Though
we are still coping with snow, ice and fender benders, that
old ground hog just might not see his shadow today and we can
then think spring and a gear up for a renewed composting season.
Even if we are on the hook for six more weeks of winter, planning
and preparation is half the fun, and most of the success, in
any venture.
While increasing numbers of Westman households carry on composting
over the winter, others prefer it to be more of a growing season
project. Last month, we promised our readers that we would next
lead them on a literary tour through the process of setting
up a compost bin or pile to get off to a good start this spring.
It’s not rocket science, but sharing some dos and don’ts
will ensure the experience is more rewarding. Readers just joining
us can catch up on the past year’s composting journal
by contacting us at the number listed at the end of this column.
Composting is a living process. Decomposition has always been
the earth’s most natural and efficient way of recycling,
but we modern folk like to manage this process so that our yards
remain tidy and our soil healthy and productive. There are five
key factors involved in backyard composting, so I will describe
setting up a bin by dealing with each of these components in
turn.
Food is one of life’s essential elements and a compost
pile is no exception. What you put in – and how –
will largely determine the end result and can prevent problems
that may discourage novice composters. Food is divided into
two categories: green and brown. Green refers to fresh waste
like grass clippings or kitchen waste that provides nitrogen
and has a high moisture content. Brown equals carbon in the
process and includes dry material like leaves, straw and wood
waste.
The first thing that most of us do in spring is a brisk yard
clean up that includes gathering up unsightly leftover leaves
and dead plant waste. This drab, rotting material is actually
worth its weight in gold when setting up your bin. Reserve this
brown material in a covered garbage can or closed bag handy
to your pile, as it is usually in much shorter supply than fresh
green waste over our Westman growing season.
Balance is key in composting. It is important to add kitchen
and yard waste to your bin in a 50/50 ratio of green and brown
– each time – determined by weight, not volume,
of material. Remember, fresh waste weighs more because it has
more moisture. If you think of adding waste in terms of well-distributed
alternate layers (about two to six inches each), you won’t
forget to cover the fresh with a proportionate amount of dry.
This maintains the nutrient balance and curbs potential concerns
like undesirable pests, odors or an inefficient pile. Avoiding
meat, oils and dairy products will also ensure problem prevention.
It takes a lot of know how to successfully compost animal products,
as maintaining a consistently high pile temperature is crucial
to kill pathogens and deter the aforementioned pests and odors.
We also discourage adding chemically treated yard waste, as
the goal is to produce a rich organic product that will then
pay you back in great vegetables or flowers later on.
Your hardworking composting microorganisms will also need water,
but too much can lead to a slimy look and smell in your pile.
To determine positive moisture levels, grab a handful of material
from your pile. It should feel damp and have the consistency
of a wrung-out sponge. If it is too wet, add more dry waste,
and if it is too dry, just add water. Wait a bit after adding
new material to test moisture levels, as it is surprising how
much water fresh waste actually contains.
Without well-distributed airflow, your pile will lack the necessary
oxygen to sustain your composting critters and may create an
unpleasant ammonia odor. Too much aeration will disturb the
heat build up needed to promote efficient decomposition. A rule
of thumb is to stir or turn your pile three to five times over
the growing season using a tool such as a pitchfork or shovel.
You can also incorporate a few upright stakes, sturdy sticks
or PVC pipe in your bin when you first start your layers, so
that a vigorous shake of these will regularly aerate your pile.
The
last two of our five key factors are surface area and volume.
The type of bin or pile you choose will largely determine
optimum values of each of these. Although I mention these
components last, it is really a chicken-and-egg situation.
The entire composting process will be much more productive
and rewarding if you first examine some personal quotients
like yard and household size, desired bin location, how much
time and management you want to put into composting, and how
soon you expect your finished humus product. We have lots
of information to help answer these questions and select the
best bin type and pile style to match your needs.
Bacteria and microorganisms require easy access to organic
waste in order to break it down efficiently. Though decomposition
will still happen without human intervention, the more surface
area of this food that you can provide, the faster they feast,
reproduce and help generate heat. While the occasional larger
pieces of material like twigs or wood chips aid aeration in
your bin, we recommend cutting, chopping or shredding most
waste to make their job that much easier.
A compost bin or pile best operates within an ideal volume
of three to five cubic feet. Typical closed commercial units
are usually on the lesser scale and more open bins made from
wood, wire or recycled pallets are often built toward the
greater end of this range. It’s a balance thing again,
with your pile or bin needing to be small enough to create
adequate air flow and large enough to maintain appropriate
temperatures for decomposition.
The above information is intended as a general guide. How
people backyard compost is as individual a process as our
lifestyles and homes. If you stick to these five key factors
and experiment with your own unique variations, you will have
the satisfaction of creating a rich organic humus to nurture
your yard and garden in a safe and natural way. Best of all,
Mother Nature works for free, though it can be fun to help
her out a little along the way.
As mentioned in January, our actual Compost Quest
is pretty well wrapped up. Though this current project timeline
nears completion, that doesn’t mean, however, that we
are going to take our ‘piles’ and fade into the
sunset!
In early spring, we will be unveiling a new feature covering
a wider array of recycling issues and a review of eco events
on tap around Westman. We may answer to a different name,
but will always promote composting as a valuable part of the
3R’s. Upcoming columns will still provide timely composting
tips and we continue to welcome calls at 727-5675
for general composting information, troubleshooting tips,
workshops and presentations, or copies of previous columns.
Til then, we hope you will keep on developing your sense of
humus and make backyard composting second nature.
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