Making Compost
There
are many schools of thought on composting, but here are my
suggestions for producing good quality organic matter that should be
dark, filter through your fingers like peat moss and no, it shouldn't
pong!
In
terms of making a compost bin its entirely up to you as to whether you
want to use a ready-made plastic compost bin or to construct your own
timber framed version. Myself, I admit to using a plastic compost bin
(see picture).
So
what are the benefits of composting? From an energy saving perspective,
you will have avoided the need for the transportation and processing of
the commercial fertilisers that you would have no doubt used previously,
and your pocket will also say 'thank you' as well! And of course, you
will have had the satisfaction of knowing that you've made something
useful out of waste that would otherwise have been thrown away.
So
how do we make compost?
What
works?
Well
here are my recommendations, but no doubt many of you will have your own
ideas, either based on sound scientific theories or just good old trial
and error. Anyway, my favourite ingredients are:
-
Vegetable
peelings (a 'must have' menu item)
-
Rotten
vegetables or fruit
-
Cardboard
pieces or paper (not too much or it dries out the mix)
-
Rotting
plants or soft leafy material (not weeds though)
-
Grass
cuttings (only in moderation and then mix in well)
If
I need to start a bin, I will place some of the above material in it and
then add some soil in order to introduce the bacteria that will start the
composting process off. I would also add some worms to the mix. If you
have a farm with a herd of cows, the dung you'll find there (which is a
good ingredient as well) will almost certainly contain some happy and
contented worms. With the farmer's permission, get a bucket and
repatriate the worms to your compost bin. The farmer will probably laugh
his socks off, but the worms will do a good job. However, if your compost
mix is wrong, the worms will pack up their bags and leave, so they can be
a good indicator of how things are going.
What
doesn't work?
I've
had no luck with the following:
-
Plants
that have woody stems
-
Citrus
fruits (they make the compost smell rancid)
-
Too
much of any one ingredient
-
Tree
leaves (they work too slowly)
-
Cooked
food (it'll probably attract rodents)
Starting
the compost
To
start a bin, I place some ingredients in it and then add some soil in, so
as to introduce the bacteria that will start the compost process off. I
personally would also add some worms to the mix. If you have a farm with
a herd of cows, the dung you'll find there (which is a good ingredient as
well) will almost certainly contain some happy and contented worms. With
the farmer's permission, get a bucket and repatriate the worms to your
compost bin. The farmer will probably laugh his socks off but I find the
worms do a good job. However, if your compost mix is wrong the worms
will pack up their bags and leave, so they can be a good indicator of how
things are going.
And
when it's going, don't forget to give it the occasional stir.
Good
signs
Three
good signs that the compost process is working well are:
-
The
'core' of the compost bin is very warm (even in winter)
-
There's
lots of worms, insects and other creatures active in the bin
-
The
contents keep getting lower in the bin
Potential
Problems
Here
are some of the problems associated with composting:
-
The
compost reaction has stalled (probably best to start again)
-
You're
producing too much compost (where do you put it?)
-
Slugs
and wussles (so the locals say)
Anyway,
happy composting and if you have any useful tips, do let us know
|
