Composting for Home

By Mr.Allah Dad Khan

What is compost?What is compost?

1.1. Stable humus materialStable humus material2.2. Produced when organic Produced when organic

matter is broken down by matter is broken down by bacteria and fungibacteria and fungi

3.3. Valuable soil amendmentValuable soil amendment4.4. Pleasant smelling, “black Pleasant smelling, “black

gold”gold”5.5. Nature’s way of Nature’s way of

recycling!recycling!

All organic matter will decompose in due time. All organic matter will decompose in due time. (Gardeners just like to help it along…) (Gardeners just like to help it along…)

Why you should compostWhy you should compostI.I. Improves tilth of soilImproves tilth of soilII.II. Protects and promotes health of your soil & plantsProtects and promotes health of your soil & plantsIII.III. May reduce need for fertilizersMay reduce need for fertilizersIV.IV. Saves you $$$ on soil amendmentsSaves you $$$ on soil amendmentsV.V. Keeps yard waste out of the landfillKeeps yard waste out of the landfill

What should you compost?What should you compost?

From your yardFrom your yard1.1. LeavesLeaves2.2. Grass clippingsGrass clippings3.3. Weeds (pest and disease-free, no seeds)Weeds (pest and disease-free, no seeds)4.4. Trimmings and pulled annuals (see above)Trimmings and pulled annuals (see above)5.5. Small diameter twigsSmall diameter twigs

What might you compost?What might you compost?

From your kitchenFrom your kitchen1.1. EggshellsEggshells2.2. Fruit and vegetable peelingsFruit and vegetable peelings3.3. Halloween pumpkinsHalloween pumpkins4.4. Crushed crab or lobster shellsCrushed crab or lobster shells5.5. Flower arrangementsFlower arrangements

What What elseelse can you compost? can you compost?

From your neighborhood businessesFrom your neighborhood businesses

1.1. Coffee groundsCoffee grounds2.2. Tea bagsTea bags3.3. Hops and other brewery wasteHops and other brewery waste4.4. Horse manure and beddingHorse manure and bedding

What you should What you should nevernever compost compost1.1. Noxious weeds (poison ivy, Noxious weeds (poison ivy,

invasive plants…)invasive plants…)2.2. Dog and cat feces, or cat litterDog and cat feces, or cat litter3.3. Large diameter woody branchesLarge diameter woody branches4.4. ““Glossy” leavesGlossy” leavesAlso:Also:

1.1. Insect-ridden plants Insect-ridden plants 2.2. Plants that have gone to seedPlants that have gone to seed3.3. Dairy products, meat, oils, or Dairy products, meat, oils, or

greasegrease

Oh, RATS!Oh, RATS!1.1. If you have a local “rodent If you have a local “rodent

problem”, don’t put food problem”, don’t put food scraps in your compost at scraps in your compost at allall

2.2. There’s no such thing as a There’s no such thing as a rat-proof bin!rat-proof bin!

How do you make compost?How do you make compost?To speed up the natural decomposition of organic To speed up the natural decomposition of organic matter, you can regulate:matter, you can regulate:

1.1. MoistureMoisture2.2. TemperatureTemperature3.3. AirAir4.4. Mix of ingredientsMix of ingredients

MoistureMoisture1.1. Water, in the right quantity, is needed Water, in the right quantity, is needed

for breakdown to occurfor breakdown to occur2.2. Most sources describe the right moisture Most sources describe the right moisture

level as damp, like a wrung-out spongelevel as damp, like a wrung-out sponge3.3. Leave compost open to the rainLeave compost open to the rain4.4. Consider adding waste water, if Consider adding waste water, if

necessary from necessary from i.i. a birdbatha birdbathii.ii. an aquarium or pondan aquarium or pondiii.iii. pot used to steam or boil vegetablespot used to steam or boil vegetables

TemperatureTemperature

1.1. ““Hot” piles are simply piles with high metabolic Hot” piles are simply piles with high metabolic activity (= faster breakdown)activity (= faster breakdown)

2.2. ““Cold” piles will do the job, just more slowlyCold” piles will do the job, just more slowly

To maintain a “hot” pileTo maintain a “hot” pile

1.1. Pile must be > 27 cubic feet and Pile must be > 27 cubic feet and < 125 cubic feet, a.k.a. a pile 3-< 125 cubic feet, a.k.a. a pile 3-5 feet high, wide and deep 5 feet high, wide and deep (ideal is approx. 4’x4’x4’)(ideal is approx. 4’x4’x4’)

2.2. For best results, shred materials For best results, shred materials to increase surface area for to increase surface area for microbes to workmicrobes to work

3.3. Turn the pile – inside to outside Turn the pile – inside to outside – every two weeks or when the – every two weeks or when the temp reaches 130-140 degreestemp reaches 130-140 degrees

AirAir

1.Anaerobic conditions may result from1.Anaerobic conditions may result from1.1. Tightly packed material, like grass clippingsTightly packed material, like grass clippings2.2. Failure to turn pileFailure to turn pile3.3. No coarse materialNo coarse material4.4. Pile in close contact with ground (hint: a wooden Pile in close contact with ground (hint: a wooden

pallet is worth it’s weight in compost!) pallet is worth it’s weight in compost!) 2.Microbes cannot survive under 2.Microbes cannot survive under

anaerobic conditionsanaerobic conditions3.Too much moisture = too little air!3.Too much moisture = too little air!

Mix of ingredientsMix of ingredients To layer or not to layer…To layer or not to layer… Greens and Browns, does it Greens and Browns, does it

matter?matter? Greens are nitrogen-rich Greens are nitrogen-rich

materialsmaterials Fresh grass clippingsFresh grass clippings Vegetable scrapsVegetable scraps Fresh hay, weeds and plant Fresh hay, weeds and plant

wastewaste Browns are carbon-rich Browns are carbon-rich

materialsmaterials LeavesLeaves Sawdust (from untreated Sawdust (from untreated

wood)wood) Wood chipsWood chips StrawStraw

What you What you don’tdon’t need need to make compostto make compost

Special equipmentSpecial equipment BioactivatorsBioactivators WormsWorms SoilSoil

LimeLime YeastYeast Finished compostFinished compost

or Fertilizer!or Fertilizer!

What type of pile?What type of pile?

Troubleshooting ITroubleshooting I My pile smells like ammoniaMy pile smells like ammonia

mix in dry brownsmix in dry browns My pile smells like rotten eggsMy pile smells like rotten eggs

Aerate, add dry browns to pile if it is too wetAerate, add dry browns to pile if it is too wet My pile isn’t heating upMy pile isn’t heating up

Check for proper moisture content, air spaces, Check for proper moisture content, air spaces, pile size, nitrogen (greens)pile size, nitrogen (greens)

My pile is TOO hotMy pile is TOO hot Turn the pileTurn the pile

Troubleshooting IITroubleshooting II My pile is attracting ratsMy pile is attracting rats

Don’t add food scraps, or bury them deeplyDon’t add food scraps, or bury them deeply My pile isn’t active at allMy pile isn’t active at all

Check moisture throughoutCheck moisture throughout Add nitrogen (grass clippings, coffee grounds…) Add nitrogen (grass clippings, coffee grounds…) Shred material if possibleShred material if possible

Is it done yet???Is it done yet???

Proper composting takes time!Proper composting takes time! Finished compost is earthy smelling, dark, and Finished compost is earthy smelling, dark, and

crumblycrumbly Finished compost will stay at or near the air Finished compost will stay at or near the air

temperature temperature Expect hot piles to take several months; cold Expect hot piles to take several months; cold

piles will take a year or more piles will take a year or more

Using your compostUsing your compost Flower and vegetable gardens Flower and vegetable gardens

Mix 3 to 4 inches of compost through Mix 3 to 4 inches of compost through entire bed before plantingentire bed before planting

Top dress established plants with Top dress established plants with several inches compostseveral inches compost

MulchMulch To eliminate weeds, protect soil, and To eliminate weeds, protect soil, and

keep roots moistkeep roots moist Seeding new lawns Seeding new lawns

Till in 4 inches of compostTill in 4 inches of compost Enriching established lawnsEnriching established lawns

Rake an inch or so of compost over Rake an inch or so of compost over lawn in falllawn in fall

Your soil Your soil thanks you thanks you for coming!for coming!