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There's Gold in Those Suburbs...

Defy authority! Don't perch those bags of yard waste on the curb. Why, with a little backyard alchemy, you can turn that stuff into gold. Black-gold, known as compost.

Have you got what it takes to compost? Sun, air, water, a containment system and basic knowledge. Start with that last thing and everything else will fall into place. The raw materials are either nitrogen-rich green (grass clippings, weeds, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds) or carbon-rich brown (autumn leaves, dry stalks and straw). You need layers of both, since each offers varying amounts of moisture and air space.

Don't let me blind you with science, but the beneficial microorganisms, or microbes, that actually break down the raw materials are aerobic (require air) or anaerobic (require water). So, a successful compost pile must provide both elements.

Location is everything. To work efficiently, your compost pile should receive full sun. It's not terribly decorative, so you may want to tuck it beyond the vegetable bed or rose garden - accessible, but not a landscape focal point.

Containment? Plastic compost bins are tidy and readily available. Wooden pallets on edge, fence-like, are another option. Want simple and inexpensive? Form wire garden fencing into circular bins (choose 3-4' high stock), about 4-6' in diameter. Cover the sides with heavy black plastic for enhanced solar heating.

Water? Open compost piles, left with a depression to catch rain, are given supplemental waterings, during dry spells. Covered bins should be watered with 1-2 gallons, weekly. Add a liquid fish/seaweed fertilizer, as a compost activator.

Air? Plunge a garden fork into the heart of the pile, giving it a vigorous turn, about once a week. Alternatively, install several perforated lengths of PVC pipe across the center of the pile, for continual aeration. A sour-smelling pile indicates too much moisture/not enough air.

Tips: Do not compost diseased vegetation, weed seeds, meat scraps or pet waste. Cut or shred all raw materials, to facilitate breakdown. The pile center should run about 110-160- less heat slows the process, more kills off the microbes. Invest in a compost thermometer.

Your finished compost is rich with earthworms and microbes, ready to nourish and improve any garden soil. It holds more moisture than peat, but is equally valuable at improving the texture of clay or sandy soil. As a mulch or soil amendment, compost is black-gold. Here's to backyard alchemy!

Learn more about this author, Deb Lambert.
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