Every Organic Gardener knows that the key to creating ongoing, nutrient-rich soil for your plants is to effectively compost. But most of us are completely unaware of how SOIL happens! Here I will show you how to build soil by using a compost pile.
For our home, I built a wood compost bin with 2 sections. The container helps keep our dog out of it. The 2 sections helps me aerate my pile by allowing me to put my pile on one side and dry, brown material on the other for easy layering. By layering 3 to 4 parts Brown material with 1 part Green material, the pile can stay moist without getting too wet and slowing down decomposition.
4 KEY Components-
Carbon: Found in Brown material such as dead leaves, rotten branches, newspaper. Too much carbon keeps the pile from breaking down. Layering the brown material on top of green material supports nitrogen retention in the soil.
Nitrogen: Found in Green material such as fresh cut grass and food scraps, nitrogen creates nutrient dense soil for plants. Too many greens in the pile will keep the pile too wet for decomposing, not enough makes the pile too dry.
Air: Air flow helps bacteria decompose organic material.
Air: Air flow helps bacteria decompose organic material.
Turning contents every 2-4 weeks supports aeration of compost, microbial action.
Water: The correct amount of water keeps the pile at a warm temp and microorganisms thriving. Too much can make it slimy and stinky. Not enough stops decomposing activity.
GOOD COMPOST INGREDIENTS:
- Yard Waste (brown and green)
Water: The correct amount of water keeps the pile at a warm temp and microorganisms thriving. Too much can make it slimy and stinky. Not enough stops decomposing activity.
GOOD COMPOST INGREDIENTS:
- Food Waste: fruit/vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, sea shells, bones
(NO: Meat, Dairy, Processed Food, Oils/Fats)
- Newspaper (non-glossy)
Build Soil, Grow Food, Be happy!
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