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Why Compost?

Believe you're to busy to compost?

Most people believe they are too busy to compost. That's because you don't yet have a system that works for you. Read on to learn what is the simplest way for you to get started on your own composting system. 

Benefits of composting

  • Composting makes great, healthy soil out of waste products that needs less water and additives
  • Items that would normally go into your disposal system or household trash - eventually ending up in up in a landfill, are now repurposed in a way that benefits you and saves you money.
  • It will replace your need for chemical fertizlizers and other soil amendments. 
  • You can either purchase a small container with "pretty" composting or build your own pile. It's up to you on how much you want to try - and you can always expand later if you desire. 
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Vegetables growing in "home grown" soil.

Keys to successful composting:

1. Make sure your materials are small pieces - this will help items break-down more quickly.
2. Water to help decompose the materials 
3. Rotation of the matter

Suitable Materials for Composting

Many organic materials are suitable for composting. Yard wastes, such as leaves, grass clippings, straw, and nonwoody plant trimmings can be composted. Woody trimmings can be composted if they are small enough and the site receives enough water. 

Grass clippings can be composted; however, depending upon the type, you can also feed them to your birds and goats where they will be immediately "composted" as long as they haven't been treated with herbicides or insecticides. The same will hold true if grass clippings are used. In addition, it is advisable to mix them with other yard wastes such as leaves or wood chips as a bulking agent to increase free air space. Otherwise, the grass clippings may compact and restrict air flow. 

Branches, logs, and twigs greater than 1/2-inch in diameter or more than 8 inches won't break down on their own, so you'll need to make them into smaller pieces.

Kitchen wastes such as vegetable scraps, fruit waste, coffee grounds, and eggshells may also be added. Some cities have ordinances that restrict the use of food scraps in compost piles. Check with local authorities about restrictions in your area.

What not to compost

Because they may pose a health hazard or create a nuisance, certain organic materials should not be used to make compost. Adding human, cat, or dog feces cannot be recommended because they may transmit diseases. Meat, bones, grease, whole eggs, and dairy products should not be added because they can attract rodents to the site. Most plant disease organisms and weed seeds are destroyed during the composting process when temperatures in the center of the pile reach 130-150 degrees F for 15 days or longer. However, in most home compost piles, it is very difficult or impossible to mix the materials efficiently enough to bring all wastes to the center. Consequently, adding large amounts of weeds with seeds or diseased plants may create problems if the compost is used in the garden.

Composting Method Options

You may want to consider having both of these options. The secured lid works well for acceptable kitchen waste, can be kept close to the house and minimizes attracting rodents while the open bin can be used for  non-food product materials. 

Composting barrel

This is a quick, easy and clean way to compost. These ready made bins work great when space is limited and are attractive and secure enough from pests to allow placement closer to the living quarters. For this particular model, the base that it sits on provides an easy method for turning the compost. You can make your own or buy one at many garden centers.

Features to look for:
  • Note, in Figure 1,  the barrel  has a secure lid that locks into place to avoid animals from getting in and attracting flying pests. 
  • Air holes will provide circulation and drainage of excess moisture. 
  • Fill the bin 75% full with organic waste material,and apply water until moist. 
  • Every few days, turn the drum on its side and roll it around the yard to mix and aerate the compost. 
  • The lid can be removed after turning to allow for air penetration. 
  • The compost should be ready in two to four months, depending on how diligent you are with the turning and watering. 
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Figure 1

Bin and piletype structures

Bin structures can be fairly simple or complex and  are the most practical for larger quantiies or organic waste. Another simple alternative is to create an enclosed compost pile with wire and posts. It's also more environmentally friendly because less materials are required to create it.  
  • The example in Figure 2 on the right shows a large circular bin made by using a length of finely woven wire fencing braced with t-posts and clamped onto the posts with fence clamps.
  • The compost area should be about four to five feet in diameter and at least four feet high.
  •  A stake may be driven in the middle of the area before adding material to help maintain the shape of the pile and to facilitate adding water, but it is not necessary.
  • With this design, it is easiest to turn the composting material by simply unsnapping the wire, moving the wire cylinder a few feet, and turning the compost back into it.
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Figure 2

The Composting Process

  • Monitor the progress and quality of your compost by measuring its temperature. Do not use compost until it has cooled down from 150°F. 
  • Smell is another indicator. A  bad smell usually indicate poor aeration or too much nitrogen.
  • Appearance is another indicator. Finished compost is brown like soil and the original materials should not be recognizable. It should have a rich, earthy smell. 
  • The regular addition of compost or other organic materials to soils maintains and improves them by keeping beneficial microorganisms thriving and multiplying.

How to use your compost

Once your compost is ready, it can be spread liberally around the yard and garden. It is great to use as a soil additive, a lawn dresing, as a mix with potting soil or as a moisture-holding mulch around trees and shrubs and on flower and vegetable beds. 

Mulch

Why mulch:
  • Any organic mulch adds humus to the soil as it rots down encouraging plants to make strong root systems and improves soil texture. 
  • Organic mulches help retain moisture by reducing evaporation up to 70%
  • Mulch acts as an insulator keeping soil from being exposed to soil and drying winds. 
  • Mulch helps retain the nutrients in the soil
  • Organic mulch helps reduce the risk of compaction and plant disease.
  • Mulch suppress weeds, reduces weed germination and enhances the appearance of your garden. 

If you are unable to provide enough of your own compost, there are many organic mulches:
  • Straw
  • Sawdust
  • Chipped trees
  • Fine gravel
  • Well decomposed manure
How to mulch:
  • Mulch should be spread evenly and be at least a 3 inches deep
  • Be sure not to cover plants and avoid covering the young limbs and leaves of plants. 
  • If you are using a drip irrigation system, be sure to bury your irrigation lines beneath the mulch to get the water down to the plants roots and keep the soil from being exposed.