Composting

Whether you live in the big city, a small town, or on a farm, you can make your own compost.  It's easier than one might think.  Follow these four easy steps (or do like I did and cheat.  Buy a compost bin!)

• Step 1: Combine Green and Brown Materials. To make your own hot-compost heap, wait until you have enough materials to make a pile at least 3 feet deep. Or don't.  I've never waited quite that long, rather adding a layer at a time as I have the material.  The deeper the compost heap, the faster it heats up.  Shallower piles will take longer to break down.  
• Step 2: Water Your Pile. Sprinkle water over the pile regularly so it has the consistency of a damp sponge. Don't get carried away and drown your pile, since too much water will keep the compost from heating up.  
• Step 3: Stir Your Pile. I use a pitchfork to "turn" the pile.  This allows me to turn more material at once.  
• Step 4: Feed your garden. Be sure your compost has broken down sufficient and gotten hot enough to kill any seeds that might have been in it.  

I don't always have time for tending and turning compost piles on the ground.  I got lucky and found this fabulous tumbler composter at a yard sale for a whopping $20.  With this beast, I make compost year round.  

I throw just about everything in here.  Straw from the hen house, last fall's leaves (If they weren't already added to the garden beds), chicken manure, shredded paper, and coffee grounds.  

It's starting to dry a little, but the heat inside is pretty good, so I sprinkled it with water and gave it a good turn.  There are bars inside the tumbler that break the matter up so it doesn't clump.  I've added  five 30 gallon trash bags of leaves which are already breaking down into some wonderful compost. A couple weeks back this was completely full, so you see how quickly this is all reducing.

  

There isn't anything around this little homestead that goes to waste.  I keep a small stainless steel bucket to catch banana peels, coffee grounds  (paper filters included), egg shells and anything from the kitchen that isn't meat or dairy.   I've discovered grass clippings heat up fast, so I make it a point to add those to the bin as well.

There are many "formulas" for green to brown ratios but I'm not that scientific in my approach.  As long as I keep the ratios about 50/50 my materials break down well enough for me.

A simple rule of thumb:

Add brown materials first - a 6 inch layer such as hay, straw, leaves, sawdust, finely shredded wood chips. Water until it feels like a damp sponge.  On top of your first layer  you'll add 2-3" of green materials, like grass clippings, manure and  kitchen food scraps. Water again.  Keep repeating these layers until you have a nice, deep pile.

Water the last layer and cover with a tarp (this helps speed the composition process and keeps rain off it so it doesn't become over saturated).  Every few days get out and turn the pile by hand. When you turn the compost, put your hand down close to it.  If you feel heat coming off it, then it's doing what it's designed to do.  Put the cover back in place.  It's a good idea to weigh the corners of the cover with bricks so the wind doesn't pick it up.

A little  note:  If your compost is getting slimy and stinky, it's too wet.  Uncover it and let it dry out a bit before you put the tarp back on.  

Meanwhile, get out and get composting!

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