Thursday, March 5, 2009

Compost Easy as A,B,G

You may find it hard to believe.

That simple compost is relevant to an efficient modern lifestyle. Some benefits of compost concepts include, stress reduction, quality family time, even lowered costs of living.

Composting, without much thought seems to have a very small place in our modern world. Reserved for back yard enthusiasts and such. Yet it's role is more important and relevant than ever before.

In our modern world of fast food and retail stores we don't garden so why should we compost? Yard and food wastes make up approximately 30% of the waste stream in the United States. Many of us toss out the organic components of our refuse along with the rest of the trash out of habit. Yard waste and organic components head to our landfills. Buried and breaking down very slowly due to the lack of oxygen. As it decomposes, it produces methane gas and acidic leachate, which are both environmental problems .

If we, as the individuals that make our communities. Were to practice composting most of these green and organic refuse items. We would reduce the amount of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) disposal by almost one fourth.
If you do not garden, you should. Even a small victory garden will help lower your food and fuel costs. Help you to eat healthy, exercise, and have some quality time. You already are producing the raw materials for great compost. A personal victory garden is a great way maximise the use of your compost.
Compost that is added to gardens improves soil structure, texture, aeration, and water retention. When mixed with compost, clay soils are lightened, and sandy soils retain water better.
Choosing to think Green and having a Re purposed mindset has many benefits. You can always save some money by thinking green.
Making compost, all you need to remember is A,B,G. Air + Brown + Green,
Composting is the transformation of organic material through decomposition into a soil-like material. Across the planet earth this amazing process is continuously taking place. As a practice, the art of composting has been part of our global culture since ancient times. Yet it takes place with or without our help. Plant parts and animal leavings rot or decompose with the help of microorganisms, earthworms and an assortment of insects. All of which do their part digesting and mixing the matter together. The result is a layer of organic matter we call compost, which is God's gift to the gardener.
How to Make Compost
Set aside an area that meets your goals or needs for you compost area. You can keep this compost process in an container if you would like to. Some prefer to have a bin to work it in. Some bin's are constructed from scrap wood. Try to avoid using treated lumbers, old railroad ties, utility poles and other things that would have chemical treatments that would leach into your compost and eventually your body. Some gardeners purchase special bin's manufactured online. Many types of compost bins are available at your local garden center. Some of these have devices for turning and removing compost. Although these bins make turning easier and are more convenient, they aren't necessary. An enclosure made from chicken wire or five wood pallets (one for the bottom and one for each side) does the job just
as well. A bin can be any box or container that will allow air ( the A of our formula) to get into the compost as needed. Also remember you will turn the compost mix regularly to incorporate air. Don't get held up on the bin. You do not need one to make compost. You can pile the ingredients in the corner of your back yard, with the same results.


Start putting in the B (brown) and the G (green)
Some suggestions but certainly not limited to are,
organic kitchen waste (vegetable peels, apple cores, fruit skins and peels etc.)
lawn clippings (use thin layers so they don't mat down)
chopped leaves (large leaves take a long time to break down)
shredded branches garden plants (use disease-free plants)
shredded paper
weeds (before they go to seed)
straw
hay
newspaper
wood ash (sprinkle lightly between layers)
tea leaves
coffee grounds
egg shells
potato peels
manure


Keep the pile in a semi-shaded area to keep it from drying out too much. If your pile is near a tree, turn it
frequently to make sure the tree roots don't grow into it. Make an indentation in the top to hold water and
sprinkle with a garden hose when it appears dry. Keep it moist, but not wet. Beneficial organisms cannot survive in
soggy conditions.



What Not to Compost
Meat scraps
fats
bones
vegetable oils
meat grease
trash
excessive wood ashes (counteracts with manures)
sawdust generally slows the decomposition of the pile
large branches
dairy products
salt
Worms eat garbage
Enlist worms -- usually red worms -- to do your dirty work.
Worm composting, also known as vermiculture, turns garbage into a rich, dark earth-smelling soil conditioner, which you can use to help your lawn, your flowers or your vegetable garden.
Worm composting doesn't just help you, but also the environment. For that you need red worms Eisenia foetida (also known as red wigglers, brandling or
manure worms) or Lumbricus rubellus (manure worm).
How many? Experts recommend two pounds of worms for every pound of garbage.
With adequate food and a good home they can double their populations every 90 days. So, you may want to start out slow and with fewer worms than you think you'll need and the resulting
worm population explosion will take care of the rest.
Ideally your compost bin should be in an environment where the temperature ranges
between 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and red worms generally prefer temperatures in the 55 to 77 degree range.
If you live in a cold climate, your compost pile will probably go dormant in the winter. No problem it will start back up again when the springtime thaw comes.


Remember A+B+G if you have good aeration and moisture, and the proper ingredient mix, your pile will decompose just fine. Use the compost in your victory garden. Then return your harvested gardens' refuse to the compost. Soon you will be saving money, spending time wisely, and living well.

No comments:

Post a Comment