Composting 101

Gardeners know the value of compost because what comes from the earth should be returned to the earth. Compost will invigorate your gardens soil by adding organic matter and vital nutrients. Compost will help soil in your garden hold water, allow for air flow, control erosion, and create a home for the bacteria that protect plants against disease, capture airborne nitrogen, lure soil-enriching earthworms, and ferry minerals from the subsoil. So, turn your everyday plant debris and kitchen scraps into rich compost that is essential for good garden soil.

Materials needed to get started.
Compost bin -purchase one or make your own. Make sure you have at least a 1-cubic-yard capacity.
Brown (carbon-rich) materials
Green (nitrogen-rich) materials
Garden fork




Pick your Location.
Put your compost bin in partly shady area that is close to a water source like your garden hose. Make it convenient from your garden and kitchen but not close to any buildings.




To start and maintain your compost pile.
Stick to the 1 part green material to 2 to 3 parts brown material ratio. Layering the material until the bin is full or your compost pile is 3 feet high. Chop up the material before adding to help speed up the process. You can add a compost bioactivator that has billions of microorganisms that help chew up the organic matter which helps speed the process. The compost bioactivator can be bought at your local gardening store or online. Make sure you bury your kitchen scraps beneath a layer of brown material to avoid attracting pests and producing an odor.

Once layered, dampen the pile with water. Try to maintain a moisture level similar to that of a wrung-out sponge. If the compost becomes too dry, add water. If it becomes too wet, add dry materials like leaves or shredded newspaper.

Turning the pile with a garden fork, mixing the green and brown materials, will speed decomposition by improving air circulation and will reduce odors. If you've turned the pile regularly and maintained it whenever new material is added, in about 3 months, the compost will be ready to use. The compost should resemble potting soil. Unturned piles of compost may take 6 months to a year.

If your compost pile develops a strong odor too much green material is the cause. If this happened just add more brown material and a sprinkling of compost bioactivator to aid decomposition and turn well.




Here are items to add to your compost bin.

Green (nitrogen-rich) Material
Fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings (dry and free of herbicides)
houseplant trimmings, flowers, coffee grounds and filters, tea leaves and bags, soft prunings, sod, eggshells, farm-animal manure, fish heads, bonemeal, dried blood, hair, feathers, seaweed (salt washed off) and pond silt.

Brown (carbon-rich) Material
Leaves (fallen, dried leaves and muck from rain gutters), twigs and branches, paper egg cartons, wood ashes, straw, cornstalks, wood chips and shavings, sawdust, wool, newsprint (finely shredded; never add paper printed with color ink) or pine needles.




Do not put these things in your compost pile.
Bones, meats, dairy products, or any products that contain animal fats.
Dog or cat waste.
Cardboard.
Invasive plants (such as ivy and morning glory vines), poisonous plants (including poison oak and poison ivy), or invasive weeds.
Plants or lawn and garden clippings that are diseased, insect-infested or treated with pesticides or herbicides.
Woods such as black walnut, eucalyptus or red cedar
Glass, metal or stones
Any non-organic materials such as plastics or synthetic fibers.
Never add materials treated with poisons or pesticides because they will contaminate the compost.



I hope this gives you some ideas to start composting for your garden. If you are looking for other gardening ideas and information just look on the right side of the page. Click on Gardening under Categories to find deals.

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