Also Improves Soil Structure So That Soil
Can Easily Hold The Correct Amount Of Moisture, Nutrients And Air. It Improves The Texture Of Both Clay Soils And Sandy
Soils, Making Either Type Rich, Moisture Retentive, And Loamy.

Compost Is One Of Nature’s Best Mulches And Soil Amendments. Most Gardeners Know The Value Of This Rich, Dark,
Earthy Material In Improving The Soil And Creating A Healthful Environment For Plants. Understanding How To Make
And Use Compost Is In The Public Interest, As The Problem Of Waste Disposal Continues To Grow.

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A Few Of The Many Benefits Of Compost Are:

 Reduction In Garbage Volume.

 A Rich, Natural Fertilizer Cuts Back On Use Of Chemical Fertilizers.
  Improves Soil Aeration And Drainage.
 Helps Control Weeds.
 Decreases The Need For Costly Watering.

The Following Tips Are From The River Keepers, And For More Information On Building Your Own Composter, Go
To Riverkeepers.Org.

 As Soon As Decomposition Begins, The Volume Of The Pile Will Decrease. Don’t Be Tempted To Add More Materials
At This Point, As This Resets The Clock On That Batch.
 You Will Maximize Your Composting Efforts If You Aerate By Turning Or Mixing The Heap About Once A Week. A
Garden Fork Or Hay Fork Work Well.
 Finished Compost Is Usually Less Than Half The Volume Of The Materials You Started With, But It’s Much Denser.
When Finished It Should Look, Feel And Smell Like Rich, Dark Soil. You Should Not Be Able To Recognize Any Of
The Items You Originally Placed In The Pile.

Here’s Some Ways To Use Finished Compost:

 Mix Compost Into The Soil To Improve It.

 Spread Compost On Lawn To Fill In Low Spots.
 Use As Mulch For Landscaping And Gardening.
 Mix Compost Into Potted Plants.
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Key Materials For Composting Are Nitrogen-Rich ‘Greens’ And Carbon-Rich ‘Browns,’ Water, And Air. Examples Of Greens
Are Green Leaves, Coffee Grounds/Filters, Tea Bags, Plant Trimming, Fruit And Vegetable Scraps, Eggshells And Fresh
Grass Clippings. Examples Of Browns Are Dead Plants, Sawdust From Untreated Lumber, Twigs, And Dried Grasses,
Weeds, Straw And Leaves. Water Allows Microbes In Your Compost To Grow And Help Decompose Material. The Compost
Should Be Moist. Air Aids In Decomposition And Controls Odours. A Good Recipe Is One Part Green To Four Parts Brown.

Here’s Some Ways To Use Finished Compost:

 Mix Compost Into The Soil To Improve It.

 Spread Compost On Lawn To Fill In Low Spots.
 Use As Mulch For Landscaping And Gardening.
 Mix Compost Into Potted Plants.
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Key Materials For Composting Are Nitrogen-Rich ‘Greens’ And Carbon-Rich ‘Browns,’ Water, And Air. Examples Of Greens
Are Green Leaves, Coffee Grounds/Filters, Tea Bags, Plant Trimming, Fruit And Vegetable Scraps, Eggshells And Fresh
Grass Clippings. Examples Of Browns Are Dead Plants, Sawdust From Untreated Lumber, Twigs, And Dried Grasses,
Weeds, Straw And Leaves. Water Allows Microbes In Your Compost To Grow And Help Decompose Material. The Compost
Should Be Moist. Air Aids In Decomposition And Controls Odours. A Good Recipe Is One Part Green To Four Parts Brown.

Worm Farm Composting

Worm Farm Composting For Many Is The Most Common And Preferred Choice Of Composting Because Of Their
Capabilities To Grow Worms, Produce Compost And Compost Tea And Keep Rats Out Of Your Compost.
The Worms Produce Castings Concentrated With Nutrients Lower In Nitrogen Compared To Other Composting
Methods.

Worm Farms Can Be Utilized Even If You Have No Garden.

I Think Everyone Has Tried At Some Point In Time To Make Their Own Worm Farm With Varying Degrees Of
Success Using Anything They Can Find That Is Cheap.

Do Not House Them In Metal Containers As Copper Leaches Out, Which Is Toxic To Your Worms.

I Personally Have Tried Foam Containers Only To Find The Worm Juice Eats Out The Foam So They Leak
Everywhere.

Unless You Have Them On The Ground Somewhere So The Nutrients Can Go Directly Into The Soil You End Up With
A Big Mess.

If You Use Plastic Containers You Can Collect The Juice But Then You Have To Add A Tap To Drain It Off Or Some
Way Of Rotating The Containers To Collect The Worm Tea.

They Need To Be Kept Out Of The Sun, Frost, And Rain, And Somewhere That’s Not Too Cold Either.

tWorms Are Temperamental Little Critters And Will Try And Escape Their Containers If The Conditions Are Not
Right And They Are Not Happy.
It Is Said That You Should Use Local Worms For Your Area. I Personally Have No Experience With This So You
Would Have To Try Worms From Other Areas To Know For Sure If They Will Survive.

Compost Is The Single Most Important Supplement You Can Give Your Garden. It’s A Simple Way To Add Nutrient-Rich Humus To
Your Lawn Or Garden That Fuels Plant Growth And Restores Vitality To Depleted Soil. It's Also Free, Easy To Make, And Good For
The Environment. But Composting Also Has Other Benefits.
Composting Benefits what To Compost definitely Do Not Put In Your Compost how To Compost how To Choose A Composter
simplest Composting Methods enclosed Composting Bins build Your Own Compost Bin tips For Successful Composting buy A
Compost Bin
Composting Benefits
Soil Conditioner
With Compost, You Are Creating Rich Humus For Your Lawn And Garden. This Adds Nutrients To Your Plants And Helps Retain Soil
Moisture. They Don’t Call It “Black Gold” For Nothing.

Compost Is The Single Most Important Supplement You Can Give Your Garden.
Recycles Kitchen And Yard Waste
Composting Can Divert As Much As 30% Of Household Waste Away From The Garbage Can. That’s Important Because When Organic
Matter Hits The Landfill, It Lacks The Air It Needs To Decompose Quickly. Instead, It Creates Harmful Methane Gas As It Breaks
Down, Increasing The Rate Of Global Warming And Climate Change.

Introduces Beneficial Organisms To The Soil

Microscopic Organisms In Compost Help Aerate The Soil, Break Down Organic Materials For Plant Use, And Ward Off Plant Disease.

Good For The Environment

Composting Offers A Natural Alternative To Chemical Fertilizers When Applied To Lawns And Garden Beds.

Reduces Landfill Waste

Most Landfills In North America Are Quickly Filling Up; Many Have Already Closed Down. One-Third Of Landfill Waste Is Made Up
Of Compostable Materials. Diverting This Waste From The Landfill Means That Our Landfills Will Last Longer (And So Will Our Wild
Spaces).

Related: Best Compost Bins And Tumblers Reviewed

What To Compost
What You Can Put Into Your Compost Will Depend Somewhat On What Kind Of Composter You Have, But Some General Rules Do
Apply. All Compostable Materials Are Either Carbon Or Nitrogen-Based, To Varying Degrees. The Secret To A Healthy Compost Pile
Is To Maintain A Working Balance Between These Two Elements.
The Secret To A Healthy Compost Pile: Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio
Carbon
Carbon-Rich Matter (Like Branches, Stems, Dried Leaves, Peels, Bits Of Wood, Bark Dust Or Sawdust Pellets, Shredded Brown Paper
Bags, Corn Stalks, Coffee Filters, Coffee Grounds, Conifer Needles, Egg Shells, Straw, Peat Moss, Wood Ash) Gives Compost Its Light,
Fluffy Body.

A Healthy Compost Pile Should Have Much More Carbon Than Nitrogen.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen Or Protein-Rich Matter (Manures, Food Scraps, Green Lawn Clippings, Kitchen Waste, And Green Leaves) Provides Raw
Materials For Making Enzymes.

A Healthy Compost Pile Should Have Much More Carbon Than Nitrogen. A Simple Rule Of Thumb Is To Use One-Third Green And
Two-Thirds Brown Materials. The Bulkiness Of The Brown Materials Allows Oxygen To Penetrate And Nourish The Organisms That
Reside There. Too Much Nitrogen Makes For A Dense, Smelly, Slowly Decomposing Anaerobic Mass. Good Composting Hygiene
Means Covering Fresh Nitrogen-Rich Material, Which Can Release Odors If Exposed To Open Air, With Carbon-Rich Material, Which
Often Exudes A Fresh, Wonderful Smell. If In Doubt add more carbon

This Table Details How The Items In Your Compost Are Likely To Be Classified:

Material Carbon/Nitrogen Information

Wood Chips / Pellets Carbon High Carbon Levels; Use Sparingly

Wood Ash Carbon Only Use Ash From Clean Materials; Sprinkle Lightly

Tea Leaves Nitrogen Loose Or In Bags

Table Scraps Nitrogen Add With Dry Carbon Items

Straw Or Hay Carbon Straw Is Best; Hay (With Seeds) Is Less Ideal

Shrub Prunings Carbon Woody Prunings Are Slow To Break Down

Shredded Paper Carbon Avoid Using Glossy Paper And Colored Inks

Seaweed And Kelp Nitrogen Apply In Thin Layers; Good Source For Trace Minerals

Sawdust Pellets Carbon High Carbon Levels; Add In Layers To Avoid Clumping

Pine Needles Carbon Acidic; Use In Moderate Amounts

Material Carbon/Nitrogen Information

Newspaper Carbon Avoid Using Glossy Paper And Colored Inks

Leaves Carbon Leaves Break Down Faster When Shredded

Lawn & Garden Weeds Nitrogen Only Use Weeds Which Have Not Gone To Seed

Green Comfrey Leaves Nitrogen Excellent Compost 'Activator'

Grass Clippings Nitrogen Add In Thin Layers So They Don't Mat Into Clumps

Garden Plants -- Use Disease-Free Plants Only

Fruit And Vegetable Scraps Nitrogen Add With Dry Carbon Items

Flowers, Cuttings Nitrogen Chop Up Any Long Woody Stems

Eggshells Neutral Best When Crushed

Dryer Lint Carbon Best If From Natural Fibers

Corn Cobs, Stalks Carbon Slow To Decompose; Best If Chopped Up

Coffee Grounds Nitrogen Filters May Also Be Included

Chicken Manure Nitrogen Excellent Compost 'Activator'

Cardboard Carbon Shred Material To Avoid Matting

 Is There Anything I Definitely Shouldn’t Put In My Compost?

 Do Not Compost Meat, Bones, Or Fish Scraps (They Will Attract Pests) Unless You Are Using A Composter Designed
Specifically For This Purpose. The Green Cone Solar Waste Digester Is One Good Example.
 Avoid Composting Perennial Weeds Or Diseased Plants, Since You Might Spread Weed Seeds Or Diseases When
Spreading Your Compost.
 Don’t Include Pet Manures In Compost That Will Be Used On Food Crops.

 Banana Peels, Peach Peels, And Orange Rinds May Contain Pesticide Residues And Should Be Kept Out Of The Compost.
 Black Walnut Leaves Should Not Be Composted.
 Sawdust May Be Added To The Compost, But Should Be Mixed Or Scattered Thinly To Avoid Clumping. Be Sure Sawdust
Is Clean, With No Machine Oil Or Chain Oil Residues From Cutting Equipment.

Tip: Storing Compost In The Kitchen

To Store Kitchen Waste Until You’re Ready To Transfer It To Your Composter, Keep A Container With A Lid And A Handle Under
The Sink. A Stainless Steel Compost Pail With An Carbon Filter Or A Ceramic Model Will Cut Down On Odors. If You Don’t Mind
Occasional Smells, Use An Old Ice-Cream Pail. Chop Up Any Large Chunks Before You Toss Them In.

A Word About Yard Waste

With Yard And Garden Wastes, Different Composting Materials Will Decompose At Different Rates, But They Will All Break Down
Eventually. If You Want To Speed Up The Composting Process, Chop The Larger Material Into Smaller Pieces. Leaves And Grass
Clippings Are Also Excellent For Compost But Should Be Sprinkled Into The Bin With Other Materials, Or Dug In To The Center Of
The Pile And Mixed. Avoid Putting Them On In Thick Layers – They Will Mat Together And Reduce Aeration, Which Slows The
Composting Process.

Adding Garden Soil To Your Compost Will Help To Mask Any Odors, And Microorganisms In The Soil Will Accelerate The
Composting Process.
Composting Leaves
If You Have Too Many Leaves To Incorporate Into The Compost Bin, You Can Simply Compost The Pile Of Leaves By Itself. Locate
The Pile Where Drainage Is Adequate; A Shaded Area Will Help Keep The Pile From Drying Out.

The Leaf Pile Should Be At Least 4′ In Diameter And 3′ In Height. Include A Layer Of Dirt Between Each Foot Of Leaves. The Pile
Should Be Damp Enough That When A Sample Taken From The Interior Is Squeezed By Hand, A Few Drops Of Moisture Will Appear.
The Pile Should Not Be Packed Too Tightly.

The Pile Will Compost In 4 – 6 Months, With The Material Being Dark And Crumbly. Leaf Compost Is Best Used As An Organic Soil
Amendment And Conditioner; It Is Not Normally Used As A Fertilizer Because It Is Low In Nutrients. For More Information, Read Use
Autumn Leaves To Keep Your Compost Working Through The Winter

Tip: Leaf-Mould Tea

Use Leaves To Make A Nutritious “Tea” For Your Plants. Simply Wrap A Small Pile Of Leaves In Burlap And Immerse In A Garbage
Can Or Large Bucket Of Water. Leave For Three Days, Then Remove The “Tea Bag” And Dump Contents Into The Compost. Scoop
Out The Enriched Water With A Smaller Bucket And Use To Water Your Plants And Shrubs.

Related: 10 Pro Composting Tips From Expert Gardeners

How To Compost

1. Start Your Compost Pile On Bare Earth. This Allows Worms And Other Beneficial Organisms To Aerate The Compost And Be
Transported To Your Garden Beds.
2. Lay Twigs Or Straw First, A Few Inches Deep. This Aids Drainage And Helps Aerate The Pile.
3. Add Compost Materials In Layers, Alternating Moist And Dry. Moist Ingredients Are Food Scraps, Tea Bags, Seaweed, Etc. Dry Materials
Are Straw, Leaves, Sawdust Pellets And Wood Ashes. If You Have Wood Ashes, Sprinkle In Thin Layers, Or They Will Clump Together
And Be Slow To Break Down.
4. Add Manure, Green Manure (Clover, Buckwheat, Wheatgrass, Grass Clippings) Or Any Nitrogen Source. This Activates The Compost Pile
And Speeds The Process Along.
5. Keep Compost Moist. Water Occasionally, Or Let Rain Do The Job.
6. Cover With Anything You Have – Wood, Plastic Sheeting, Carpet Scraps. Covering Helps Retain Moisture And Heat, Two Essentials For
Compost. Covering Also Prevents The Compost From Being Over-Watered By Rain. The Compost Should Be Moist, But Not Soaked And
Sodden.
7. Turn. Every Few Weeks Give The Pile A Quick Turn With A Pitchfork Or Shovel. This Aerates The Pile. Oxygen Is Required For The
Process To Work, And Turning “Adds” Oxygen. You Can Skip This Step If You Have A Ready Supply Of Coarse Material Like Straw. Once
You’ve Established Your Compost Pile, Add New Materials By Mixing Them In, Rather Than By Adding Them In Layers. Mixing, Or
Turning, The Compost Pile Is Key To Aerating The Composting Materials And Speeding The Process To Completion. If You Want To Buy
 A Composter, Rather Than Build Your Own Compost Pile, You May Consider A Buying A Rotating Compost Tumbler Which Makes It Easy
To Mix The Compost Regularly.

Related: How To Use Finished Compost

How To Choose A Composter

Choosing What Type Of Composter Will Work Best For You Involves Considering Three Main Factors:

1. Where You Live

2. What You’ll Be Composting
3. Whether You Want To Turn Your Compost Manually Or Not

Where Do You Live? What Will You Be Composting The Most?

Composting Mostly Composting Kitchen Composting Lots Of

Kitchen Scraps Scraps Plus Some Yard Waste
Yard Waste

Urban (No Outdoor Worm Bin

Space) (Vermicomposting)

Urban (Some Outdoor Worm Bin Or Compost Tumbler

Space, Patio, Or Compost Tumbler
Balcony)

Suburban (With Yard) Enclosed Bin Or Enclosed Bin Or Enclosed Or Diy Bin
Compost Tumbler Compost Tumbler
 Where Do You Live? What Will You Be Composting The Most?

Rural (With Enclosed Bin, Or Open Compost Pile, Open Compost Pile
Yard/Acreage) Compost Tumbler Enclosed Bin, Or Or Multiple
Tumbler Enclosed Bins

If You’re Prepared To Turn Your Compost Every 1-2 Weeks And You Live In An Area With Access To Outdoor Space And Carbon
Rich Materials, Enclosed Bins Or Open Compost Piles Could Work For You. If You Live In An Urban Environment Or Your Back Isn’t
Ready For All That Turning, Compost Tumblers Or A Worm Composter Are Options Worth Considering. Read On To Learn More
About Each Of These Compost Systems And Other Composting Tips.

Related: Worm Composting Basics For Beginners

Simplest Composting Methods

“No-Turn” Composting
The Biggest Chore With Composting Is Turning The Pile From Time To Time. However, With ‘No-Turn Composting’, Your Compost
Can Be Aerated Without Turning.

The Secret Is To Thoroughly Mix In Enough Coarse Material, Like Straw, When Building The Pile. The Compost Will Develop As Fast
As If It Were Turned Regularly, And Studies Show That The Nitrogen Level May Be Even Higher Than With Turned Compost.

With ‘No-Turn’ Composting, Add New Materials To The Top Of The Pile, And Harvest Fresh Compost From The Bottom Of The Bin.
This Can Be Easily Done In An Aerobin Composter, Or A Eco King Compost Bin. Which Brings Us To …

Enclosed Compost Bins

For Small-Scale Outdoor Composting, Enclosed Bins Are The Most Practical. Enclosed Bins Include:

 Diy Compost Bin

The Least Expensive Method Is To Build One Yourself From A Heavy-Duty Garbage Can. Simply Drill 1.5-Cm Aeration Holes In
Rows At Roughly 15-Cm Intervals Around The Can. Fill The Can With A Mixture Of High-Carbon And High-Nitrogen Materials (See
Our Table Above). Stir The Contents Occasionally To Avoid Anaerobic Pockets And To Speed Up The Composting Process. If The Lid
Is Secure, The Bin Can Be Laid On Its Side And Rolled; A Length Of 2″ Cedar ( Use A 2×2 Or A 2×4) Can Be Bolted To The Inside,
Running Top To Bottom, To Help Flip The Material. Without This, The Contents Tend To Stay In Place While The Bin Is Rolled.

 Standard Compost Bins/Digesters

Another Option Is A Compost Bin, Sometimes Called A ‘Compost Digester’. Compost Bins Are Enclosed On The Sides And Top, And
Open On The Bottom So They Sit Directly On The Ground. These Are Common Composting Units For Homes In Residential Areas
Where Bins Tend To Be Smaller, Yet Enclosed Enough To Discourage Pests. These Bins Are Inexpensive, But It Is Difficult To Turn
The Compost, So It Can Take Several Months To Produce Compost. These Bins Are Thin-Walled Plastic, And May Chip Along The
Edges, Especially During A Freeze.

 Food Waste Digester

These Countertop ‘Composters’ Grind And Dehydrate Food Waste Rather Than Decomposing It. The Process Takes As Little As Three
Hours, Leaving You With An Odor-Free Material Suitable For Garden Fertilizer. When Finished, Bury The Resulting Material Beneath
The Soil Surface, Where The Decomposition Process Kicks In–To The Benefit Of Your Plants.

 Tumblers
The Most Efficient Enclosed Bin Method Is The Compost Tumbler. It’s Possible To Maintain Relatively High Temperatures In
Drum/Tumbler Systems, Both Because The Container Acts As Insulation And Because The Turning Keeps The Microbes Aerated And
Active. Some Designs Provide An Interior “Paddle” Or “Aeration Spikes” Which Help Bring Air Into The Compost And Prevent
Clumping Of The Composting Materials. Other Designs Have Holes On The Ends For Aeration. This Greatly Speeds Up The
Composting Process.

An Enclosed ‘Tumbler’ System Offer The Following Benefits:

 Speeds Up The Composting Process

 Composts Year-Round Due To Higher Internal Temperature
 Can’t Be Accessed By Rodents, Raccoons, Dogs, Or Other Critters
 Keeps Compost Neatly Enclosed And Odor-Free; Well-Suited For Residential Areas And Large Apartment Terraces Or Patios

To Learn More, See Compost Tumblers: Comparing Different Compost Tumbler Models
Visit Our Shop For More Information Or To Buy A Compost Tumbler.

Tips For Successful Composting

Activate Your Compost
‘Activators’ Can Be Added To Your Compost To Help Kick-Start Decomposition And Speed Up Composting. Common
Compost Activators Include: Comfrey Leaves, Grass Clippings, Young Weeds, And Well-Rotted Chicken Manure. You Can
Also Buy Inoculant At Your Local Garden Center, Though A Shovel Full Of Finished Compost From Another Pile Works Just
As Well.

Flying Insects Attracted To Your Compost?

Small Fruit Flies Are Naturally Attracted To The Compost Pile. Discourage Them By Covering Any Exposed Fruit Or
Vegetable Matter. Keep A Small Pile Of Grass Clippings Next To Your Compost Bin, And When You Add New Kitchen
Waste To The Pile, Cover It With One Or Two Inches Of Clippings. Adding Lime Or Calcium Will Also Discourage Flies.

Unpleasant Odors From Your Compost Pile?

This Can Be A Concern In Urban And Suburban Areas With Small Lots And Neighbors Living Close By. Reduce Or
Eliminate Odors By Following Two Practices: First, Remember To Not Put Bones Or Meat Scraps Into The Compost;
Second, Cover New Additions To The Compost Pile With Dry Grass Clippings Or Similar Mulch. Adding Lime Or Calcium
Will Also Neutralize Odors. If The Compost Smells Like Ammonia, Add Carbon-Rich Elements Such As Straw, Peat Moss,
Or Dried Leaves. See 7 Signs Your Compost Is Struggling And What You Can Do About It.

Is Your Compost Pile Steaming?

No Problem. A Hot, Steamy Pile Means That You Have A Large Community Of Microscopic Critters Working Away At
Making Compost.

Is Your Compost Pile Soggy?

This Is A Common Problem, Especially In Winter, When Carbon-Based Materials Are In Short Supply. To Solve This Problem, You’ll
Need To Restore Your Compost To A Healthy Nitrogen-Carbon Balance. To Learn How Restore Your Compost Pile, Read Our
Article How To Fix A Soggy Compost Pile.

Matted Leaves, Grass Clippings Clumping Together?

This Is A Common Problem With Materials Thrown Into The Composter. The Wet Materials Stick Together And Slow The Aeration
Process. There Are Two Simple Solutions: Either Set These Materials To The Side Of The Composter And Add Them Gradually With
Other Ingredients, Or Break Them Apart With A Pitchfork. Grass Clippings And Leaves Should Be Mixed With Rest Of The
Composting Materials For Best Results.

With The Increasing Focus On The Environment, Animal Waste Management Needs To Be Included In Every Farm
Plan. Animal Waste Offers A Good Source Of Nutrients For The Soil. Brookside Laboratories Offers Complete
Manure Analyses On All Types Of Wastes. The Complete Manure Test Package Z002 Includes: Moisture, Organic
Matter, Mineral Matter, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, N03-N And Nh4-N. Brookside Is Certified By The
Minnesota Department Of Agriculture For Manure Analysis.
Compost Analysis Is Very Similar To Manure Analysis Except Maturity Of The Compost Is An Important
Characteristic. Also The C/N Ratio Provides Important Information On The Compost Quality In Relation To Nitrogen
Needs Or Issues With Compost. The Standard Brookside Compost Test Package Z004 Includes: Moisture, Organic
Matter, Mineral Matter, N, C, N/C Ratio, Ph, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn And B. Compost Particle Size And
Maturity Can Also Be Tested. Brookside Participates In The National Compost Analysis Proficienc y Program In Insure
Accurate Testing.

Conclusion

Vermicomposting Is A Process Of Breaking Down Of Organic Material Through The Use Of Worms. Its End Product Is A
Substance Called Vermicompost Or "Worm Castings". This Is A Nutrient Rich Organic Substance That Can Be Added To
Soil To Increase It's Organic Matter Content And Nutrients. This Process Is Commonly Used By Building A Worm Bins
Means Boxes That Contain Worms. Than The Organic Waste Is Added To That Box Or Bin To Carry Out The Process.