A Beginner's Guide to Composting

Is composting as difficult and time-consuming as it seems to novice gardeners like me? It doesn't have to be. With patience, determination and attention to detail, first-timers can enjoy the process of composting, creating their own natural soil additive for gardens, lawns and houseplants that will increase the soil's ability to absorb air and water, as well as suppress weed growth. That's good news for gardeners, well worth the time and effort.

Here are seven time-tested directions for starting a compost pile.

* Choose a compost bin - A designated trash can in the kitchen may suffice in the beginning stage; however, you'll want a bin for the entire composting process, which takes from six weeks to two years. The finished compost will occupy only 25-40% of the original pile, but the bin, which can easily and inexpensively be built from scratch or purchased ready-made, must be large enough to hold a moistened mass of at least one cubic yard of composting material throughout the process.

* Choose a location - A well-ventilated outdoor location near the house will aid in odor and rodent control, yet provide convenience for adding composting materials.

* Get started -First, begin by throwing green kitchen waste into the center of the bin: chopped or shredded vegetable peels and seeds, eggshells, fruit peels and seeds, nutshells and coffee grounds work best, according to experts. To avoid attracting unwanted animals, never compost meat scraps, dairy products, fat, oils, and bones.
o Adding other nitrogen-rich materials next, such as bean, pea, or clover plant residues and grass clippings from the first two or three cuttings in spring will produce a compost rich in high-nitrogen ingredients, according to microbial ecologist Elaine Ingham.
o Finally, add woody materials such as wood chips, sawdust, paper plates and towels, and shredded newspaper.

* Cover the compost pile - A layer of soil or previously finished compost keeps the surface from becoming too dry and begins the composting process, which will reach an internal temperature of approximately 135 degrees within a day or two, experts say.

* Turn the compost pile - Turning the pile every day or so for the first week speeds up the composting process, transferring the cooler outer layer to the center.

* Balance the moisture level - If it is too soggy or too dry, add sawdust, straw or water until it is damp to the touch.

* Is it compost yet? Here's how to tell: Individual materials should no longer be identifiable, the pile should resemble rich, dark, sweet, earthy-smelling soil that crumbles. If it smells bad, it is bad, and will be bad for your plants.

Whether you choose to blend the finished compost into the topsoil of your garden bed before planting, or brew a liquid-compost tea to spray on your plants in spring, composting will provide the satisfaction of waste reduction as it improves soil texture.

References:
http://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/clas ses/cs255w03/cs255students/mbo ks/p5/page1.html
http://www.taunton.com/finegar dening/how-to/articles/brewing -compost-tea.aspx
Kitchen Gardener 29, pp. 16-19

Learn more about this author, Shari K. Brian.
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