An overview of what compost is and tips and instructions on how to make your own.
Compost is by definition the breakdown of organic matter into humus, or partially decayed waste that fertilizes dirt and soil. Composting is as old as the earth itself. Nature composts naturally during the different seasons of the year. Farmers have used composted material to help improve the soil they plant for thousands of years.
Compost is prized by gardeners and garden centers alike. Referred to as black gold, good compost can be expensive to purchase. Compost is also used to raise worms for fishing and garden uses.
Compost can be anything organic, leaves, grass, kitchen waste, garden trash and animal waste. Composting can be done by many methods from simply piling waste and allowing it to decompose to high tech machinery that hurries the decomposing process.
Making your own compost is easy and will provide you with essential nutrients for your backyard garden or flowerbed. You could start with a simple woven wire ring approximately five feet in diameter. Place the ring somewhere where it will not be unsightly, but will also be convenient. Start by filling with leaves and grass. Every time you rake or mow the grass, add to the pile. Heat from the sun, and the moisture in the air, will cause the lower levels of your ring to cook faster, so you will always have room for more. Add to this any kitchen scraps you have daily. You can use an empty coffee can in the kitchen to collect eggshells, fruit and vegetable skins and trimmings, and other waste from meal preparation. Leftovers can be tossed in the can as well.
If you start this process in the early spring, it will take approximately a year for you to be able to harvest the compost for your garden. To harvest, simply remove the ring and begin using.
A second method is using a metal fifty five gallon drum. Begin by drilling holes around the lower third of the barrel. The barrel compost bin is best for grass clippings and kitchen scraps, as leaves do not break down as quickly. The same principles apply, start early in the spring to have compost for the next year.
The third method is the easiest and fastest. It also requires a bit more work on your part. Locate ten equal sized wood pallets. These can usually be acquired free by calling local manufacturing companies. They can sometimes be obtained at grocery stores also. You will also need a drill, wood screws and a few hinges and hook and eye closings. You will also need a shovel.
Begin by attaching three of the pallets together in a 'U' shape. With the open side facing you, attach two more to complete a second 'U' attached to the first. Repeat this with two more to make a third 'U'. You should have three pallet panels remaining.
Align each panel with the right side of each 'U'. Attach the hinges so that the panels will swing outwardly open. Attach a hook and eye closure to each panel.
To start using your new compost system, begin as you would for cage or barrel using the first section only. When the first section is full, and has cooked for a month or more, use your shovel to scoop the material into the second section. Start refilling the first section. When the first section is again full, move the materials in the second section to the third, and the first to the second.
After approximately three months, the material in the third section will be ready for use. In the late fall, make sure all of your material is in the third section. Add the material from the second bin, and then add the remaining debris from the first section.
As with the other methods, the compost that remains until spring is the best. Nature tends to work slowly. This method works a bit faster because in the course of moving it from bin to bin you are turning the material as it cooks.
Composting is a wonderful way to contribute to the environment around you. Not only will you be saving space in your local landfill, you will also have your own black gold for your gardens.
