by Karyn B Jules

Created on: May 08, 2008   Last Updated: May 30, 2010

Producing your own rich organic compost has two distinct environmental benefits. The first involves your immediate environment, your garden. Compost, when prepared correctly, is an invaluable resource for creating healthy soil and lush, vigorous plant growth. When added to light sandy soil it improves water retention and enriches the soil with nutrients that would otherwise be lacking. In clay soil it serves to lighten the texture, allowing plants to develop a strong root system, and also allows water to penetrate more readily. Secondly, using organic waste from in and around the home to make compost helps to keep those pollutants out of landfill, benefiting our larger environment as a whole.

There are a number of tried and tested methods for making compost. Which of these you choose will depend on the needs of your garden, available space, and the quantity of waste matter you have at your disposal.

Open compost heaps require plenty of space, and are best suited to larger properties where the heap will be well away from the house and outdoor recreational areas. An open heap can produce substantial quantities of compost in a relatively short period, making it ideal for the avid flower and vegetable gardener. Some manual labour and planning are involved in making an open compost heap productive. It must be turned over regularly and kept moist but not too wet to allow its contents to heat up and decompose quickly without becoming putrid and a haven for vermin.

By far the most popular form of composting is to use a purpose built compost bin. These bins are now available in an array of sizes, shapes and colors. The compost bin is bottomless and is placed directly onto bare soil. Worms and other organisms work their way up through the decaying matter in the bin, aerating it and adding their own castings to the mix. A tight fitting lid keeps odors at bay, and allows easy access for adding raw material. Composting in a closed system of this type can take six months or more before a usable product is produced, so it is a good idea to have a second bin filling while the first load breaks down.

Vermiculture has become a thriving business over the last decade. Worms are nature's own perfect composters, and will break organic waste down into usable compost at a much quicker rate than any man made composting technique. Worm farms can be purchased as kits in a range of sizes to suit even the smallest household's needs. They come complete with instructions and are very simple

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