Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Compost: Closing the gap between kitchen and farm

What is Compost?

Compost links what we eat at the table back to the farm and soil. Composting is basically recycling natural materials. I think composting makes the earth a better place, and that's the purpose of this post! Compost is decomposed plant and animal materials including leaves, grass clippings, kitchen waste, straw, wood chips, manure, etc. These things are also called organic matter. Compost is a great soil fixer because it makes soil fertile and absorbs water well. It revives the nutrient and microbial balance of soil. There's something like a million microorganisms on a pinhead of soil. In other words, soil is alive. Compost is essential for a garden, especially when starting out.
 
Bin of kitchen waste for composting
 and worm composting
It all starts with gathering compost ingredients. It's like any food recipe. The key to a good compost pile is having a variety of ingredients and a good balance between green materials and drier, brown materials. This keeps the balance between moisture and air. A pile that's too wet will be a stinky mess that can harm your garden. A pile that's too dry will take long to make compost. It's nice to gather enough material to make a pile that's at least 3 cubic feet. That means 3 feet high, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet tall. With a pile that big, hot composting will occur. That means that the activity of bacteria will be so great that the pile may reach 140°F in a few days, and then decrease gradually. This is the fastest composting method and takes about 3 months. 

In cold composting, piles are either made too gradually or are not large enough to keep heat produced by bacteria that break down organic matter. In this method, compost may take a year. You know you have compost when the materials are broken down to the point of being unrecognizable from their original state. Good compost has a pleasant, earthy aroma. It's actually invigorating. Composting is generally neglected in conventional farming and is a pillar of organic and natural farming. It's used to reduce soil compaction and improve water absorption and nutrient balance. It helps reduce pH issues too, which means that it makes extremes in acidity or alkalinity of your soil not matter as much. Here's some of my favorite things about composting: 

Compost Ingredients

Fresh grass clippings, dry clippings and wood chips
Gather compost ingredients including kitchen waste, grass clippings, leaves, straw, manure, etc.  Grass clippings from lawns treated with commercial weed or insect killers can impair plant growth. Certain chemicals in weed killers, such as clopyralid, persist in soil for years and resist break down in composting. Spreading fresh grass clippings out to dry in the sun  allows you to use them as brown matter. Layer fresh grass clippings and other moist matter thinly in your pile to maintain air flow. Chop leaves with a mower to decrease matting. Cooked food, meats, and oils may invite rats and raccoons. Kitchen waste for the pile includes banana peels, citrus peels, apple cores, coffee grounds and filters, egg shells, and any uncooked stalks, stems, etc. Breaking up tough things like broccoli stalks with the back of an axe or hammer helps them compost quicker. Cover food scraps with leaves or dry grass clippings to keep flies and smells down.  

Schwebel, my Shih Tzu, on dry grass clippings
Balance your pile by mixing moist green things and food scraps with dry, brown materials until moisture of your pile is like a wrung out sponge. Some recommend repeating 6 inches of brown material and 2 inches of green material until you reach 3 feet high. I really don't follow a recipe that closely. I just keep the wrung out sponge idea in mind. Just get out there and learn by doing.

Adding dog and cat waste isn't recommended because it may spread bad germs. Although turning a pile isn't absolutely needed, turning occasionally (every 3-6 weeks) will quicken the process. If the pile is dry while turning, water or add green matter. If it's wet and smells of ammonia or sulfur, add dry matter. Placing your pile under a tree will help keep it from getting too wet, or from drying out in the sun. I cover my pile with a tarp to keep it in the sweet spot.    


Finished Compost, Bins, and Use

Join your pallets with screws
and 2x4s or Cerro wire
Compost bins promote even decomposition and help block pests and dogs. Wooden pallets screwed together or tied with Cerro wire works for me. Applying a 3-inch layer of compost is good for initial garden establishment. Follow with 1-2 inches of compost annually or after each crop. More compost than this may lead to an excess in phosphorus. A 2-inch layer of compost is enough for the nutrient needs of most crops, though additional nitrogen may be needed. Yellow leaves are a sign of nitrogen lack. Natural, organic sources of nitrogen include alfalfa meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, poultry manure, and compost tea. When I transplant seedlings, I usually use a small handful of balanced organic fertilizer or a shot of fish emulsion for each plant. You can get them at garden centers.   





3ft x 3ft x 3ft and ready for hot composting
Take Home Message

Compost is a great soil conditioner. It's good for the environment, helps reduce what we send to landfills, and connects us with the land. It reduces need for synthetic farm chemicals and pesticides. It's a great learning activity for all ages. Do your part in promoting health by composting your kitchen and yard waste.





Be Wholesome!
Joe Zastawny 

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