When you're building your own organic garden, composting is an important part of your garden environment.
Although you could add some of the materials which you make compost from directly to the soil and save some time and effort, the composting process reduces weeds and other threats, reduces or eliminates odor and allows the nutrients to be more easily taken up by your plants.
Making your own compost is fairly simple. Some people have tried it but may not have been successful. That is usually because of lack of knowledge or not being consistent in maintaining their compost pile or using some inappropriate material in its construction.
You can buy a plastic compost bin from a garden store or make a container for your compost heap yourself. They are fairly simple but need to be well made so that you reduce the possibility of problems like a vermin attack or the development of anaerobic bacteria which will result if the material is too dry or compacted to cook and convert to humus as intended.
You don't really need a bin - you could just pile the scraps in layers in a loose pile. But, I suggest that you use some sort of container so that:
· You remove the material from view while it is converted to compost.
· You deter vermin.
· You reduce the possibility of neighbors complaining to you or the local authorities about the appearance or supposed odor of your compost pile. A well-balanced and maintained pile will have little odor anyway, but neighbor relations are very important.
· You will substantially reduce the time it will take to produce your compost. A pile will probably take at least a year but using a container will reduce that a lot.
· A pile will take up more valuable garden space.
· Moving a bin is not recommended but moving a pile, if it became necessary, would be a lot worse.
Locating your compost bin will need thought. A shaded position which is warmed by the sun and out of the busiest areas is preferred.
But, you need to make sure that it is not so isolated that family members start to dump their scraps in the waste bin instead to save themselves some time.
Home-made structures are more likely to let vermin in or interfere with the proper processing of the contents which can results in a smelly mess.
Whatever sort of bin you decide to use, these are important features to have:
· Design should include an easy way to get out the prepared compost from the bottom of the heap. This could be a hatch near the bottom which you open to remove the content after it is processed.
· A tight but easily removable lid to keep vermin and bugs out.
· Small gaps that will let air in but not so big that smell (if any) or contents can get out.
You might want to shred any raw material which you have a lot of to reduce the time it will take to be processed.
Possible Content
Garden clippings - Avoid anything which has bugs, sprays or infection on it or is very wet. Don't include large amounts of one item such as grass clippings which could make the balance between different carbon or nitrogen components become unbalanced. Wet grass clippings will also be a problem if they become a mouldy layer in the heap.
Kitchen scraps - Avoid bones or meat (attract vermin and causes smells), citrus (especially skins) and anything which has mould or other problems.
Newsprint - It should be shredded before use.
Manure - Avoid dog, cat or human waste.
Sometimes, compost heaps don't produce the right result. That is usually due to an imbalance between the amount of the various types of ingredients, contamination, too much moisture, lack of aeration or because there was not enough material in total for the bacteria to thrive and do its work.
With the above advice, you can reduce your kitchen and garden waste and at the same time, put it to work for you in a positive way. You will feed your organic garden, which will in turn, help to feed your family and you!
Find out how to create your own rich, organic garden. "Your Organic Garden Guide" is packed full of tips and advice. It's available from: http://www.organic-garden-guide.com/.
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