Composting:the rotten truth

Anne KolaczykPurdue University Master Gardener

©2006Anne Kolaczyk

CompostingComposting is the transformation of organic material (plant matter) through decomposition into a soil-like material called compost.

Invertebrates (insects and earthworms), and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) help in this transformation.

Kinds Bin composting Tumbler composting Sunken pail composting Sheet composting Anaerobic composting Vermicomposting

Why do it Environmentally responsible

Keeps biodegradable waste out of landfills and sewage plants

Alternative to burning Gives you a vibrant garden

without chemical fertilizers Saves money Learning tool

What it involves Adding ingredients Maintaining proper temperature Turning Maintaining moisture Harvesting

Bin composting

“backyard composting”

Composting bins Ready made Homemade Bin-less pile

Ready made Expensive Limited capacity Good if space is an

issue

Homemade Three bins are best

One to fill One that’s “cooking” One to turn others into or to draw from

Bin-less pile Just a pile with no partitions Hard to maintain sufficient depth to

achieve high enough temperatures Easy and nothing to build Moveable

What you can compost Yard waste Kitchen scraps Newspaper Cardboard

What not to compost Meat scraps Bones Dairy products Pet waste Diseased plants Invasive weeds

C:N ratio Should be 30 parts carbon to 1 part

nitrogen by weight Grass Clippings 19:1 Leaves 40:1

Equal weight of each would give you approximately 30:1 ratio for pile

What’s what Brown (Carbon)

Leaves Dirt Grocery bags Bird seed hulls Wood chips

Green (Nitrogen) Grass clippings Plant clippings Fertilizer Coffee grounds

C:N ratio, my take

Whatever!

Care of compost Passive

Let sit Takes months and months

Active Turn often Keep moist (H2O 40-60% of weight) Have proper ratio of C:N (30:1) 2-6 weeks (depending on ingredients)

Let’s get realConcerns Solutions

I don’t have room Use commercial bin

It takes too long Maintain proper conditions Cut up large pieces

It smells Not if you maintain C:N ratio

Temps too low to kill diseases, fungi, weed seeds

Use local community composting facility for problem pieces, compost the rest

Attracts animals Bury food waste in center

Uses Early stages as mulch

Keeps weeds from growing Helps retain moisture Beneficial minerals go into soil

Later stages for soil amending Enriches soil Helps with moisture retention

Removes/reduces need for chemical fertilizers that leach into our ground water

What method is right for me??? How much space do I have?

Is it indoor or outdoor or both?

What do I want to compost? How much waste do I have a week?

How and where do I want to use the compost? How much time can I spend on it a week? What’s my ewww! factor? How committed am I to composting?

Resources Purdue Extension office Library Internet

Anaerobic

Vermi

Sheet

Pail

Tumbler

Bin

composting

Just do it!