By: MIKE SELVON

There are many instances when homeowners choose not to get started with backyard composting because of the perception that it is hard to do correctly. In reality, you just need to collect the basic organic materials, find a place for the compost heap and then allow nature to take over the task. But, there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind that can help make the whole process move forward without a hitch.

There are a number of different types of compost bins on the market that you can use to help manage and contain your compost. But, a special bin is not a requirement that is needed to accomplish successful composting, but more of a convenience. It is easy enough to build your own bin for your pile and simply cover it over with a sheet of polythene or chunk of cardboard.

Some people, however, prefer to have their compost heap more contained and neat in appearance and to have it easier to manage as well. If that is the case, then compost bins can be a good solution.

These special bins are easy enough to find online or at local stores that sell organic gardening tools and supplies. Some local municipalities also have compost bins available at a reduced cost to encourage people to recycle their organic waste.

Making a compost is as simple as adding your organic items that are compostable on a regular basis. Any waste product that was at one time a living thing will compost, or decompose, but some items are not recommended to be thrown into your pile. Meats, dairy foods and cooked foods will end up attracting pests and vermin so these should not be used in your home composting efforts.

Dead and decaying leaves, lawn clippings, manure, and kitchen waste such as rinds, peelings, coffee grounds and even eggshells can be added to it. Older, thicker and tougher plant materials are slower to decompose but they benefit the compost by providing more substance, or body, to the finished product. These heavier materials usually comprise most of a compost pile.

Wood items take a long time to decompose. Whenever possible it is best to shred, chip or chop wood materials to help accelerate the rotting process. However, as long as they are mixed in with other materials that decompose faster they will still provide some benefit to the process overall.

In general it is best to have fairly equal amounts of what is called brown material and green material in it. Brown materials are the manures, dead leaves, small twigs and cardboard and newspapers. Green materials include hedge and grass clippings, coffee grounds, fruit rinds and uncooked vegetables.

You only need to have about one foot of organic material to get your compost heap started. In most instances, just mowing the yard and weeding your flowerbeds and vegetable garden will give you enough to begin. If needed, then you can also add organic kitchen waste and newspaper, and even a little straw if you are coming up short of the one foot level.

Once things get piled up, nature will take over and the decomposition process will start. It is good to turn the heap about every two weeks and within four to six months you will have a nice compost of waste materials that will give a boost to your soil.

By: James Monahan

Compost is a mixture of decaying organic matter used to improve soil structure, and provide nutrients.

Examples of compost are a mixture of leaves, twigs, branches, grass clippings, yard waste and manure. Anything that was once alive will naturally crumble and will become easy to use for composting.

Composting is a great way to trim down wastes, get wet garbage out of the can and make use out of it, have a free product for your garden and nurture the earth.

A compost pile consists of a large number of microorganisms. These microorganisms process the mixtures and produce compost. To make sure your compost is full of nutrients, there should be two vital parts involved. Nitrogen-rich materials and carbon-rich materials help you produce composts instantly.

There are a variety of materials that could be used for your compost mixture. Coffee filters, coffee grounds and teabags will not be wasted and thrown into the garbage. Leaves, plant branches, grass trimmings, vegetable and fruit scraps would be placed to use in the mixture of your compost.

Dead animals, pet manure and diseased plants are materials that cannot be placed into your mixture because it may cause infection. Bread grains, meat and fish parts, dairy and oily products would not decompose by itself in any way you try.

Composts could be used for maintenance of plants, gardens and lawns, but it is not an alternate for fertilizers. Compost maintains nutrients in the ground which plants make use of; it loosens clay soils and preserves water in sandy soils. There are several uses for compost. These are the following:

1. Composts could be used for soil improvement. Because composts contain nutrients, it serves as sustenance for the plants. By mixing compost into your garden once a year, it would enhance the growth of your plants.

2. Composts could be used as a potting mixture. By transferring the plants into a container, these may serve as supplement to the soil.

3. Composts could be used as mulch. Mulch mixed with compost could help with water maintenance in the soil and could lead to prevention of slugs and snails. Mulch also preserve soil heat and keeps it from escaping, which would eventually look after root systems.

4. Composts could be used as decoration. In gardening and anything relating to soil, these mixtures could serve as a top dressing over your lawn.

There are a number of easy ways to produce composts.

First is the open air composting. To keep the mixture of piles organized and out of reach from animals and children, place the compost mixture in bins and water it occasionally to produce moisture.

The mixture would decompose by itself and the only thing you would do is harvest it once or twice a year, depending on the decomposing process.

For an area where decomposing odor is restricted, closed air composting is right for you. Closed bins which are made of wood, metal or old fences could be used.

Simply place the mixture inside the bin and check to see if the water and mixture is equally distributed. Add more water if the mixture dries out. Add dry mixture if the compost becomes damp. Harvesting of compost may be once or twice a year.

The most effortless method in recycling organic mixtures at home is grass cycling. By leaving all the leaves and cut grass on the lawn, it would decompose by itself in time.

Start to make use of garbage. Make your own home-made composts while preserving the earth.

By: Vera Pappas

 

What To Do With Your Doggie Doo

 

 

We’ve always had a dog and for as long as I can remember I have been cleaning up dog poop. Everyday I get my plastic shopping bag and a shovel and patrol the yard. I had never given it much thought until recently. That’s a lot of plastic bags filled with poop that is going to the landfill never to decompose.

Composting has also always been a part of our lifestyle, but poop was the one thing we couldn’t put in our regular composter. Now Vermi-composting has come along. What a great way to recycle nature’s waste. Tumbleweed Pet Poo Compost Maker is a mini worm farm composter. The Tumbleweed Pet Poo Compost Maker consists of two sturdy nesting boxes with a lid, which form a neat, compact portable unit. The worms eat and breed in the top box. This has a perforated base to allow any liquid waste to drain through to the bottom (collector) box. The “worm poo” or worm castings remain in the top box and can be harvested as desired. The bottom or catcher box collects the valuable liquid waste, which can be diluted and used as a fertilizer on your garden.

The Tumbleweed Pet Poo Converter will handle, on average, the droppings of two medium dogs. However, this will vary with age, diet, exercise and breed of dog. (Think Chihuahua vs. St Bernard). The greater the amount of droppings recycled through the Pet Poo Converter, the quicker the level of castings will build up. The castings can then be easily harvested, as per the instructions, and used around the flower garden or in potting mixes.

There is no difficulty in getting the worms to eat dog droppings. Commercial worm farmers rear their worms on manure. However it is not possible to mix diets. They must be fed exclusively on pet poo. If you want to recycle vegetable scraps you must set up a separate farm.

This is the best thing going. Farmers have been using manure for hundreds of years to amend the soil. It is super rich in nutrients. The worm castings and the tea that is made from your dog’s poop is a great return on your investment. Think of all the money you spend on dog food, and all the money you will save on fertilizer!

 

 

By: Gargi Nath

If you are engaged in any composting activity of sorts, you might find yourself encountering certain dangers. Composting is an activity that leads one closer to nature. But then, disasters can happen even on the road paved with good intentions. There are imminent dangers However, these dangers can be avoided by a few techniques from the pros.

Read up The best way to prepare for composting dangers is to read up. That’s right. You need to read up on concepts and techniques and all the other factors pertaining to composting. Like in learning a new language, immersing yourself with available information on composting prior to the composting activity will ensure that you are to get the best deal of the composting activity. Also, it will show you how to do things the right way and keep you from doing things that can be detrimental to your safety.

Wash your hands frequently After composting, you need to wash your hands. This may seem like a no-brainer, but mos enthusiasts who get too absorbed with their activities forget the dangers of poisoning. This may not concern you directly, but children and siblings who are not oriented to the dangers of composting chemicals may not really be privy to washing their hands after contact. This is also a good motivation for you to secure a close lid for your composting heap.

Inspect your active compost frequently Frequent inspection will ensure that there are no weeds or unwelcome creatures inhabiting in your compost pile. Make sure that your compost pile remains a compost pile and not a breeding ground for harmful animals that can endanger you in your backyard. The active compost is quite dynamic in nature, so you can be ensured that you will not be bored to death or forced to watch a dull pile of manure.

Orient your friends and family about your composting activities. Getting your family and friends involved or at least amply oriented will help you be able to relay your activities to them effectively. It will also help them become aware of certain things or objects you are using in the backyard (in cases where you do your compost heaps in the backyard), and will not be inclined to hit themselves with it while taking a leisure stroll.

Keep the compost aerated The danger to compost is when it loses air and becomes more poisonous to the soil than helpful. Make sure that even when your compost heap is in a closed bin, there is still more than enough air for it to continue circulating. The aeration process helps enhance the composting process, and then it also prevents the organic materials from turning into an amorphous poisonous blob that you would not want to get your hands at.

Familiarize yourself with the machinery (for industrial scale compost heaps)

If you are dealing with composting on a larger scale and it may require some machineries, you must really exercise caution in using the machinery. Also, make sure that you are familiar with all commands, well-versed with worst-case scenarios and troubleshooting techniques for the equipment you are using.

This is more dangerous, since you are talking of a composting heap on a larger scale. So make sure that you are familiarized, as well as the people around you who will be assigned to work with you on the industrial composting process.

Am asked:


I’ve heard that it’s composting without manure or any other animal stuff, it only uses plants for compost. I’m asking because I’d like to know how to make a Green Compost. Thanks!
(I only want to know organic methods ok people!)