So, since we got the allotment, I have had to dig out my composting knowledge. The previous lot holder has left us with a small mountain of biosolids in various states of decay.
It's a good thing that I have a degree in Ag/Bio Engineering and have studied composting intensively, thanks to a certain Terry Fonstad. Also, I might add here, just to continue the name dropping that I know Joy Agnew, discoverer of the Agnew Coefficient - of much use if you need to calculate the bulk density of a large pile of 'who know's what'. So yes, composting is something I know about.
Anyway, here's the science bit: Everything that was once living can be composted, from bones to soild waste to phone books. There are millions of wee creatures from several animal and plant kingdoms that will eagerly help this process along. Fungi, molds, bacterium and even small mites. The good news is that they are pretty much everywhere and there is NO NEED to add any sort of 'innoculant' - eg: magic potion from the garden centre to 'start' your compost.
This little army of microorganisms is all set and ready - they just need the right conditions to grow and work. There are three biggies - air, water and nutrients, and one smallie - temperature (although that usually sorts it self out).
Let's look at each of them:
1. Air - most of these bugs need to breathe, so they need air. This means no completely sealed buckets and the pile must be porous enough to let air in. Alternatively, and this is often the case with your home compost, you must turn it. Your compost will still break down without air, that's called anaerobic digestion, but it will stink like rotten eggs or various other nastiness.
2. Water - Your compost needs to be damp. How damp? Probably damper than you think it aught to be. It should have enough water than when you squeeze it, a tiny bit of water comes out, but not so much that when you pick it up, it drips. Think - wet sponge. This is very often a problem if you live in a dry climate - such as the Canadian praries, so you will need to add water, and keep adding it as it will dry out. Remember, some things come with water in them already - manures and a lot of food wates. Getting this right is really key.
3. Nutrients - These little guys need Nitrogen, but not too much. Ideally you want 30 parts of Carbon to 1 part of Nitrogen. Pretty much everything you put in the pile will have Nitrogen in it, but not often at the ideal 30:1 ratio. You can fix this by adding a bit of high Nitrogen things in - grass clippings or pine needles being common things. If you are really stuck, you can cheat by putting a tiny bit of Nitrogen fertiliser in. Too much nitrogen is also bad and will slow the bugs down.
4. Temperature - The great thing about these little bugs is that when they work they make their own heat. When they are working very hard, they get very hot. If your pile is smoking (literally) hot that's means they are working. Some of the bugs will not like insane heat levels, the normal temp is between 50 and 60 degrees C. In the summer, turning will help keep it from getting too hot. In the winter/spring/fall, not turning it as much might help - usually just keeping the right balance going of nutrients and water will be enough.
Some other notes - mix well and make sure you don't have bits that are too huge. I've composted whole chickens before and they will go right down to nothing, but that was a BIG pile. For household piles, keep it smallish. Another thing is meat - they always say not to, but this isn't because you can't, it's just because rotting meat tends to attract rats, cats, dogs and bears. Use your own discretion there.
As for commercially available composters - I pick the rotary composter. I like that fact you don't have to dig and move all the compost. It also keeps things neat and tidy and pest free. The round black ones work okay, but the idea that you just pull 'finished' compost from the bottom... I've never seen that work super well. There are always bits that need more time.
Anyway, that's all really. Enjoy.
5 comments:
Wow - that's all really helpful information... I confess - I actually had quite a limited amount of information about composting before reading this Steve - you had always just sort of mentioned it in passing - this needs turning, they really should be adding water to this, etc... I had no idea why really. Now I do. Thanks.
Kept meaning to get a book about it or something, but never got around to it...
That's totally awesome! :) (Bears shouldn't be too much of a problem in Scotland, right?)
Now I want a garden, so I can start my own compost.
Thanks for special post. I liked your referral to the prairies.
Last week I decided to move our composter (a black round one). You will be happy to know I had a great amount of soil made. Only a few things were left from last year, eggs shells and a rolled up flyer. Pretty good, hey?
For some reason I thought that paper was a good source of nitrogen. Is this incorrect? Otherwise I will head to Canadian Tire and pick up some nitrogen.
I have been composting everything from dryer lint, hair, dust from my vacuum, phone bills, to the obvious fruits and vegetables. All this stuff is okay, right? Someone told me that it wouldn't make good soil.
Do you think that it would be okay if I added bread with spreads on them to the pile? Cali so often will not finish her sandwiches. I hate to see them go to the landfill.
Again thanks for the special compost post :) I think another great idea would growing your own vegetable garden in a city. You know, how to protect it from the neighbour's cats and small children, how to get started etc.
What about composting paper towels with chemicals on them like Windex? Is that a good idea?
Becky:
Thanks, composting is a lot simpler than people make it out to be, you just need the facts.
Theresa:
You should try to get one in TO! You can grow almost anything there.
Meag:
Paper is definitely not a good source of Nitrogen - rule of thumb: if it's green it's got N. Sounds like you did have a good experience, the rolled up paper would have needed to be broken up a bit, it probably got waterlogged and compacted. All the stuff you mentioned is completely fine, especially the bread with spreads on it. Lastly, paper towel with chemicals is probably okay in limited quantities. Actually, if it's Windex though - that's great! Add lots of that because Windex is basically just ammonia - PURE Nitrogen. You just don't want to be adding loads of things that are anti-bacterial like bleach, that will kill the bugs.
I think the best way to grow veg in the city - protected - is probably to do so in a greenhouse. But there are other options. I'll post pics of my cold frame as soon as it's done.
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