For all of those interested in organic gardening having good compost is the key to success. By applying compost to the topsoil or digging it in, the soil will become rich in nutrients and you will find you no longer need to use chemical fertilizers. Not only will it be saving you money, you will be doing your bit to keep the environment clean. A good compost will improve the structure of the soil and help to retain moisture.
The soil is the basis for everything that grows in our gardens. If the soil is nutrient weak, or devoid of beneficial micro-organisms, it will not support healthy plants. You can try to improve the plants with fertilizers, but they will never grow as well as a plant grown in a healthy soil. Decaying plant wastes, such as dead leaves and vegetable scraps from your kitchen, are the basis of a good compost.
So what is compost?
Compost is the product of the decay of organic matter such as leaves, vegetable scraps, garden waste or any other organic. Put simply compost is the end product of the decomposition of organic matter.
What is compost good for?
Compost is great for improving the nutrient quality, structure and moisture holding capacity of your soil. It provides nutrients for your plants allowing them to thrive. Composting adds beneficial microbes to the soil, attracts earthworms and can suppress several soil born diseases. Compost holds its nutrients in slow release form, allowing for availability throughout the year. You can never add too much compost to your soil. It is also a great way to recycle kitchen scraps and garden waste. You may also find that many vegetable crops and other plants will start to grow out of your compost which is an added side-benefit. Some of the biggest and tastiest tomatoes that I have ever produced grew directly out of a compost heap.
So what to add to the compost?
The simplest mix is kitchen vegetable scraps, green off-cuts, grass clippings and dead leaves from the garden. Egg shells are a favorite of mine, and are a valuable source of lime. Most people have access to all this within their own household.
Here is a general list of what you can use.
The ‘greens’, which are nitrogen rich - they include raw vegetable peelings and scraps from your kitchen, green off-cuts, tea bags and tea leaves, coffee grounds and animal manure from cows, horses, and chickens.
The ‘browns’, which are carbon rich - they include fallen leaves, woody cuttings and twigs, and paper. You may also compost eggshells and natural fibres, eg 100% wool or cotton.
It is important not to add plant materials suffering from diseases and also avoid putting weeds in your compost, as these may re-appear when you put the compost on the garden. Also don’t use animal products such as meat or dairy, as this will attract vermin.
How to make compost?
It is really quite easy. To make compost, you will need a compost bin. You could build your own or purchase one from a hardware outlet. There are two standard types of composting bins. There are static bins and tumbler bins. A static bin is a large baseless bin. You place it on the ground and place your material in the top, which comes into contact with the soil/earth below. There should be small doors on all sides at the base to allow you to open the bin and circulate the base material back to the top. The other style of bin, the tumbler, usually consists of a circular bin or tub, attached to a metal frame, so that the bin can be spun end-over–end allowing for aeration. Rotating the mix, and having aeration, is important to the composting process.
The quickest way for material to break down is to have good air-circulation, water and heat. We provide air-circulation by rotating the mix. The mix will create and retain its own heat as long as you keep the lid shut. I would also advise to place the compost bin or heap in a sunny position. Water is another key component. Keep the compost moist. The combination of air circulation, water and heat will allow the microbes to thrive and this will speed up the composting process.
Fill your bin with a 15 - 30 centimetre layer of material to be composted, then a layer of an alternative material to be composted. The best way is to alternate and mix equal amounts of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ material by volume.
This is my standard base mix for compost:
Vegetable scraps or green garden waste, followed by dry leaves and twigs. Then I add another layer of vegetable scraps followed by a layer of newspapers, and so on. (When using newspapers make sure you tear it up and separate it before it goes into the compost). Alternate between green and brown layers, it is a very simple process. I usually include thin soil layers to introduce microbes and help bind any nutrients that might leach out.
The important thing is to alternate layers in the compost between green and brown. Things such as dried leaves, twigs and branches allow air to circulate through the compost because they don’t completely compact. Alternatively a bin full of vegetable scraps would become too compact, not much air could get inside, and composting would be difficult. Break up any large branches or twigs, into smaller portions as this will create more surface area, which will allow for more air pockets and this translates into a faster breakdown time. Brown layers will tend to be more open and help to aerate the heap reducing the need for turning. You will notice as time progresses your compost will shrink as it breaks down and you will be able to add more material. If you decide to make your compost in a heap (instead of a bin), turning it with a garden fork about once a fortnight will help it to rot quicker.
When your bin is full, it is important to rotate the mix. If you have the static bin you open up the little trap doors, and shovel the base material to the top, then re-water again. If you have the tumbler bin simply spin the bin a few times a week to get the air moving through.
Compost can be made within just a few months. The more effort you put in, the quicker you will get compost. More air circulation coupled with moisture translates into a faster composting process. As the material breaks down eventually it will become a dark brown, or rich black colour and look like soil. This means it is ready for use. Sprinkle large amounts around the base of your trees and plants, or you can fork it in. A good technique is to fork the ground, and add compost on top. The aeration is good for the soil and compost will fall into the holes taking nutrient directly into the soil.
Organic gardening is about using naturally evolved systems within your garden. You can produce compost from garden waste, which will re-nourish that garden from which it originally came. So in effect, your garden provides it’s own nutrient and this process is continually sustainable. Compost is all about recycling the nutrients.
If you don’t already make your own compost from garden and kitchen waste, get started right away, you will be helping yourself, your garden and the environment!
If you need further information, or have any questions relating to your garden please send me an email.
