By: James Paul

One of my favorite things to do as a weekend gardener is composting. Composting and the weekend gardener go hand in hand. It is one of the best ways for a weekend gardener to feed his/her garden organically. Basically, composting allows you to turn organic waste into rich nutrients for your garden and, while composting is a very simple process, there are some basic steps that you should follow in order to build a good composting pile. I hope that these tips will help the weekend gardener to develop a love for the weekend garden as I do.

The weekend gardener doesn’t really even need a special bin or box to contain a compost pile. All you really need is the compost material (although some kind of container is recommended just for the sake of tidiness and for keeping rodents, flies and creepy crawler types away).

The weekend gardener such as myself can find material for composting in forms of dead grass, leaves, shrubs, and lawn trimmings as well as left over fruits and vegetables from the table.

Most weekend gardeners including myself keep home composts contained in old trash bins with lids or even boxes made from spare wood or wire frames. The most important thing is that the pile of compost be exposed to air.

Another key to successful composting is layering. Composts should have alternating layers of green and brown organic materials. The green organic material should consist of fruits, vegetables and grass clippings, for example, whereas the brown organic material should come from dry leaves, twigs or small pieces of wood. If the weekend gardener has too much green organic material the compost will become too high in nitrogen whereas too much brown organic material in the compost will make it too rich with carbon. Too much nitrogen may cause slime and too much carbon may cause the composting process to move too slowly.

Maintenance for the weekend gardeners compost pile or bin is also important. Don’t let the pile dry out. It should be regularly checked to see that its moisture is maintained and it should be watered if there is not enough moisture. It must also be regularly mixed and fluffed to make sure that the entire compost pile is exposed to adequate amounts of air. Mixing the compost pile approximately every two weeks should be sufficient. It is also best, but not absolutely necessary, if your compost pile is directly in the sun and if your compost is not inside a container of some type, the best place for it is directly on the soil.

While knowing how and what should go into your compost pile is important, knowing what should not go into your compost pile is equally important. Chicken, dairy, fish, and meat products should never go into a compost and neither should human waste or pet waste, fats and oils, diseased plants, or even plants that have been sprayed with herbicide.

Composting for the weekend gardener is a simple process and easily learned. You will also reap many benefits from composting. Not only will you be enriching your soil when you mix it with the compost pile, but you will be disposing of unwanted materials in an earth-friendly way, thereby helping to minimize the amount of garbage dumped into landfills and aiding mother earth in the process. Good luck and happy weekends from my garden to yours!

By: James Williams

There is a renewed interest in getting back to basics. Individuals, corporations and governments are focused on finding ways to preserve our natural resources. One way of protecting our environment, and enjoying the best nature has to offer, is by gardening organically.

There are few differences between ‘regular’ gardening and choosing to garden organically. Planting methods are virtually the same. In both types of gardens, plants will have the same soil, sunlight and water requirements. The big difference lies in the control of weeds, insects and disease. In gardening organically, no chemical or synthetic herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers are used. Organic gardening may also result in a more in-depth tending to plants and soil.

Planting an organic garden begins with soil preparation. For the soil to be productive, organic material must be added. Compost is essential to success in gardening organically, as it promotes the health and well being of the plants. You can easily create your own organic compost by saving and mixing fruit and vegetable scraps, fallen leaves, pruned flowers, grass clippings and manure. Ideally, the compost will be dark and sweet smelling, and full of productive earthworms. In gardening organically, you may find that your soil needs more natural nutrients than compost alone can provide. A soil test will indicate the pH balance. If more nutrients are required you can incorporate natural additives like greensand, rock phosphates and bone meal.

Weeds

A particularly frustrating and annoying problem with gardening organically is weeds. Laying organic mulch can provide a natural weed barrier. Layers of construction paper, cardboard or newspaper under the mulch provides added protection. Some organic gardeners swear by spreading corn meal gluten early in the season before planting, as this slows the growth of weeds. Solarization is another option. If you want to get down and dirty with your weeds, roll up your sleeves for some hoeing and hand pulling. Persistence will pay off in your battle against weeds. Use organic mulches and remove what you can by hand. It may take a few seasons, but it is possible to beat the weeds for good.

Insects

If there is one area that tests even the most rigidly organic gardener, it’s the need for pesticides. Insects can seriously harm a plant and, if left uncontested, can wipe out entire crops. Gardening organically does not allow the use of synthetic or chemical pesticides, so your best defense is to take preventative measures. Keep your plants at optimal health and be sure that the soil is not too wet, or too dry. Insects will attack unhealthy plants, but if your crop is healthy it can often outgrow minor insect damage. Keep many different varieties in your garden. If pests wipe out one type of plant, they won’t necessarily take over the entire garden. The best way to defend against insects when gardening organically is to introduce natural predators to the area. Entice frogs, lizard, birds and ladybugs by keeping a fresh water supply available. Growing plants to attract insects that feed on nectar can also help, and you can use plant collars, barriers or sticky traps. Household items such as garlic, hot pepper and insecticide soaps can also help you beat the bugs.

Disease

Gardening organically can make it tricky to avoid and combat plant disease. The best thing you can do is to choose disease resistant varieties, and plant them in their prime conditions. Constant moisture and poor air circulation will cause plant diseases to spread. Knowing where to plant your garden and how often to water it will help keep your organic garden disease-free.

Tending a garden is a wonderful hobby, and gardening organically is particularly rewarding. The plants you grow will be chemical free and naturally healthy. You are what you eat, so having a chemical-free garden is ideal for those growing fruit and vegetable crops. While it may take a little extra time and effort, gardening organically is the best choice for you, your plants, and the environment.

By: Douglas Hill

The concept of composting has been around for quite a long time in the forests. Leaves fall to the forest floor, decompose, and their nutrients will be absorbed back into the trees through the roots. Farmers and Gardeners have been taking advantage of the nutrient rich by product from this decomposition for thousands of years and you can too.

Composting is a great way to add nutrients to your garden or potting soil. Not only is it good for your garden and plants, it also is a good way for you to help reduce your overall garbage going to the dump. There are no hard and fast rules in what you should do your composting in. In fact you could do it in a pile in the yard, although it will probably not be well accepted by the rest of your family. While you can go out and buy a commercially sold unit that will do well for all your composting needs, I prefer to save a few bucks and build one myself.

The real hero’s in the world of composting are the fungi, bacteria, worms and other insects that will take your yard and kitchen waste and turn it into the black gold you want for your pots and garden. Now it is in your best interest to keep these guys in good conditions so they can digest the food you give them. Their basic requirements are just like you and I, they are food, water, and air. If you want to help these insects and microbes along, keep your compost in a nice cool corner of your yard.

To better understand these basic needs for your compost let’s start with the food. Essentially there are two types of food. There are the brown foods that include straw, autumn leaves, wood chips/sawdust, and dead plant material. These materials mainly consist of long chains of sugar molecules that the microbes digest and use as a source of energy. There are also the greens such as green grass and weeds, kitchen fruit and vegetables, coffee grounds, and tea bags. These materials have a lot more nitrogen in them than the browns. This nitrogen in your compost pile acts as a source of protein to all those microbes for them to feed off of as well.

The next part is the air. It is very important to get good airflow into your pile. The microbes you want to decompose your pile cannot do this without air. If there is no air supply then other microbes will move in. They will also do the job but they work a lot slower and tend to make the compost smell like rotten garbage. So unless you want your backyard to smell like the city dump you will have it “fluff” your pile. “Fluffing” your pile is easily done with a spade or a garden fork. You will have to completely break it apart and then pile it back together leaving it in a “Fluffy” condition.

Some “food” like grass clippings or wet leaves will sit heavy on the pile and not allow good air flow through that portion of the pile. You should mix this sort of ingredient into the pile to avoid a spot that won’t decompose very easily. Straw is a great ingredient to add to your compost because unlike grass they will not mat down into slimy layers and add to the airflow.

Water is the last important ingredient in your compost. This is where it gets a little tricky. You need to get the water just right to aid and not hinder the work of the microbes. Too wet and the pile gets too heavy and the airflow gets cut off to the middle of the pile. Too dry and the microbes will not be able to break down the waste as easily. Ideally you want to get every particle wet but not saturated. In wet climates you may need a lid or a tarp to avoid saturation.

Having a good mix of the greens and browns is a good thing for a few reasons. Not only does it supply all your little microbes with a good diet, but it also helps in airflow since the browns are dry and “light” and the greens are wet and “heavy”.

By: Owen Chubb

So let us start with Composting and all you need to know.

 

Why should I compost?

 



Organic matter improves soil structure and gives life. It opens up heavy soils, aids drainage and provides good growing conditions. Light or sandy soils benefit from its moisture retentive properties.

It provides nutrients for plants. The nutrients in your compost depend on what has been put in your bin, but will always contain a wide range of trace elements and plant foods.

It is a completely natural product. In nature, all living things eventually decay; composting simply speeds up the process.

It is free and environmentally friendly. Up to 30% of household waste is organic and can be converted into compost for use in the garden. Composting is good for plants, good for the environment and good for us.



 

Where should I locate my Composter?

 



 Preferably in a warm or sheltered position, but this is not essential.

 place on bare soil. This will aid drainage and allow worms and bacteria to enter and aid   breakdown of the raw material.



 

What can I put in it?

 



Garden Waste: All types of garden waste including annual weeds, grass cuttings, fallen fruit and old vegetable plants, bedding plants, chopped prunings, hedge clippings, horse and poultry manure and urine, straw, feathers, dried fallen leaves, sawdust and wood shavings, shredded wood and twigs, seaweed, spent compost.

Household Waste: Teabags/leaves, egg shells, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable waste, human and animal hair, feathers, shredded and soaked cardboard, paper, wood ash.

Avoid: Cooked food and meat (attracts rodents).



 

How to Make the Best Compost?

 

The composting process requires raw material, water and air. Good compost comprises a balance of as many ingredients as possible. Too much grass will create a slimy mess; too much woody material will create a dry heap, which decomposes very slowly. Chopping and cutting ingredients into small pieces before adding to the composter will facilitate faster decomposition.

 

The most important balance to achieve is the proportion of woody, high carbon material (e.g. dried leaves, straw, paper, twigs, hedge clippings) to sappy, high nitrogen material (e.g. plants, weeds, vegetables & fruit, grass, manure). The woody material keeps the compost open and aerated, preventing the soggy mass that results from composting too much nitrogen-rich material (such as grass cuttings). However, it provides little or no nutrients for the bacteria in the heap, which creates the heat required for good composition. Soft material contains the nitrogen needed by bacteria, plus water. During colder months a piece of polystyrene or old carpet placed in the bin on top of the compost will prevent heat loss.

 

An essential ingredient for composting is air. The best way to introduce air into the composter is to fork up the contents and turn it over. It is a good idea to do this on a regular (monthly) basis.

 

When will the compost be ready to use?

 

Shredded material that has been kept moist and turned several times can be ready for use in the garden in just a few months but six months is more typical. The length of time really depends on the mixture of ingredients, air temperature, size of coarser material and how quickly the composter unit was filled. Compost at the bottom will always be ready first, so always remove from the bottom first.

 

If a finer texture is preferred, sieve out the coarse material; this can be used as mulch around the garden or in the base of planters/garden pots to provide drainage and nutrients, or simply replace in the bin for further breakdown. Do not use garden compost for delicate seedlings because it is not sterile.

 

Happy Gardening.

By: Vera Pappas

Home composting is one of the best ways to cut down on waste going into our overtaxed landfills.

Food waste, leaves, and grass clippings contributes a huge 24% of solid waste in our landfills. As these materials break down in a landfill situation, they produce Methane Gas, an explosive GreenHouse Gas. This can leach through the ground and affect surrounding residential or business areas. This solid waste also takes years to breakdown, rather than months in a composter.

In a composting situation not only will this matter break down faster, more efficiently and non-toxically, it also has many benefits to our environment.

What you can and should compost:

Cardboard Rolls, Clean Paper, Coffee Grounds, Coffee Filters, Eggshells, Fruits, Veggies, Tea Bags, Nut Shells, Cotton Rags, Dryer Lint, Vacuum Cleaner Lint, Fireplace Ashes, Grass Clippings, Hair, Fur, Houseplants, Leaves, Sawdust, Shredded Newspaper, Wood Chips, Wool Rags, Shrub and Perennial Trimmings

What Not To Compost:

Charcoal Ashes, Black Walnut Leaves and Branches, Diseased or Insect Infested Plants Fungicides, Pesticides, Insecticides, Dog /Cat Feces or Litter, Dairy Products, Meat/Fish Bones or Scraps, Fats,Grease, Lard or Oil

Did you know Compost Can…

Suppress plant diseases and pests

Reduce and/or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers

Promote higher yields in vegetable gardens

Stronger, better blooming perennials and shrubs

Removes solids, oils, grease and heavy metals from storm water runoff

Capture and destroy 99% of Industrial Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC’s) from the air (a contributor to the destruction of the ozone)

Composting enriches the soil. The natural nutrients of compost help retain moisture and prevent plant diseases and infestations of insects.

COMPOSTING PREVENTS POLLUTION!

Not only does composting reduce/eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and controls, compost absorbs and eliminates toxic VOC’s, heavy metals and prevents them from entering our waterways.

Ok, ok, I know I said Composting, Fun for the Whole Family. As parents we need to teach our kids why we should compost. The info above can help you do just that. Composting needs to be a family habit. Teaching our children or grandchildren good environmental habits will ensure a Greener Future.

A small Compost Bin will get you started. They are economical and don’t take up much space. A Compost Pail in your kitchen and some leaves are all you need to get started. Compost Pails are decorative and come with a lid. (An empty coffee can will work too) Just divert your hand from the trash can to the compost pail. An easy transition. Getting the kids involved is the best part. Have them collect stray leaves and twigs in the yard. Make it a game–kids love helping. They also like opening the composter and dumping the compost pail into it. They love to see everything mixed up in there. Contrary to popular belief, composters do not smell and they do not attract flies or other insects. You and your children (grandchildren) will be amazed at the rich, black dirt that comes out. Make sure you add leaves, grass clippings, etc. to balance the food scraps.

It’s an easy process. The environment, your yard, your plants, and your children will thank you.