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Composting

Why Compost?
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of garbage generated annually in the United States is over 200 million tons!
Thanks to natural decomposition, food scraps and yard waste can be recycled at home. But, too much of our biodegradable, organic garbage just ends up in the trash. Composting is simple. Returning these organic materials to the soil perpetuates natural biological cycles and is an ecologically sensible means of using organic wastes. Composting provides for richer garden soil, improves the texture and aeration, increases the soil ’s ability to retain water, decreasing erosion. 

How Compost Forms?
Composting changes the nutrients in raw organic material to a form that can be absorbed by the roots of growing plants. Microorganisms such as soil bacteria and fungi accomplish this task by secreting enzymes that break down the material. The activity of these microorganisms can generate temperatures inside the compost pile in excess of 130 degrees F - hot enough to kill most weed seeds and disease organisms.

What Can You Compost?
Many types of organic materials can be used for composting.

Here is a video from our friends at Marion County:

How Do You Make A Compost Pile?
Place the pile in a convenient but inconspicuous location. Select a level, well drained spot, preferably in full sun. Since the compost pile needs to be kept moist, a convenient water source is helpful. Compost should never get soggy wet or the decomposition will stop. Compost piles function best when about as moist as a wrung out sponge and provided with many air passages.
The size of the pile may vary greatly with the amount of material available, but should be at least three feet wide and three feet high. Anything smaller will not decompose properly.
The top of the pile should be left flat or with a slight depression in the center to catch rain or added water. 

What Are The Different Types Of Enclosures?
A compost bin is not necessary but does make it easier to build and maintain a pile. Woven wire (chicken wire), cement blocks, lumber, snow fence, hay bales, or bricks can be used to enclose a compost heap. Whatever you use, make sure there is adequate air movement through the sides. Construction of one removable wall allows easy access for turning the pile with a shovel or pitchfork. Some people build adjacent bins, turning the material from one to the other. 

For details on building your own large scale system, Click Here.

Visit the Compost Demonstration Site at the OSU Extension Service Master Gardener's Discovery Garden on River Forks Park Rd. just before the entrance to River Forks Park.   This site exhibits eight different styles of composting, with educational graphics.

A Crash Course in Composting
Composting is like cooking, with many recipes and variations. Here is the basic approach: All composting “ingredients” generally fall under one of two categories: “browns” or “greens.” Browns are dry materials such as wood chips, dried leaves, dry grass and other dry plant materials. Greens are fresh, moist materials such as grass cuttings, manures, green leaves, and food scraps (avoid meats, fats and grease). 

1. Collect as many browns and greens as you can to start your compost pile. Larger piles tend to hold moisture better and decompose faster. 
2. Place approximately equal amounts of browns and greens in a heap or bin. Always cover food scraps with other composting materials. 
3. Soak well with water to create uniform dampness (damp as a wrung out sponge). 
4. Cover pile with tarp or other material to keep moisture in and prevent soaking from rain. 

For quicker composting (1-3 months):

• Chop materials into smaller pieces and moisten. 
• Alternate 3” to 6” layers of greens and browns. 
• Mix the pile by turning and stirring. 
• Keep the entire pile as moist as a wrung out sponge 

For slower composting (3-6 months plus): 

• Just keep adding materials to the pile or bin and sprinkle it with water. It’s that simple!
• Mix and/or turn the contents as convenient

Troubleshooting:

• Odors? Turn and add brown materials. 
• Dry pile? Add water, greens and mix. 
• Fruit flies? Stir and add leaves or grass.  Bury your food wastes each time they are added.
• Grass not breaking down? Too much grass! Try grasscycling! Click here for a hand out on grasscycling.

There are two basic methods of composting.

1. Just keep the heap/bin full!
The composting recycler may choose to simply add materials directly onto the pile as they are generated. For busy folks, this method works fine and compost does happen. The organic materials will greatly shrink in volume and after six months to a year the bottom portion of your pile will be rich, crumbly compost. So keep filling your bin, keep moist and be patient!

2. The Layering Method.
For faster compost just spend a little more time and energy.
Completely fill the compost bin with layers of brown and green materials, adding good soil every few layers to introduce the needed microbes.  Keep moist, turn the contents when the pile gets up to 130 degrees (a few days to a week), turn, turn, and turn, then let it sit until finished off.

How Do You Use Compost?
Normally, compost will be ready to use in 4 to 6 months, depending on the types of organic materials used and the climatic conditions during the compost period. When the compost is broken down into a homogeneous mixture; no under composted leaves or other material may be seen; and the pile stops heating, it is ready to use.
Compost can be used as “top dressing” for lawns, for mulching around landscape and for garden plants or anywhere that additional soil is needed.

Ready for the next step?  Try composting with WORMS!!!