Composting 101

What is compost and what is it used for?

Compost is a nutrient-rich soil amendment resulting from the decomposition of organic matter (such as leaves, grass clippings and kitchen scraps).  It is used to increase the overall health of your garden.

Are compost and fertilizer the same?

There are many types of fertilizer, both organic and inorganic.  Compost is one type of organic fertilizer.


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Why should I make my own compost?  Can’t I just buy it?

You can buy bags of compost at a garden supply store (or you can order an entire truckload), but it’s simple to make, it’s FREE, and it’s the ecologically responsible thing to do since you are recycling your own household waste rather than having it trucked away (and also having finished compost trucked back into stores for you to purchase).  It’s also fun and fascinating to watch the cycle of life as rotting organic matter (such as your kitchen scraps) gets transformed, over time, into what’s called “black gold” or “gardener’s gold.” 

Is it necessary to buy a compost bin?  Is there an easier and cheaper way?

The easiest way to create compost involves trench composting.  If you have a big yard, just dig a hole or a trench, toss your garbage in there, and cover it with soil.  Voila!  Earthworms will be thrilled to discover the delectable feast, and the soil in that spot will be vastly enriched.

It’s easy and cheap to build your own compost pit – if you’ve got the space for it – using wire mesh and four wooden stakes.  Better yet, make it a double bin if you have room for it so that you can keep adding to one side while the other side is left to “cook” undisturbed.  (For large-volume composting, a third section could be added to store finished compost.)  Wooden bins (often made of rot-resistant cedar or pressure-treated wood) are sturdier and more attractive than wire mesh.  A tarp or fiberglass lid is often used to keep moisture in and keep excess rain out.

The ready-made bins that you purchase are often made of sturdy recycled plastic.  They are neater in appearance, offer better moisture control, hold in the heat, and deter wildlife (since they are covered with a lid that usually has a locking mechanism).

How does the composting process work?

The composting work is done by micro-organisms (such as bacteria and fungi) and macro-organisms (such as mites, centipedes, spiders, ants, and earthworms).  These organisms need food (carbon and nitrogen), air, and water (in proper proportion).  That’s why you fill a compost bin with carbon-rich “browns” (such as dried leaves) and nitrogen-rich “greens” (such as fresh grass clippings and vegetable scraps), along with air (proper ventilation) and water.  When you turn the compost (with a garden fork or by spinning a tumbler bin), you are “fluffing it up” and bringing more oxygen, which causes the micro-organisms to multiply faster, thereby speeding up the composting process.

How do I make compost using a bin?

Fill your bin with carbon-rich “browns” and nitrogen-rich “greens”, roughly in a 3:1 ratio of browns and greens.

Specifically, you can add:  

  • fruit and vegetable kitchen scraps; 
  • coffee grounds (with the paper filter);
  • fresh and dried plant material (fallen leaves, grass clippings, straw, sawdust, etc.);
  • weeds (that haven’t gone to seed); 
  • spent plants and flowers (if not diseased);
  • shredded cardboard and newspaper (but not the glossy inserts); and
  • manure, if available (but not dog and cat waste).  

Fanatical composters also toss in their drier lint, the pulp that comes out of their juice makers, the contents of their vacuum bags, used tea bags, used paper towels, nail clippings, and every hairball that the cat coughs up.

There are two more essentials to add:  moisture (water) and air circulation (provided by air vents and by manually rotating the contents).    The addition of heat (sunshine and warmer weather) revs up the composting process, but your pile can be either “hot” (active) or “cold” (passive).   The mixture should be kept evenly moist but not sopping wet.

What should I NOT add to the bin?

Don’t add meat, bones, cheese, and greasy stuff.  Don’t add:   things that aren’t biodegradable, things that contain toxic chemicals, charcoal ashes, diseased plants, weed seeds, and stuff that’s too thick to break down (such as twigs and fruit pits).

Do I have to make daily trips out to my compost bin?

You can make fewer trips outside if you save your kitchen scraps in a little covered kitchen bin or pail.  Any covered bin will do, but there are many for sale nowadays that are odorless, easy to clean, and stylish enough to leave on the kitchen countertop.

Are the bins smelly?

They shouldn’t be and won’t be if you have the proper green-brown balance.  If a compost bin smells bad, it probably contains too much moisture, perhaps in the form of soggy, wet garbage, so add more dry brown stuff.  Every time you put kitchen scraps in the bin, it’s good to toss something “brown” (such as dried leaves, straw or sawdust) on top.  The contents of your bin should be moist like a sponge that’s been wrung out, but not sopping wet.

Do compost bins attract rodents and critters?

Open bins are what attract animals.  A sturdy bin with a locking lid is nearly critter-proof, and so are the tumblers that are elevated off the ground.   Some people place a square of ½” wire mesh on the ground before situating an open-bottomed bin (to deter burrowing animals while still allowing entry to earthworms).

When will my compost be ready to use?

Perhaps in a few months, but it varies widely and depends a lot on the temperature, moisture content, ingredient composition, how often you rotate it, and other factors.  Breakdown is much faster during warmer weather.

How do I know when it’s ready?

Finished compost is a uniform dark brown color, the texture is crumbly or fluffy, and it has the sweet, woodsy smell of rich soil.

How can I speed up the composting process?

Shred, chop or blend waste products before adding them to the bin.   (One way of doing this is by using your lawn mower to run over fallen leaves.)   Maintain a good blend (roughly in a 3:1 ratio) between carbon-rich “browns” and nitrogen-rich “greens.”  Turn your pile (or spin your tumbler) often to give the organisms more oxygen.  Some people purchase an activator (such as Jobe’s Compost Starter), but it’s not necessary.  There are also natural activators, such as manure, that you could add.

Where can compost be used?

It can be used everywhere in the garden:  in planting beds, containers, around shrubs and trees, etc.  Use it as a soil amendment, topdressing, or mulch.  Ideally, all garden beds, shrubs, and trees should get at least an inch each year.  Also mix some compost in with potting soil for your houseplants.

When do I add compost to my garden?

Add it anytime, but at least once a year during the planting season.  Unfinished compost can be spread over the garden in the fall, and it will finish breaking down by spring.  To prepare a large bed for spring planting, make a “compost sandwich” in the fall by alternating layers of “browns” (such as sheets of cardboard and newspapers) and “greens” (such as fresh grass clippings).  Moisten each layer, and make sure your “sandwich” continues to get moisture during the winter months.

What is compost tea?  How is it made, and what do I do with it?

It’s a liquid form of compost that is super rich in nutrients.  You might find some for sale at your local farmers market, or you can buy some in the form of tea bags that you steep yourself. 

To make a batch yourself, put a big shovelful of finished compost into plastic bucket, fill the bucket with water, and let it steep for several days.  Then strain the contents of the bucket through burlap or other porous fabric, dilute what remains with water (so that it looks like weak tea), and use it immediately as a nutrient boost throughout your garden (and give your houseplants a drink, too).  Some people add supplements to the compost tea such as fish emulsion or powdered seaweed. 

Manure tea is similarly made by putting a shovelful of manure in a big burlap “tea bag” and letting it steep in a bucket of water for a week or so.  It can then be diluted and used in a watering can.

What should I look for in buying a bin?

First, consider its capacity and the size of its footprint.  If you’ve got a moderately sized garden, you might start with a bin that’s 3’ x 3’ x 3’ (one cubic yard).  If you want something bigger, go with something 4’ on each side.  If you buy from someplace like Amazon, read the product descriptions and the customer reviews.  What is the bin made of, and what are the small pieces of hardware made of?   Where is it made?  Is it BPA free?  If it’s a tumbler bin on a metal stand, is the metal galvanized?  How much assembly is required?  (Some bins are ready to use right out of the box, but most require some simple assembly.)  What tools (if any) are required for assembly?   Are the instructions easy to follow?  (Sometimes you can find better instructions by searching the Internet, and you might find a video at YouTube that shows you exactly how to assemble it.)

How does a stationary bin compare with a tumbler?

Tumblers have a spinning mechanism, which makes it easier to rotate (that is, aerate) the contents.  But tumblers can contain only so much compost before they become too heavy to spin.

If you have a stationary bin, you should occasionally rotate the contents manually (with a garden fork or aerating tool).  Bins are usually bottomless because they are meant to be positioned directly on soil.  That allows easy access to earthworms, which are mini composting machines of their own since they eat huge amounts of organic matter and break it down into pure humus.  Earthworms aerate the soil and do more to improve your soil structure than any other burrowing organism.

What’s the advantage to having a tumbler with two chambers rather than one?

One side can be left to “cook” while you can keep adding to the other side.

Where do I put a compost bin?

Position your bin in a warm (sunny) location, usually in the corner of your yard and directly on level soil.  It should have reasonable proximity to your kitchen so that you’ll get in the habit of using it.

There’s no room on my balcony for a bin.  Is there any other way to make compost?

Indoor worm bins are often the choice for urban and apartment dwellers.  (This is called vermiculture or vermicomposting.)   You can buy a bin that comes complete with the worms (red wigglers) and that can be kept in any small storage space.  The bedding can be made from moist newspaper strips, the worms can be fed coffee grounds and kitchen scraps, and the finished compost (from worm castings) will provide you with a very rich soil conditioner.

BEFORE

AFTER

HAPPY COMPOSTING!