By: MIKE SELVON

Certainly there is a good deal of discussion and concern nowadays about organic products and also about defining the meaning of the term organic waste. Essentially, it is the byproduct of any material that is biological in origin. Common types of such waste includes virtually all paper products, including newspapers and cardboard; food waste; green waste material which encompasses yard and garden waste; animal manure and feces; and various biosolids and sludge components.

The process that organic matter goes through to become waste is called composting. The composting process breaks down the microorganisms in the organic material through a combination of exposure to heat, moisture, oxygen and bacteria. Once this organic material has passed through this decomposing process, it can be reused as a very effective soil additive.

In many ways, organic waste is a valuable part of the process of life on this planet. In essence, composting of organic materials is the original, and most effective form of recycling, invented and perfected by Mother Nature herself.

Once organic materials are gathered together in a compost pile, the microorganisms rapidly increase in number and essentially grow into a community that “colonizes” the composter. Through the natural biological functions of the microorganisms, the organic components are systematically broken down and the result is a nutrient rich compost.

As the bacterial microorganisms grow, they assimilate the starches, sugars and organic acids found in the waste matter. A side effect of their activity is a rise in the temperature in the center-most portion of the compost heap. Eventually, the temperature of the core of the compost pile will reach more than 140 degrees Fahrenheit and this heat contributes to the escalating decomposition of the material.

When the busy bacteria have consumed all of the sugars and starches and other materials they feast upon, the interior temperature of the compost heap begins to fall. As the temperatures become lower, other kinds of microorganisms, such as fungi, become more dominant in the composting community. At this stage the waste is considered to be stabilizing but there are still biological activities going on which will affect the woody elements of the compost mixture, allowing them to be broken down as well.

In order to continue through the composting process, the compost heap needs to be turned. This is a simple process that brings the material that is on the edges of the heap into the center so that it can be exposed to this process of heating as described above. It is recommended to allow the compost pile to sit undisturbed for approximately two weeks between turnings.

A compost heap can continue to grow by adding additional organic waste at any time. The compost pile simply needs to be turned at regular intervals of about every other week and the decomposition process will continue. In four to six months the composting process will have done its work and the compost can be mixed in with the soil as a very effective fertilizer.

Katherine asked:


In Toronto, we have city recycling programs, and a Green Bin program for organic waste. Some items can go in either, such as paper towel. I have been putting them in the recycling bin, since I figured it was more environmental to constantly repurpose items, but my husband thinks it’s better for it to be composted.

Which one should I put it into?

By: Chris Dailey

When you think about soil, often we think of the black earth that we dig up when we stick a shovel into the ground. If it is good, it is typically dark and robust with some kind of animal life crawling through it. It may also be very moist and have an almost earthy smell to it with a saline content. Some may be dry, light-colored, the kind that you would see in a dry area near your household or in areas that have not gotten rained for many weeks or months. Whether or not you are working soils with clay, many rocks, or that you have mixed yourself that has a good mixture of compost, it is quite possibly one of the most important ingredients to a successful organic garden. Here are a few tips on how you can improve your soil so that your organic plants can grow quickly and easily.

The first step you should adhere to is not using any kind of soil that is hard or compacted. This kind has no moisture, may be full of rocks and excessive salt contaminants that may hinder the growth of your organic garden. Your best choice is to either purchase a premium batch of garden dirt that you can use to grow your garden with. You should also add some sort of organic fertilizer whether it is an organic compost or some compost that you have made your self if you happen to have a worm farm that is handy. If you have decided to grow your organic food in a small area such as a small container that you can fit into any room that you have such as a pots or a planter, this may be your best choice especially if you are new to organic gardening or gardening in general so that you can get a feel for how the soil should look and feel to the touch.

Another important aspect of soil is to make sure that the plants that you have are planted are in a mixture that is balanced properly. This means that the dirt needs to have a consistency that is not too wet or dry. Some that is oversaturated may create a situation that will grow fungal infections more rapidly and perhaps even cause rotting to the root system of the plants you are growing. Proper irrigation if in a pot or planter can be made by placing holes at the bottom so that excess water can drain out and stagnate, creating an even worse problem. Likewise, plants that are not watered enough will simply not grow, wither and die. As with humans, we all need water in a balanced amount that will keep us hydrated and healthy as we go through our day and plants are no different.

Organic gardening consists of many different types of plants, most of which are found in your common grocery store. The only difference is that you are growing without chemicals or pesticides that will potentially be harmful to you and anyone else eating the plants as well as cause growth problems with the vegetables that you are growing. Common choices for many indoor or outdoor organic growers are lettuce, eggplants, and even many types of beans. Strawberries are also a favorite if you are a fruit lover. Make sure to maintain the pH balance of your soil as well depending upon the types of vegetables that you are growing in your organic garden.

Last but not least, the greatest soil in the world will not help your plants survive if you do not have the proper amounts of heat or light while they are growing. He that is the most important factor to consider because as it is exposed to more heat, it will dry up more quickly, and the plants themselves will use water more quickly due to the increased temperature. Watching out for the right levels of humidity are also important regarding the hydration of the plants in the composting material that they are growing in.

Soil, that we take for granted every day that we walk upon as we go to the store, to the park, and as we mow the grass around our homes, when growing an organic garden, it is a top item on your list when looking to succeed a growing organically based foods. Take the time to make sure that your pH levels, compost mixture, and moisture content is all at the optimal levels you for you plant one seed into your potential organic garden and you will be well on your way to success and healthier food in no time at all.

By: Paul Courtney

Organic Vegetable gardening is very different from conventional gardening. A great deal of care and preparation must be undertaken before you get started. You will need to know how best to prepare soil and know how to enrich it and also provide it with adequate protection from insects that can often do a lot of harm to your vegetables.

Healthy soils usually produce healthy plants provided you incorporate the right Ingredients into your preparation there is no reason why you should not produce healthy abundant plants.

To get the right kind of fertile soil for your organic vegetables, you need to ensure that the soil will is as fertile as possible, and to ensure that you need to have proper amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and also potassium. Before doing anything else, you need to have drawn up detailed plans about how you are going to perform your organic vegetable gardening chores; obviously the type of soil that you use will be a major consideration as far as your plans to grow vegetables organically are concerned.

Your plan must decide what you wish to grow, know the space requirements, make a small scale plan and know where to place different vegetables, and also you will need to calculate the right distance between seeds and rows. Once you have your plans sorted out, you will be ready to get the full benefits of organic vegetable gardening which includes giving your taste buds a treat and being able to choose to sow your favorite vegetables.

In order to be successful in your organic vegetable gardening endeavors you should protect your garden from unwanted intrusion by pets or vermin and plan towards well and constantly cared for gardening this requires a strong will if you want to reap the many possible benefits. You will need to mix the soil well and do so at least three weeks before planting, the soil must have been well prepared to take the seeds and even maybe the transplants.

You also need to ensure that the soil has those materials that have plenty of nitrogen and the soil should have pH of approximately 7.0 and temperatures should hover close to fifty degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, the soil must be properly aerated and to prevent soil from turning acidic there should be enough lime present. While irrigating the soil, care should be taken to make the soil thoroughly wet at least once in a week unless it has rained, which will ensure that the soil is moist especially around the root zone.

Go to your local garden supplier they will be able to assist you with local conditions and where to source your organic compost and manures lime and other soil inputs. When you start of with a well prepared patch you will find it easy to control weeds and provided your plants are well fed and healthy you should have no problems with insects and other parasites.. Before you realize it you will be harvestinf your first produce and from then on there is no looking back.

By: Alasdair Meldrum

What is composting? Composting is a natural process which can mean different things to different people. The term ‘composting’ is used to describe a wide range of activities, from a heap of manure at the bottom of a garden to sophisticated treatment processes for commercial wastes and is designed to reduce the quantity of organic waste sent to landfills.

Community composting sites tend to be relatively small. A typical site may process up to 200 tonnes of material a year. Commercial sites, where composting is specifically a business activity, or local authority sites set up to divert biodegradable material from landfill are much larger. With some of the larger sites processing tens of thousands of tonnes each year, materials handling equipment and systems become a necessity.

The purity of the product is very important and is graded according to its organic purity. Glass is the main product that needs to be eliminated to produce a compost that is pure enough for sale. This has caused a few problems with some main commercial composting facilities therefore rendering the compost to be used for capping material until a solution can be found.

But put simply, the microbes break down large molecules into smaller ones that they can use as food. This releases heat energy, water and carbon dioxide during the breakdown as by-products and it is this heat that causes the temperature to rise, which is why compost heaps are often warm and steamy.

Here are 5 reasons why everyone should consider composting:

1. Composting reduces the environmental impact of having to incinerate organic waste.

2. Organic material can form up to 1/3 of our weekly waste. Without composting, this goes straight to landfill. Composting minimises our landfill waste and recycles it back into our gardens.

3. Organic waste which is dumped in landfill rather than composted stagnates and produces methane and toxic run-off which contaminates soil and groundwater.

4. Composting can successfully be carried out at any level, from multi-acre commercial or municipal windrows to simple backyard bins.

5. Composting is fun, easy and very satisfying.

Composting is a fun and environmentally-friendly activity. It’s something anyone can do to make a positive contribution to helping the environment.

Albion Environmental Ltd can advise if you have any composting problems. We have experience in helping our clients achieving PAS100:2005 status.