Why build a compost pile? Because organic gardening and compost go hand in hand. Compost is your number one natural fertilizer and soil conditioner. If you follow the square foot gardening method, as I recommend, then you won’t use soil at all. You will use compost. The best way to get compost is to make it yourself.
Compost is “alive” full of helpful bacteria, fungus, nematodes and other small but very important biological ingredients. While the
N-P-K may be low, it is full of trace nutrients and minerals that make plants thrive. As well, it is the biological activity within the compost (and your soil when you add it) that increases the ability for plants to get what they need from the soil.
What is composting?
Composting is a process by which vegetative matter is broken down (decomposed), and then harvested for use. It is a means to recycle waste.
Dead vegetation left on its own will decompose. It may dry up and sit on the ground for years, but it will eventually break down. Building a pile allows you to contain and control as well as speed up the process.
My personal best
The best pile I ever built was made of straw and grass clippings. I watered it well. It heated up and within a week or so, it shrunk to about half the original size. I kept watering and turning, and several weeks later – black gold.
Build a compost pile
The method to build a compost pile is an art, and subject to change by the creator. You will have varying degrees of success with your piles. That’s okay, keep experimenting.
Click on the video below for an overview of how to build a compost pile. The action moves a little slowly, but it does give an overview and shows several homemade bins and enclosures.
Ingredients for Compost Making
To build a compost pile in a reasonable amount of time you need: carbon, nitrogen, water, warm temperatures, oxygen.
- carbon – plant matter high in carbon breaks down slowly: dried leaves, pine needles, bark, tough stalks or stems.
- nitrogen – plant matter high in nitrogen is fresh and green, will tend to rot and stink: grass clippings, manure, kitchen scraps
- water – you will need to generously add water to your pile. Everything must be thoroughly wet at the start and kept very moist. Covering with a tarp or plastic will help retain water.
- warm temperatures – the warmer it is, the faster your compost will process. If it is below freezing for a length of time, the breakdown process will stop (or nearly so).
- oxygen – give your pile plenty of oxygen by turning it. This keeps the process aerobic. Aerobic bacteria process your compost without a rotten smell. If your pile smells, it lacks oxygen and anaerobic bacteria are at work.
- coffee grounds
- coffee filters
- kitchen scraps
- manure
- leaves
- newspaper etc.
Turn and fluff.
Which ingredients are best?
The best ingredients to use are ones that you have on hand. Composting gives you a means of recycling your waste into something usable.
If you have grass clippings, use them. If you don’t don’t go out of your way to get them. Your ingredients will shift throughout the year. During the winter, I pile up my kitchen waste in a large, plastic container with holes drilled in it on the south side of the house. Due to the cold, it doesn’t break down much. I add it to my pile during the warmer months and it disappears fast.
You can put any kind of vegetable matter in your pile:
Do not put meat or grease into the pile. It will stink and invite unwanted guests. Egg shells seem to be okay.
Got your ingredients? Let’s mix
The finer the ingredients, the faster they will decompose. Having finer ingredients is more important if you use some type of container or tumbler.
Don’t feel obligated to chop everything up very fine. The high carbon ingredients (leaves, straw, pine needles) are the most important to chop up. You can do this by placing them in a barrel or garbage can and whipping with the weed whacker. Kitchen scraps can be chopped in a food processor or blender.
Pick a shaded spot
It’s best to build a compost pile in the shade, so it doesn’t dry out too much. Wet the ground if you’re building a pile. Thoroughly wet all of your ingredients and mix. Make sure everything is wet. The water feeds the bacteria that break down the vegetable matter.
For faster results build a larger pile
The ideal size for a pile is 3ft x 3ft x 3 ft. A smaller pile will not heat up, but it will decompose. It just takes longer. By creating a hot pile, you get the greatest speed of decomposition. I’ve read claims that a small pile will still heat up and compost quickly if you use an aerator.
Cover your pile
After you build a compost pile,Cover with a tarp or plastic. This helps retain moisture, and protects it from driving rains. Use your own judgment. If a much needed rain falls, you may want to temporarily uncover.
Another option, worm composting
Recycling your kitchen and yard waste with worms is another option. Using worms will eliminate a lot of the heavy lifting and turning associated with a pile.
Worm can be solely responsible for composting, or they can be the finishing crew after the pile cools down. To learn more about vermicomposting,
click here
What to expect
If you build a compost pile just right, your pile will heat up. It may even steam if the weather is cold. This is great. If this doesn’t happen, don’t worry. You can add some fertilizer (nitrogen) and create heat.
Click here for information on organic fertilizers.
If it still doesn’t happen, is your pile at least 3ft x 3ft x 3ft? A larger pile will be more likely to heat up. If your pile doesn’t heat up, it will still decompose, so proceed.
Turn and water your pile as often as your conditions require. I live in Arizona, so frequent watering is essential.
As your pile decomposes, you may see potato bugs or other insects. Not to worry, they are helping the process along for you. The only insects to be concerned about are maggots, which would indicate meat or some giant, exposed lump of rotten ingredients. If it’s meat, get it out of there. If it’s a giant lump, bury it in the pile.
Problems?
If the pile gets too wet and slimy, add C content: leaves, dried grass, newspaper or cardboard.
If the pile isn’t doing much, add more N content: kitchen waste, manure, green stuff. Be sure to turn.
The best way to learn to build a compost pile is to try it. Nothing you do can’t be fixed, so get started now.
What about compost bins and tumblers?
Composting can be made easier with the use of
a compost tumbler.
Related topics:
Worm composting
Worm blog
The secret ingredient to great soil
Compost tumblers and bins
{ 1 trackback }