Backyard MagicTHE COMPOSTING

HANDBOOKBe eco-friendly

Backyard Magic

Table of Contents

• BackyardMagic.................................................................................................. 1 HowACompostPileWorks........................................................................... 2 UsingtheCompostYouProduce................................................................. 2

• TheCompostRecipe........................................................................................ 4

- Air.................................................................................................................... 4 - Water.............................................................................................................. 6 - Food............................................................................................................... 6 - MaterialstoUse.......................................................................................... 7 - MaterialstoAvoid...................................................................................... 7

• BuildingAHotCompostPile......................................................................... 8

• TheCompostContainer.................................................................................. 10

• OtherWaystoCompost.................................................................................. 12

- ColdComposting....................................................................................... 12 - SoilIncorporation...................................................................................... 13 - Mulching....................................................................................................... 14

• CanICompostThis?......................................................................................... 15

• 15QuestionsandAnswersaboutComposting...................................... 18

• CompostingIndoors........................................................................................ 21

• WormComposting............................................................................................ 22

• ExplorationsinComposting.......................................................................... 24

COMPOSTING 1

Backyard Magic

Is there a compost pile in your past? For most NewBrunswickers, the answer is yes. Our grandparents’

generationknewthevalueofcompostingtheiryardandkitchenwastes.Givingbacksomeofthenourishmenttheytookfromtheearthmadegoodcommonsense,anditstilldoes!

Intoday’sNewBrunswick,compostingisatraditionalideawithabroadnewappeal.It’smakingastrongcomebackinallpartsoftheProvince,aspeoplelookforpositivethingstheycandothemselvestobenefittheenvironment.Withjustalittleeffort,theresultscanbeverysatisfying.

Composting uses nature’s own recycling system. Weedsand leaves, grass clippings, vegetable peels, and variousotherorganicwastesareturnedintohumus.That’sanessentialsoilconditionerricherthananythingwecanbuy.

Whythrowawaytherawmaterialwhichgeneratessomethingsovaluable?Especiallywhencompostinghasotherbenefitsaswell.

Reducing Garbage

Upto30%ofthegarbagewethrowouteachweekcangointhecompostpile.Cuttingdomesticwastegenerationmeansalongerlifeforlandfillsitesandbetterenvironmentalmanagementfortheentirecommunity.

Helping Plants Grow

Your lawn, garden and house plants can never get too much compost. It graduallyreleasesavarietyofnutrientsjustwhenthey’rerequiredbythegrowingplants.Insectsanddiseasesdon’tseemtodoasmuchdamagewherethesoilisenrichedwithplentyofdecayedorganicmatter.Andthere’sanotherbonus:darkcompostdrawsthesun’sheattowarmthegardensoil,makingourshortgrowingseasonafewdayslonger.

Building Up the Soil

Plentyofcompostaddedtothesoilwillalsoactlikeasponge,soakingupwaterwhenitrainsandreleasingitindryspells.Itimprovesthestructureofbothsandandclaysoils,protectingthemagainstdroughtanderosion.

2 COMPOSTING

How A Compost Pile Works

Whenleavesdropfromatree,theydecayintosoftblackhumusovertime,withoutanyhelpfrompeople.Whenananimaldies,itsremainsslowlyreturntotheearth.

Anythingthatoncelivedwilleventuallydecompose.

Composting is based on this natural process and begins with the thousands ofmicroorganismswhichlivenaturallyinsoil.Theyfeedonamoistheapoforganicwastematerials,generatingconsiderableheatintheprocess.Othergroupsof“decomposer”organismsgotoworkasthetemperaturerises,anever-changingworkforceofbacteria,fungi,andinsects.

Whenthetemperaturedrops,turningorstirringthepilegivesthedecomposersmoreoxygenandtheheatbuildsagain,helpingtokillharmfulbacteria.Whenalltheeasilydecomposedmaterialhasbeenconsumed,thetemperaturedropsforthelasttimeandearthwormsandantsmaymove in,signallingthatthecompost is readytofeednewplantswithits“recycled”nutrients.

Finishedcomposthasthedistinctivefreshsmellofnewly-turnedsoiloraforestfloorinspring,andwon’theatupagainnomatterhowoftenyouturnairintothepile.Theideal result of the composting process is crumbly, dark, soil-like humus where noneoftheoriginalmaterialcanbeidentified.Thenutrientsstoredincompostdependonthe richness and variety of its ingredients, and on its exposure to harsh weather. Butexperiencedgardenersknowthereisnosuchthingasbadcompost!

Using the Compost You Produce

Finishedcompostaddsnutrientsandorganicmattertothesoil,improvingitstextureandincreasingitsabilitytoholdairandwater.Becauseitdoesn’tburnplantroots,

largequantitiesofcompostcanbeappliedtothesoilatanytime.

Soil Improvement

Try digging several centimeters (one inch) of finished compost into a flower bed orvegetablegardenbeforeplanting.Howmuchyouusewilldependonhowmuchyouhaveavailable:thesoilcanuseitall.

Youcanalsogivetrees,shrubs,andnurseryseedlingsagoodstartbyplantingtheminhalf-and-halfsoilandcompost.Newlawnswilldevelophealthyrootstokeepthemgreen,ifcompost isdug into thesoilbefore thegrassseed isapplied.Whenanestablishedlawnsufferswinter-kill,workingsomecompostintothebaldspotsbeforeseedingagainisanothergoodidea.

COMPOSTING 3

Top Dressing

Treating lawns with just over a centimeter (half-inch)ofcompostservesasaveryeffectivefeedingwhenthegroundhasdriedinthespring.Bysiftingthecompostfirst, you can remove any unattractive large pieces ormaterials that may not be fully decomposed. Theselargepiecescanbereturnedtothecompostforfurtherbreakdown.

Side Dressing

Youcanalsoapplycompostasaspotfertilizer.Scratchitlightlyintothetoplayersofsoilaroundtheplantthatneedsaboost,andwaterdeeply.

Compost “Tea”

Here’s a tidy way to supply compost nutrients to house plants or to spot-fertilizeseedlings.Soakaburlapbagoroldpillowcaseofcompost inapailofwateruntiltheliquidistea-coloured.Orstironepartcompostintothreepartswaterandpouroffthe“tea.”Usingthisliquidtowaterplantsmakesadifference,particularlyinthemiddleofthewarmgrowingseason.

Mulch

Mulchingshouldbedonelateinthespringwhenthegroundisthoroughlywarmed,butbeforesummer’sheat,toconservemoisture.Spreadapproximately8cm(3inches)ofcompostontopofthesoilaroundtreesandshrubs,fromnearthebaseofthetrunkouttothedripline.Youcanalsomulcharoundvegetablesandflowersassoonastheplantsareapproximately8cm(3inches)high,tokeeprootscoolanddiscourageweeds.

Potting Soil

House plants, window boxes and hanging baskets will all benefit from a potting soilmixed with sifted compost. Compost alone can be used for growing vegetables incontainers,andforstartingplantsfromseed.Forindooruse,youmaywanttosterilizecompostintheovenforanhourat95oC(200oF),butdon’tbealarmedbythe(temporary)strongsmell.

4 COMPOSTING

The Compost Recipe

Compostingisaverybasicprocess.Youcansimplytossgrassclippingsandleavesinaheapandletnaturedotherestinitsowngoodtime,oryoucanhelpitalong,by

providingabalanceddietforthemicro-organismswho’lldomostofthework,aswellasahomethatmeetstheirneeds.

Justlikeus,thesedecomposerorganismshavethreebasicrequirements:air,water,andfood.

Air provides oxygen and enables bacteria to carry out “aerobic” decomposition.Withoutoxygen,“anaerobic”decompositionofthewastemaytakeplaceinstead.Thisissomethingwenormallywanttoavoid,sinceanaerobicbacteriaproducetherotten-eggsmelloftenassociatedwithdecay.

Therearetwomethodsofaerobiccomposting,dependingonwhetherornotthepileheats up. A“cold” compost pile will decompose as surely as a“hot” one, but it’ll takemuchlonger.

Cold composting is slow but it’s easy. Someone with more space for compost thanphysical energy and time to devote to it may opt for the“cold” approach.This couldalso be the method to choose if your primary concernis reducing waste, rather than making quantities ofcompost.

In contrast, hot composting is a fairly fast method ofcreating compost and makes efficient use of smallerspaces. It does take more physical effort than coldcomposting,butgardenerswhowantasmuchcompostaspossiblewillusuallychoosethismethod.

There are many variations of approach, as individual asthe people who compost. You might pick one methodto start with and adapt it, as you gain experience overtime.Aboveall,keepyoursystemsimple,convenient,andsuitedtoyourlifestyle.

Air

Airpenetratesonlythetoplayersofthepile,soitneedshelptoreachthecentre.Avilesmellaroundthecomposttellsyouthatanaerobicbacteriaaremovingin,andthepilemaysimplyneedtobreathe.Inhotcomposting,plentyofairisessentialtodevelopthehightemperaturesthatkillpathogensandspeedtheprocessofdecomposition.

COMPOSTING 5

Turning

The most effective method of introducing air is to turnthepilewithagardenfork.Liftthematerialfromthetopandsides,tossitintothemoreactivecentreofthenewpile, then add the partially decomposed centre to theoutside.

Stirring

Ifyouwouldrathernotdotheworkofturningapile,trystirringitwithastickinstead;thiswon’tdistributetheairas evenly, however, so the composting process will besomewhatslower.

Aerator Tools

You can buy an aerator, a rod with flaps on one end and a handle on the other, at agardencentre.Youjabthetoolintothecompostpile,andtheflapsunfoldtoloosenthematerialsasyoupullitbackout.Theresultiseasierthanturningandproducesmoreairthanstirring.

Air Stacks

Anotherapproachistobuildyourcompostpilearoundaperforatedpipe,abundleoflongtwigs,oratubeofwiremeshstandingonend.Thiscarriesairtothecentrebetweenturnings.Withairstacks,youcanskiptheturning,althoughthepilewon’theatupasefficiently.

Elevated Compost

Mostcompostpilesrestonbareground,butyoucanbuildthepileonaraisedplatformoflooselyspacedboards,allowingairtobedrawnupfromthebottom.Ifyouelevateyourcompost,however,besuretosprinklegardensoil throughthecompostto introducethoseessentialsoilbacteria.

6 COMPOSTING

Water

Yourcompostpileshouldbeasdampasawrung-outsponge,moisttothetouch,butnowatershouldcomeoutwhenyousqueezeahandful.

Too dry?

Youcanpokeholesinthepileandwateritfromthetopwithatricklinghose.Betteryet,pullthepileapartandrebuildit,wettingeachlayerasitgoeson.Veryfibrousmaterialssuchasdeadleavesmayneedtobesoakedinabucketforanhourortwo.

Too wet?

Asoggypileshouldbeturnedsothatclumpsofmaterialarebrokenup,lettingairinandwaterout.Ifthecompostisabsolutelysoaked,youcanspreadthematerialstodryinthesun,orscatterpeatmossthroughthepileasyourebuilditwiththedriermaterialsinthecentre.

Food

Decomposer organisms work best with as varied a diet as you can feed them. Theingredients are all around us, almost anything that once lived is a candidate for thecompost,sotryforlotsofvarietytogetagoodmixoftexturesandplantnutrients.

Incompostingjargon,woodymaterialsthatarehighincarbon(autumnleaves,paper,peat moss, sawdust, cornstalks, hay and straw, etc.) are called “brown” ingredients.Materials like garden refuse, manure, tea and coffee grounds, feathers, hair, and foodscrapsarehighinnitrogen,or“green.”Somematerialscanactuallybeboth:freshgrassclippingsare“green,”forexample,butdriedgrassis“brown.”

For successful results, you can use thesimplerulethatcompostneedstobeabouthalf “brown” and half “green” by weight.Don’t bother to weigh your ingredients,though: an estimate is fine. Compostingsoonbecomesamatterofinstinct,likethecook who bakes without a recipe. If thepiledoesn’theatup,youknowthere’snotenough“green”inthemix,whileasmellofammoniameansitneedsmore“brown.”

COMPOSTING 7

Materials To Use

Green(NitrogenRich) Brown(CarbonRich)

•Algae •Buckwheathulls•Bonemeal •Coffeefilters•Coffeegrounds •Corncobs•Eggshells •Cotton/wool/silkscraps•Feathers •Grassclippings(dried)•Flowers •Hay•Fruitandfruitpeels •Leaves(dead)•Grassclippings(fresh) •Paper•Hair •Peatmoss•Manure •Pineneedles•Seaweed •Sawdust•TeaLeaves •Straw•Vegetablesandpeelings •Teabags•Weeds •Woodchips •Woodash

This list is far fromcomplete.Anythingorganiccan, in theory,becomposted -- somemoreeasilythanothers.Butcommonsensesuggestsafewexceptions.Thefollowingmaterialsmaycauseproblemsinabackyardcompostpile.

Materials To Avoid

• petwastescancontainextremely • weedswithmatureseeds,and harmfulbacteria; plantswithapersistentroot system(likecrabgrass,ground• meat,fish,fatsanddairyproducts ivy,ordaylilies),maynotbe arelikelytosmellastheyrotand killedbytheheatofthecompost; mayattractfour-footedvisitors; • leavesofrhubarbandwalnut• insect-infestedordiseasedplants containsubstancestoxicto maypersistinthecompost; insectsorotherplantssomost peoplechoosenottocompost• materialscontaminatedby them. syntheticchemicalsortreated withherbicidesorinsecticides shouldneverbeused;

8 COMPOSTING

Building A Hot Compost PileDirections

1. Gather both “green” and “brown” ingredients, enough to make a compost pilemeasuringatleast1meter(3feet)ineachdirection(high,wideandlong).

Asmallerpilewon’tgenerateorretainenoughheattoeffectivelykillanyharmfulbacteriapresent.Ifyouchoosehealthyingredientstocompost,andkeeppetsandpestsout,there’snoreasonforconcern.

Amuchlargerpileismorelikelytocompact,shuttingoutair,andismoredifficulttoworkwith.

2. Choporshredintosmallpiecesasmuchofthematerialaspossible.Drymaterialslikeleavescanberunthroughashredderorunderalawnmower.Awhipper-snipperinagarbagecanworkswelltoo,likeabigblender.

Shredded materials make a better home for decomposer organisms, with moresurfaceareaforthemtoworkon.Ashreddedpileisalsobetterinsulated,hasmorepocketsforairandretainsmoisturemoreeasily.Thefinerthepieces,thefasteryourcompostwillbefinished.

3. Layer15cm(6inches)ofwell-watered“browns”and15cmof“greens,”mixingthetwolayerstogether.

4. Alternateandmixlayersofeachtypeofmaterial,addingwaterasneeded,untilthepileisatleastonemeter(3feet)high.

Adding the material in layers simply helps you judge the right proportions of“brown” and “green.” But everything should then be thoroughly combined tocompostefficiently.

5. Coverthepiletoprotectitfromheavyrain,andwait.Thecompostshouldbegintoheatupwithinhours.

Towitnessdecompositioninaction,youcanstickametalrodintothecentreofthepileforafewminutes,thencheckifithaswarmedup.Compostthermometersareavailableatgardencentres,oryoucanmountameatthermometerattheendofastick,ifyouwantprecisetemperaturereadings.

Vapouremergingfromaerationholes,andafinegreyfungusjustunderthesurface,areothergoodsignsofanactivehotcompost.

COMPOSTING 9

What if it doesn’t heat up?

Whenacompostpilewon’theatup,theproblemisalmostcertainlyoneofthreethings:a) the pile is too small; b) it’s too dry; c) it needs more“greens” or, especially in coldweather,a“starter”togiveitmorenitrogen.

Compost Activators

Gardensupplierssellcompoststartersor“activators,”oftencomposedofhigh-nitrogenfertilizers. In some cases, “inoculants” of dehydrated bacteria are also described ascompostactivators.

While high-nitrogen fertilizers may be helpful, the benefits of adding more bacteriafrom a package have yet to be proven. All the bacteria you need should already bepresentinthesoilunderthecompostpileorthefoodandgardenwasteyouadd.Youcouldtrysoakingordinarygardensoilinwaterforanhouranddousetheheapwiththeteacolouredliquid.Butgivingaboostofnitrogentothebacteriayoualreadyhaveisthebestsolution.

Fresh stable manure is the ideal compost starter, though it may be hard for some ofustofind;harderyet toexplaintoyournext-doorneighbours.Whilethecommercialactivatorsbasedonhigh-nitrogenfertilizersdoheatupthecompostquickly,it’shardtocontroltheamountofnitrogenaddedthiswayandtheexcessmayleachoutorescapeasammoniaintotheair.

Thereareseveraleffectiveorganicalternatives:bloodmeal,finishedcompost,orwell-composted manure, for example. Or, you can simply rebuild the compost pile withadditionalgrassclippingsorother“green”materials.

The Hot Composting Timetable

Thetemperatureofthepileshouldrisesteadily,peakingbetween50oCto65oC(120oFto150oF),24hourstooneweeklater.Whenthetemperaturebeginstodrop,thecompostisreadyforturning.Breakupanyclumpsofmaterial,andmovetheoutsidepartstothebaseandcentre.Ifthepileistoodry,thisisthetimetowetit.Coverthepileagain,andwait.

Thetemperatureshouldpeakagaininaboutaweek,inapilemadeofwell-shreddedmaterials. Remember, the smaller the pieces, the faster the compost. As soon as itbeginstocool,turnthepileoncemore.Inanotherweekortwo,thecompostshouldbefinished;thatis,darkandcrumbly,fresh-smelling,withverylittleoftheoriginalmaterialidentifiable.Whencompostisreadyforuse,thetemperatureofthepilewon’triseabove43oC(110oF)nomatterhowoftenyouturnit.

10 COMPOSTING

Key Points to Remember

• Useequalamountsof“greens”and“browns.” • Mixtogetheravarietyofingredients. • Shredorchopallingredients,ifpossible. • Buildthepilelargeenoughtoretainheat. • Turnoraeratetheheapregularlytoletintheair. • Keepthepileasmoistasadampsponge.

The Compost Container

Anyonewhohascomebackhomeafteralongholidayknows that, given enough time, organic matter can

decompose even in the back of the fridge. Out in thebackyard, nature certainly doesn’t care whether thecompostisheapedoutintheopenorenclosedinabin.

However,acontainerofsomesortdoeshelptokeeptheyardneatandtheneighbourshappy.Acoveredcontaineralso means the pile can retain both heat and nutrients,whilekeepingoutrodents,raccoonsandpets.

Hotcompostpilesneedregular turning,andyou’llwanttoharvestfinishedcompostfromtimetotime.So,aboveall,thecontainershouldmakeiteasytodothiswork.Beyondthatconsideration,you’resafeinchoosingacontainerforitsappearance,convenience,cost,size,orotherqualities.

Allsortsofcompostingunitsareavailablecommercially.Some are simply“digesters,” such as a cone covering acollecting basket in a pit. Others, with solid bases, havedoorsorchutestoletyouharvestthecompostfromthebottomandputittouse.

Yourownsystemmaybeassimpleasacircleofchickenwire,orabottomlessbarrelwithairholesinitssides.Justlift itawayfromthepile,setitupagainnearby,andputthe newer layers back in, leaving behind the finishedcompost.

COMPOSTING 11

Pens

Oneofthesimpleststructures isacircleofsnowfencingorwiremeshsupportedbypostsorstakes.Atturningtime,youunwrapandremovethefencing,setitupinanewlocationnearby,andforkthecompostbackintothepen.Thisrequiresalittlemorespaceandsomeliftingeffort,anditleavesthecompostinfullview;butitisinexpensive,strongenough,andveryeasytoconstruct.

Bins

Binsaresturdierandmorediscreetthanpens.Theymayrequirealittlemoreskilltobuildbutarestill inexpensive.The foursidescanbemadeofalmostanything:wirescreenstretchedonwoodenframesoroldpalletsstandingonend.Threewallsarenormallyfixedpermanentlytogether,butmaybehinged,hookedortied.Onedesignhasthreewalls of concrete blocks, stacked without mortar, and a fourth wall of removableboards.

Toturnthepile,thefrontofthebinisremovedandthecompostforkedoutontotheground.Thenthepileisrebuiltinthebin.Youdoneedtheextragroundspaceinfrontofthebinforturning,butyoudon’thavetoliftthecompostoverawalltogetitbackin.Onevariationcallsforthebintobesetoverapit,toprovideextrainsulation.Althoughthisencouragesthepresenceofhelpfulearthworms,itdoesmeanreachingdownbelowgroundleveltoturnthecompost.

Drums

A rotating barrel composter can be made from a largedrumwithaerationholespunchedinit,andfinsinsidetoliftandmixthecompostmaterials.Ahingedloadingdoorin the side allows wastes to be added gradually. Somearerolledonthegroundtomixthecontents;othersaremountedhorizontallyonstandswithcrankattachments.Variouscommercialmodelsareavailable.

Ifbacteria is introducedwithagoodamountofgardensoil and the barrel is turned every few days, compostcanbemadeinafewweeksthiswaywithlittlephysicaleffort.

12 COMPOSTING

Boxes

Perhapsthebestsmall-scalesystemfortherelativelyen-ergeticcomposterisadesignknownastheNewZealandbox. A bottomless wooden box with ventilation spacesbetween thewall boards, its face iseasily removable tofacilitate turning. Since the compost rests directly ontheground,alidisnormallyaddedtopreventnutrientsleachingfromthepileduringheavyrains.

ANewZealandboxorsomethingsimilarcanbemadeathomewithaminimumofskill.Itcanbemovedtoanewlocationfairlyeasily,ifrequired,anditkeepsthecompostneatlyoutofsight.

Apopularvariationhastwoorthreecompartmentsinarow:compostisturnedfromoneboxintoanother;theemptiedboxthenaccumulatesthemakingsforanotherbatch.Itisidealforpeoplewhousekitchenandyardwastesastheyaccumulateandcan’tsaveupenoughmaterialstomakeareallybigpile.

Other Ways to CompostCold Composting

If you aren’t interested in the physical task of turning a compost pile, or if you haveplentyofspaceanddon’tneedthecompostinahurry,coldcompostingistheanswer.Smallhouseholdsmayaccumulateorganicwastetooslowlytobuildahotcompostpileallatonce,butyoudon’tneedmuchtostartacoldcompost.Thepilebuildsgraduallyasmaterialscometohand.

Althoughthefeedingprocessislessdemanding,theresultstakealongtime.Youcanwaitfrom6monthstoayearforabatchofcomposttobeproducedbythismethod.Itdependsonwhatgoesintothepile:soft“greens”likegrassclippingsandkitchenwastesbreakdownmuchfasterthanwoody“browns”orunshreddedpieces.Ontheplusside,absolutelynoturning is required!But it’sagood ideatobuild thepilearoundanairstack,ortopokeitwithanaeratortooloccasionally,tohelpitalong.

Aswithahotcompost,coldpilesshouldbekeptmoist,andneedavarietyoffoodsforthedecomposerorganismstoprosper.Thelowerlayersdecomposefirst,becausenewmaterialisconstantlybeingaddedtothetop.Acompostcontainerisn’tnecessary,butitmayhelpyoutogetatthefinishedstuffonthebottom.

COMPOSTING 13

Whatever you choose, a fancy container or a pile in the corner of the yard, compostproducedslowlywillneedtobecoveredoralotofitsnutrientswillbe“weatheredaway”overtime.Thismeanstheresultingmaterialwillstillbevaluableasasoilconditioner,butnotveryeffectiveasafertilizer.

Soil Incorporation

Soilincorporationisprobablythesimplestmethodofcomposting.Foodandyardwastesarefinelychopped,mixedwithsoil,andburied20cm(8inches)ordeeperintheearth.Dependingonsoiltemperature,bacterialactivity,andthecarboncontentofthewastes,decompositionwilltakefromonemonthtoayear.

Onewordofcaution,however!High-carbonmaterials(likerawautumnleaves)arenotappropriateforthismethod,becausethey’llstealtheirnitrogenfromthesurroundingsoil.Leavesmayalsoacidifythesoilorinhibitthegrowthofplantsiftheyaredugintothegroundwithoutfirstbeingatleastpartiallycomposted.

Evenhigh-nitrogenmaterialsshouldbegivenampletimetodecomposeundergroundbefore the area is used for planting, because the decomposer organisms will takenitrogenwherevertheycanfinditwhilethey’reworking.Somepeoplegetaroundtheproblemofnitrogenlossbyaddingbloodmealtothesoilbeforetheyburythecompostmaterials.

Postholing

Apostholediggerisahandytoolforsoilincorporation,althoughaspadewilldo.Theideaistodigaseriesofholesaroundthedriplineoftreesandshrubs,orinafallowareaofthegarden(toavoidstealingnitrogenfromgrowingplants),andburyorganicwastesthere.Thecompostismaderightwhereitismostneeded.Youcanusewhatspaceyouhave, thenstartoverwherethefirst loadhascomposted. If theholesaredugbeforethegroundfreezes,youcancontinuetodisposeofwastesinthiswayallthroughthewinter.

Rotation Trenching

Trenchinginvolvesdiggingalongpitinsteadofseparateholes,usuallybetweenrowsinagarden.Itiscappedwithalayerofsoilasthewastesaregraduallyadded.

This method is often used by British gardeners in a simple three-year rotation of 1)soilincorporation,2)crops,and3)pathways.Inthefirstyearatrenchisdug,filledwithnitrogen-richwastes,andcoveredwithsoil.Therownexttoitisusedtogrowcropsandathirdrowisusedasapath.

14 COMPOSTING

Ineachsuccessiveyear,thefertilesoilofthepreviousyear’strenchisusedtogrowthecrops,andtheformerpathisthecompostingtrench.Thusthegarden’ssoiliscontinuouslyrenewed.Althoughthismethoddemandsfarlessspacethanaconventionalcompostingsystem,itdoesrequirethreerowstogrowonerowofcrops.Eachgardenwillsuggestitsownvariations.Trenchescanbedugunderthepathwaysinuse,onesectionatatime,asthespaceisneeded.Inagardentoosmallforpaths,atwo-yearrotationofcropsandtrenchisfine.

Mulching

Mulchingcopiesnature’swayofcompostingonthesurfaceofthesoilandgardenershavebeendoingitforcenturies.Woody,“brown”organicmaterialsarespreadinalayerontheground,overagarden,oraroundshrubsandtrees.Becausetheyarenotdugintothesoilbutdecomposeonthesurface,theydon’tdisturbthepHbalanceofthesoilorrobitofnitrogen.

Although it is perhaps the slowest method of composting, mulching offers otherbenefits.Itdiscouragesweeds,protectssoilfromcompactingoreroding,andkeepstherootsofplantscoolandmoistinhotweather,insulatedinthewinter.

COMPOSTING 15

Can I Compost This?

Ashes Maybe Fromuntreatedwoodorpaper,yes, insmallamounts;butnotfrom barbecues,plywood,colouredor glossypaper

Banana Skins Yes Decomposerapidly;canhelpto activateaslowcompost;loadedwith plantnutrients

Cardboard Yes Shred,soak,andmixwith“greens”; buttryfirsttoreuseorrecycleit

Citrus Fruits Yes Shredrinds;buryincompostto discouragefruitflies

Coffee Grounds Yes Goodearthwormfood;usedirectly onmanyplants;compostshredded filters,too

Corn Cobs Yes Shred;addsbothfibreandnutrients tocompost;goodmulch;slowto breakdown

Dairy Products No Fatssealoffairfromcompost; odoursattractpests

Diseased Plants No Compostheatmaynotdestroy disease;destroyordiscardtoavoid spreading

Dishwater Maybe Ifwaterdoesn’tcontaingreaseor chemicalcleansers,useittowetpile

Dust and Lint Maybe Usevacuumcleanerdebrisandlint fromclothesdryer,ifmostlynatural fibres

Eggshells Yes Dryandcrushfirst;goodearthworm food;slowtobreakdown;help neutralizeacidity;asmulch,may discourageslugs

16 COMPOSTING

Evergreen Needles Maybe Highlyacidic;betteryet,useas mulch

Fabrics Maybe Smallscrapsofwool,cotton,feltand silk;notsyntheticfibresorblends

Feathers Yes Keepsomewhatwetterthanusual; extremelyhighinnitrogen

Fish Maybe Odoursandpestsareproblemswith freshorsmokedfish,butdried fishmealisfine

Grass Clippings Yes Availableandvaluable;mixwellto avoidclumps;leavesomeclippings tofeedlawn

Hair Yes Bothhumanandpethair;keepquite damp;avoidusingifcolouredwith chemicals

Hay and Straw Yes Verygoodfibre,nutrientsusuallylow

Leaves Yes Shredandsoak;addbothnutrients andfibre;tendtobeslightlyacidic

Manure Yes Cow,horse,pig,rabbit,poultry,the fresherthebetter,helpsanycompost

Meat and Bones No Odoursandpestsareproblems;but dried,groundbonemealisfine sourceofnitrogen

Soil Yes Addsdecomposersoilorganisms; scatterlightlythroughpiletoavoid compacting

Nutshells Maybe Crushdelicateshellslikepeanuts; heaviershellsarebetterusedas decorativemulch

Paper Maybe Shred;notglossy/colouredwhich containchemicals;bettertorecycle ifpossible

COMPOSTING 17

Pet Wastes No Riskofpathogensandparasites; useonlybarnyardmanure(horse, cow,sheep,etc.)

Rhubarb Maybe Rawleavespoisonoustohumans; compostedleavesmayharminsects andotherplants;stemsarefine; rootsmaycontinuetogrow

Sawdust Maybe Hardwoodsawdust,yes,invery smallquantities;softwoodsmay inhibitcomposting;plywoodmay containchemicals

Seafood Shells Yes Crushorgrindveryfinely;break downveryslowly;reduceacidity; goodmulch

Seaweed Yes Rinseoffsaltsoitwon’tcontaminate soil;greatfertilizer

Sod Yes Knockoffexcesssoil;pileupside down;covertopreventrooting; compostseparatelytoavoid compaction

Soup Maybe Vegetable,yes;donotusesoups withcreamormeat-basedbrothsto avoidodoursandpests;readlabels oncannedsoups.

Tea Leaves Yes Highinnitrogen;canbeapplied directlytosomeplants;composttea bagstoo

Toadstools Yes Decomposequickly;excellent sourceofmanyminerals

Weeds Yes Discardmatureseeds,persistent roots,weedstreatedwithherbicides/ pesticides

Wood Chips Yes Shredifpossibleandsoak;usebig piecesasmulchfirst,compostwhen weathered

18 COMPOSTING

15 Questions and Answers About CompostingStructure/Space:

Do I need a bin to make compost?

No,organicmatterwilleventuallydecomposewithouthumanhelp.Butacontainerofsomesortwillkeepyourpileneat,protectitfromtheweatherandpests,andmakethejoboftendingitmucheasier.

Where is the best place to put a compost pile?

Pickashelteredspot,outofthefullsummersunifpossible.Avoidtreesandshrubsthatmaypushtheirrootsupintothepile.Andgivesomethoughttobothconvenienceandappearanceinchoosingalocation.

Process/Problems:

What is the “easiest” way to compost yard wastes and food wastes?

Woodyor“brown”yardwastes,liketreetrimmingsandautumnleaves,canbeshreddedandusedasmulcharoundplantsandonpaths.Eventuallythey’llreturntothesoil.Foodwastes,aswellasgreenyardwasteslikevegetabletopsandgrassclippings,canbedugintotheground.Uselarger-scale“soilincorporation”onlywhereyouwon’tbeplantingforafewmonths.

Can I compost in the winter?

EvenresearchteamsontheSouthPolehavecompostedtheir garbage successfully! You can retain heat a littlelongerinthefallbycoveringthepileandinsulatingthecontainer, perhaps with bags of leaves. Increasing theamountof“green”orusingacompostactivatormayhelpkeepthetemperatureup.Keepaddingtothecompostthroughthewinter:itmaynotseemtobedoingmuch,butthefrozenmaterialswillquicklyfinishbreakingdownwhenspringcomes.

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What if the pile has an odour?

Anearthyscentisnormalandinoffensive,butawell-builtcompostshouldn’tproduceunpleasantodours.If itdoes,yourproblemiseithertoomuch“green”stuff(ammoniasmell)ortoolittleair(rotten-eggsmell).First,aeratethepile.Iftheodourpersists,turnandrebuildthepilewithmore“brown”materials.

Should I wear gloves to handle compost?

Ifyouhaven’tcompostedpetmanures,whichcontainbacteriaharmfultohumans,thereisnoneedtoweargloves.Finishedcompostcanbehandledjustasyouwouldgardensoil.

How can kitchen wastes be stored for later composting?

Collectfoodscrapsinaplasticcontainerinthefridgeorfreezer, ifyouhavespace,orkeep a tightly lidded container handy, covering each addition of compostable foodwasteswithjustenoughpeatmossorsawdusttocontrolodours.

Should I add ground limestone, soil, or fertilizer?

Aperfectlygoodcompostpilecanbebuiltoutofnothingfancierthanleavesandgrassclippings. Lime will balance out the pH of a pile of highly acidic materials, like pineneedles.However,mostcompostisnaturallyclosetoneutralinpHbythetimeitisreadyforuse.Ascatteringofsoilshouldbeaddedifyourcompost isn’t incontactwiththeground,becauseitisthesoilorganismsthatdothedecomposingwork.Withavarietyofingredients,fertilizerisseldomnecessary.

What if the compost pile doesn’t heat up?

Theoddsarethatan inactivecompostpile justdoesn’thaveenough“greens” in it tostartitstemperaturerising.Theansweristorebuildthepilewithmorehigh-nitrogenmaterialsora“starter”likemanure“tea.”Thatwillprobablysolvetheproblem,butalsocheckthatthepileisasmoistasawrung-outsponge.

How do I compost with too many high-nitrogen materials?

Youcandigextra“greens”directlyintothesoil,storesomeinafreezerorsealedcontainer,buypeatmosstomixwith it,or,asa lastresort,drysomeinthesuntodecreasethenitrogencontent.Perhapsacompostingneighbourcanuseadonation?

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How do I compost with too many high-carbon materials?

Thisisoftenaprobleminautumn,whenthere’snoshortageofdeadleaves.Ifyouhavespace,bagsomeandstorethemforcoveringupthefoodscrapsyou’lladdthroughthewinter,orforspringandsummerwhen“browns”arehardertofind.Bagsofleavesalsomake insulatingwindbreaks forcompostbins.Ormoistenthe leavesandstore theminsealedbagstobegindecomposing. Inspring,addthemtothecompost.Mulchingisanotheralternative,butshredtheleavesfinelyandagain,acompostingneighbourmightbeabletouseyoursurplus.

Finished Compost:

When is compost “finished” and safe to use?

When an active compost pile fails to heatuponcemore,andverylittleoftheoriginalmaterial can be recognized (perhaps aneggshell or the shapes of old leaves), thecompost is ready to use. It will be therich brown colour of good soil and smellsomethinglikethehumusofaforestfloor.

Does it need to be sterilized or screened?

Compostdoesn’tneedtobesterilizedorscreened for thegarden.Foruse indoors, itshouldbeputthroughastrainerorquarter-inchscreenandsterilizedintheovenfor1hourat95oC(200oF).Youwillprobablywanttoscreenthecompostyouusetotopdressthelawnaswell.

Do I need to fertilize if I use compost?

Thenutritionalvalueofcompostdependsonthematerialsthatwereusedtomakeit.That’swhyit’simportanttoputasmuchvarietyintothepileaspossible.Ifyou’retryingtoenrichaseverelydepletedgardenplot,orgrowingplantslikepeoniesthatdemandalotoffood,youmightwanttoaddsomecommerciallyproducedorganicfertilizer.Soiltestingisagoodideainthiscase.Formostgardensandflowerbeds,however,compostprovidesaconcentratedsourceofbalancednutrientsaswellastheorganicmatterthesoilneedstostorethem.

What if I make too much compost?

It’shardtoimaginesuchasituation!Theearthcanusealltheorganicmatteryoucangiveit,andyoucanapplycompostatanytimeofyear.Digitintoflowerbeds,layeritover

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avegetablegarden,orspreaditunderatreetofeedtheroots.Finelyscreenedcompostcanbescatteredoveralawn,orsterilizedandmixedwithpottingsoilforhouseplants.Andyoucanstorecompostinabagorholdingpen,aslongasitiswellprotectedfromrain,windandsun.

Composting IndoorsNobackyardorgarden?Collectyourkitchenwasteinthefreezeroracoveredpailtogivetoacompostingfriend.Ormakeyourowncompostindoors!

Holding Units

With a basement, garage, porch or balcony, you haveplentyofspaceforacoldcompostingcontainer.

Tryalargemetalorplasticgarbagecanwithalid.Punchnailholesinthesidesandtop,andstirwithabroomhandleoruseanaeratorstacktogetoxygenintothecompost.Startyourcompostwitha“brown”layer:approximately8cm(3inches)ofpeatmoss,sawdust,orshreddedleavesfromsomeoneelse’sfallclean-up.

Collect your kitchen scraps into a covered pail as theycomealong.Everyfewdays,whenthepailfillsup,justtossthecontentsontothecompostandcovereachadditionwitha littlemore“brown”stufftocontrolodours.Addafewhandfulsoftopsoilifyoucangetit,orcompostfromanearlierbatch,andkeepallthematerialsasmoistasawrung-outsponge.

Harvestingthecompostiseasiestwithtwocansonthego.Oncethefirstcanisfilled,juststiriteveryfewdaysandkeepitmoist.Newkitchenscrapsgointothesecondcan.Bythetimeitisfull,thefirstbatchshouldbereadyforuse.

Bags-and-Pails

Evenwithoutthespacetohidelargecontainers,orthephysicalabilitytostirthecontents,you can still compost anaerobically (without oxygen). Composting this way takes sixmonthsorayear,butitrequiresverylittleeffort,justsomestoragespace.

Collectkitchenscrapsinacoveredpailandsprinklesawdustorcrumbledpeatmossovereachadditiontoit.Orstorefoodwastes(clearlylabelled)inthefridgeorfreezer.When

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the pail is full, empty it into a sturdy plastic bag without holes and add just enoughwatertomoistenitthoroughly.

Half-filleachbagandsealitverytightly.Tobeonthesafeside,youmaywanttoputitinsideasecondbag.Don’tbetemptedtopeekuntilit’shadtimetofinishcomposting:decomposerorganismsworkingwithoutairproduceanawfulsmell!

Storethebagsoutofyourway,onabalconywhentheweatheriswarm,orinastoragecloset. The compost is ready to use when you open a bag and it doesn’t smell ofdecompositiononcetheairfrominsidehasdispersed.

Worm Composting

Letwormsdothework!Compostingwithearthworms,or“vermi-composting,”isgreatforapartmentdwellerswhodon’thaveyardspace,andforhomeownerswhodon’t

wanttohikethroughsnowdriftstoabackyardcompostbin.Andmanykidslovekeepinghundredsofwigglersforpets.ThereareseveralcompaniesinCanada,whocansellyouthebins,bedding,wormsandall.

Covered Bin

Yourwormscanliveinaplasticbinorwoodenbox,withplentyofairholespunchedinthesidesandtop.Linethewormbinwithnylonnettokeepthesmallonesin.Holesinthebottomareneededfordrainage,soyou’llwantatrayunderthebin.Somepeoplemovetheirwormsouttoabalconyoryardinwarmseasons.Youmayfinditmoreconvenienttohaveseveralsmaller,moreportableunitsratherthanonelargeone.Thesizeoftheboxwillalsodependonhowmuchspaceyouhave.

Bedding

Loamorblacktopsoil,availablefromgardencentres,makesaparticularlygoodbeddingmaterial.Beddingcanalsobeshreddednewspapers,soakedtosoftentheedges(thewormswilleatthistoo,soavoidcolouredinksandglossypaper)oramixtureofsawdust,peat,shreddedleaves,andsoil.

Fill the bin with about 30 cm (1 foot) of bedding, about as damp as a wrung-outsponge,notsoggyandnotdry.Withalidonthebinandregularfeedingoftheworms,maintainingthecorrectmoisturelevelshouldn’tbedifficult.

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Worms

It’s true that earthworms aren’t pets for the squeamish, but they are great littlecomposters!You’ll want the kind of worms that are sold for fishing bait, such as redwigglers or brandling worms, not ordinary field worms from someone’s garden.Redwormsnormallyliveinbarnyardmanurepiles,andfeedonfreshorganicmaterial.Fieldwormsarebetteratdigestingthingsthatarealreadywelldecomposedandaren’tlikelytosurviveinawormbinonadietofkitchenscraps.

Yourvaluablelittleredwormswilllivequietlyintheirdarkboxandmultiplyrapidly.Justbury your leftovers in their bedding after each meal. It is unlikely that you will havetoo much waste to compost: redworms will eat their own weight in kitchen scrapsand bedding each day. The castings they produce are incredibly rich fertilizer andlooklikefine-texturedsoil.Foreachcubicfootofwormbin,planonusing200grams(approximatelyhalfapound)ofredwigglers(about500,dependingontheirsize).

Food

Coffeegrounds,vegetablesandfruitaretherecommendedfoodforworms.Avarieddietisimportant.Avoidbones,dairyproducts,meats,garlicandpotatopeelings.Whatdoesn’tcauseodoursorattractinsectswillsimplytakeaverylongtimetobreakdown.Eggshellsareessentialtokeepthebeddingfrombecomingtooacidicfortheworms.Drythemwell,crushthem,andsprinklethetinypiecesoverthetopofthebedding.

Temperature

Redwormswillsurviveintemperaturesfrom5oCto32oC(40oFto90oF)butpreferitatoraboveroomtemperature.Ifyoukeepthewormbinoutsideingoodweather,bereadytobringitinpromptlywhenthetemperaturedrops.

Harvesting the Castings

Removing the worm-compost couldn’t be easier.You will notice that redworms hatethelight.They’llwriggledownintotheirbeddingwheneveryoutakethelidoffthebin.Every few months, when the castings outweigh the bedding that remains, place theopenedbinunderaverybrightlightandgivethewormstenminutestogetwellawayfromthesurface.Thenthecoastisclearforscrapingawaythewormcastingsfromthetoplayer.

Whenyoustarttoseethewormsagain,keepthelightonthemandgivethemanothertenminutestogodeeperstill.Andremovethenextlayerofcompost.Keepgoinginthiswayuntiltheharvestisdone.Thenfillupthebinwithfreshbeddingandstartagain.

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Outdoors

Somepeoplebuildspecialwormpitstotakeadvantageoftheworms’naturaltalents.Tomakeawormpit,allyouhavetodoisdigasquarehole60cm(2feet)deepandsetabottomlessboxoverit.Thecompostmaterialsandwormsaretossedinhere.Youcankeepaddingorganicwasteasitaccumulates.

Keepthepiledampanddark,andthewormswilldotherest.Remembertoharvestyourcompostcarefully,inbrightsunshine,tosavethewormsfromanunpleasantfate.Theywon’tlivelongifthey’restrandedinordinarygardensoil,dumpedtherewithaforkfulofcompost.

Here inNewBrunswick,ourclimate istooextremeforredwormstosurviveoutdoorsthroughthewinter.Someworm-ownersinmilderareashavegoodluckusingverydeepwormpitswiththickly insulatedwalls,but it’s riskybusiness indeed.Better,bringthewormsindoorstoabinassoonasarealfrostthreatens.

Explorations in Composting

For teachers, youth group leaders, or day-care supervisors, here are some simpleexperimentswhichwillhelpyourkidsunderstandhowcompostinghelpstheearth

andplants.Youwon’tneedmuchinthewayofequipment,andtheresultsarefuntowatch.

How does compost help growing plants?

Activity

1. Soaksixoreightbeansovernightinwater.

2. Fill one jar or flowerpot with ordinary soil dug up from your garden, lawn, orpathway.

3. Fillasecondjarorpotwiththesamekindofsoil,butmixithalf-and-halfwithfinishedcompost.Ifyoudon’thaveacompostpileyet,youcanusecompostedmanurefromagardencentre.

4. Plantafewbeansineachpot.

5. Placethemwheretheywillbewarmandhavesomesunshine.

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6. Keepthepotswatered,andcheckeachdaytoseewhathappens.

Soilsthatcontainlotsofdecomposedorganicmatter,likecompost,canstoremorefood for the plants and release it to them as they need it. Unless you are luckyenoughtohaveveryrichsoilalready,you’llprobablyfindthatthebeansgrewfasterandstrongerinthepotthathadcompostaddedtothesoil.

How does compost help soil structure?

Activity

1. Findtwowide-mouthedglasscontainers(mayonnaisejarsareperfect).

2. Maketwosmallbasketsorwireracksofquarter-inchscreen.Foreachrackyouwillneedapieceofscreenabout7.5cmby25cm(3inchesby10inches).Bendthewiresothatitfitsdownintothejarslikealittlebasket.

3. Findaplacewherethesoilisverylightincolour,likeaconstructionsiteoraheavilyfarmedfield.Collectseveralclumpsofsoilaboutthesizeofafist.

4. Collectasecondsampleofsoilclumpsfromdarkearth,suchasagardenthathasbeenfedregularlywithcompost,orapark.

5. Fillthejarswithwaterwithin2.5cm(oneinch)ofthetop.

6. Placethelumpsofsoil inthebasketsandlowerthemgently intothejars.Watchclosely!

Whydoesthesoilinonebasketfallapartanddroptothebottomofthejar?Organicmatter, like decomposed leaves and roots, helps soil hold water and air. Whenorganic matter is used up, we have to give nature time to replace it, or feed theearthwithcompost.Whenearthholdstogetherlikethis,itcanstandthehardrainsthatwashawaylesshealthysoil.

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Can everything be turned into compost?

Activity

1. Find four or five wide-mouthedglassjars.You’llwanttobeabletoseethroughthesidesofthem.

2. Collectabananaskinorapplecore, a scrap of newspaper, aleaf(greenorbrown),andapieceofplastic.Theremaybeotherthingsyouwanttotestaswell.

3. Placeeachoftheseitemsinaseparatejar.Holdthemclosetotheside,whereyoucanseethem,andfillthejarswithordinarysoil.

4. Don’tcoverthejars,butmakesurethesoilcoversyoursamples.

5. Watereveryday,justenoughtokeepthesoildamp.Don’tletitdryoutorfreeze.

6. Watchwhathappens,ordoesn’thappen,ineachjar.

You’ll soonnoticechanges insomeofyoursamplesas theystart todecompose.Some change faster than others, and the piece of plastic won’t change at all!Anythingthatoncecamefromalivingthingiscalled“organic”andwillbreakdown.Youcanusethesetomakecompost.Whatdoyouthinkhappenstoallthesethingswhenthey’retakenawaybythegarbagecollectorandburiedinalandfill?

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Other Experiments to TryThe Garbageless Lunch

Knowingwhatwillbreakdowninacompostpileandwhatwon’t,trytopackyourselfalunchthatwon’tleavegarbagebehind.Willachocolatebarmakegarbage?Abanana?Shouldyouchoosewaxedpaperoraplasticbagforwrappingyoursandwich?Here’ssomethingtrickytothinkabout:isitbettertouseapapernapkin,eventhoughitwilldecompose,oraclothnapkinthatyoucanwashanduseagaintomorrow?Whatwillyoucarryyourlunchin?

Taking Out the Trash

Thisweek,countthenumberofgarbagebagsyourfamilyfills.Maybesomeonewillhelpyouweighthem.Writedownwhatyoudiscover.

Wasthisanordinaryweek?Figureouthowmuchgarbageyou’dhaveafterayear.Wheredoesthegarbagego,andwhathappenstoit?Whatdoyouthinkmighthappenwhenthere’snomorespaceforourgarbage?

Nextweek,collectalltheorganicgarbageinaseparatepailorbag.Itwillstartsmellingbeforetheendoftheweek,sokeepthecontainerclosedwhenyouaren’tfillingit.Attheendoftheweek,countandweightheregulargarbagebagsthatyourfamilyhasfilled.Comparetheresultstolastweek’sgarbage.Isthereadifference?

Notes

Department of Environment

P.O.Box6000Fredericton,NewBrunswick

Canada

Telephone:(506)453-3700Fax:(506)453-3676

Email:Information-env@gnb.ca

www.gnb.ca/environment

Reprintedin2010

ThankyoutotheFrederictonBackyardCompostersforprovidingsomephotographs.

The Short Course in Composting

Withnothingfancierthanfallenleavesandgrassclippings,youcanmaketherichdarkhumusthattheearthneeds

tosupportgrowingplants.Andcompostingorganicwastescanreducebymorethanathirdtheamountofgarbageproducedbyyourhousehold.

Compostcanbemade inas littleastwoweeks,or itcantakeasmuchasayear,dependingontheeffortandattentionyouwant to give to the process. Most organic materials, choppedorshreddedintosmallpieces,willdecomposequicklyifthey’rekept moist and turned or stirred regularly to expose them toair.

Organic wastes will break down into humus even without acompostcontainer.Butsomesortofbarrel,boxorpenwillkeepyourbackyardcompostpiletidyanddiscourageanimalpests.

Indoorsorout,anyonecancompost.Andalmostanythingthatoncelivedisacandidateforcomposting.Someorganicwastesaretrouble-makerstoavoid,however.Althoughactivecompostpiles build up temperatures high enough to kill many weedsandharmfulbacteria,meatandfish,bones,dairyproductsandfats,petwastes,diseasedplantmaterials,andthoseweedswithhardyrootsorripeseedsshouldnotbecomposted.