Composting 101 2016 12-17

COMPOSTING 101Ellen Book,

Master GardenerMiami-Dade County Cooperative Extension

Was NOT me

A Tumbler Bin Composter

GREENs = nitroGenBROWNs = carBon

NitroGen = ProteinCarBon = Energy

Compost Tips for the Home Gardenerhttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep323

Carbon – Browns Nitrogen – Greens

AS PILE TEMPERATURES & TIME IS NEEDED FOR VARIOUS

MICROORGANISMS TO COLONIZE

Left: (1 year old) Last year’s material all garden stuff, grass & leaves, kitchen: banana peels veg. trimmings from the pile’s top.

Middle: (2 years old) bottom of this year’s pile put into bags

Right: (3 years old) Finished product from the bags to be used in the garden & greenhouse this year

GUESS WHERE THIS COMPOST WAS MADE?

Smaller surface areas decompose faster

Compost bin cutaway

Aerationkeeps microbes alive.

ANEROBICmicrobesSTINK!

The free compost bins have trapdoors at the

bottom to access the compost.

Check for moisture when turning the compost.

The consistency should feel like a wrung-out sponge.

Unfinished compost may stress plants, causing

yellowing or stalling growth

Heat cooks most weeds

LANDFILL SITES

http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/compost-info/

COMPOSTING 101

QUESTIONS?

Upcoming Master Gardener Program:

Sat Jan 21, 2017 3pm – 4pm Re-designing Florida-Friendly Landscapes Wksp

Create & maintain a Florida-friendly landscape using 9 principles.West Dade Regional Library

9445 Coral Way

Access this presentation at: http://tinyurl.com/compostmiami