Restore The Earth Series PART 1 PART 2 PART 3
Some Notions That Make Composting Difficult AND Crazy:
- Composting without BUGS
- Composting without mold
- Enzymatic composting ??? if you want to complicate it, go for it!
1) Composting Bugs & Organisms - break down waste
- Bugs are natural decomposers. Sow bugs, earthworms, centipedes, beetles, among many others.
- Common green mold was BORN to compost
- If you have a healthy (moist) compost, there will be lots of bugs; earthworms are terrific.
- Decomposing bugs will be happy in a healthy compost and leave the gardens alone
- Bugs leave completely composted humous for new new waste - keep it coming!
- various complex levels of micro-organisms are involved in creating heat up to 160'.
2) Easy Composting Tips
- Dig waste directly into the garden between the rows. It will break down very quickly this way during the warm growing season, feeding plant roots.
- Leaves in the fall, can be turned into the garden soil; turn again in early spring a couple of times, before planting
3) Why Compost Fails 
- not enough moisture
- insufficient mix of moisture, organisms, with waste
- If the compost doesn't appear to be 'working', do the layering process over
4) Tips For Animal Waste - manure, meat, etc.
- can be composted (separately) instead of throwing in the garbage
- carries potentially harmful organisms
- manure is still great for growing, but needs to be completely composted for at least 6 months before application to food crops
- keep separate from main compost, but layer & maintain the same way
- can be dug (at least 8") into the ground around ornamental plants - not too close
http://www.squidoo.com/how_to_composting
Next Time
- How much compost does the garden need?
- Weed Seeds & Diseased Plants
- Keeping Pests Out
- Bugs In The Garden
Deborah, I love the "miracle" of how composting turns leftover food and garden waste into rich organic "soil" for my garden!
I'll try the tip to dig it into the garden as is. Why not, it might keep the rats out of it?
My composting efforts have been slowed by Mother Nature. We got about 6-7 inches of snow yesterday.
Ha Deb! Not at all - I'm with you on the composting 'crazies' list - people kind of look at me sideways too. I'd likely be pretty excited about the prospect of so much rot myself!
Hi Deb,I have started to layer my piles leaves and yard debris. Do you think it is to early?
Keep the great blogs coming I learn so much from them....
Thanks Darci
HAVE A GREAT AND PROSPEROUS DAY :)
Hi Darci - Cute graphic! It isn't too early - you'll have a head start on the process. Once it really starts warming you can turn again to mix it up, or layer more, making sure it is moist. The warm weather then helps it a lot, but only if it's moist enough and with enough soil - only needs a sprinkling.
Thanks for the lovely greeting!
Patrice - I know there is a method of composting to keep out pests, but not sure what that is. I have used chicken wire secured across the opening and over the top, to enclose the compost when I had racoons coming. You might try that. let me know what other ideas you find.
Good Luck!
Hi Deborah, Excellent series. Composting has been a way of life for many years. I first learned about it way back in the sixties from Mother Earth News and Rodale's Organic Gardening. If you can find a source of organic, nonantibiotic infected chicken or horse manure (llama manure is also good) it can become a safe admixture for the brown part of the mix. This is for hot composting. It will heat up fast and kill any microorganisms. If pests are coming, the mix is wrong. For the first time ever we started a worm bin this year. Kitchen waste goes here. We have plenty of other organic matter for regular composte. Thanks again for the series. You've done a good service; and its nice to be reading you again.
Thanks David - I am certain you are master at composting for sure! I totally agree with the points you've made on hot compost, manure, and pests.
that's it--I need to do a post on composting, too--although it can't beat this one! Very nicely done, Deborah! My dad helped me convert some old floating-dock barrels into a composter and rainbarrels--I am officially a gardener again this year!
This is the 4th of a series Loretta. I've composted many years and love it! Rain barrels are awesome - we have them at Kelowna Community Gardens. Floating dock barrels - sounds interesting!