Are you interested in using organic compost in your garden? One of the most important ingredients that you can make for yourself is organic compost. Compost is a natural fertilizer that can improve the growth of your crops by making your soil more rich by adding moisture capacity, increasing aeration and stimulating healthy root growth. Organic yard clippings and food scraps can be gathered together to create rich soil that has increased levels of microorganisms, rich in potassium, nitrogen and other nutrients. This rich organic compost can be created without costing you a cent.
The process of creating compost is actually quite easy. In nature, small organisms such as bacteria and worms break down organic materials. Look at the ground near the base of a tree in a forest, you can see how natures system for decomposition works to replenish the soil using this reoccurring cyclical process. This same process of decomposition can be replicated in your home or on your property.
But until you have created your first working compost pile, there can be many pitfalls that will keep the pile from decomposing and cause a wretched scent.
Key points to consider for creating a organic compost pile (for a through discussion on organic composting, get a copy of The Compost Guide):
- Decomposing source material - Dirt mixed with food scraps that you normally would throw out such as vegetables and breads. To start the decomposition process, you will want to mix in a small amount of composting material, rich and dark soil, and biodegradable food material.
- Aeration - Aerating is necessary for the natural decomposition on biodegradable material. The labor intensive way is to use a pitchfork and turn the pile regularly. An easier way is to use a bin and place a PVC pipe with holes in various parts of the pile. While you will still need to rotate the pile from time to time, but with lower frequency.
- Leveraging nature - Adding red worms after the initial heating of the compost will not only produce excellent compost, but they will reproduce themselves allowing you to create even more compost as the population increases over time. Red worms provide two major benefits to the organic compost: 1) the eat the biodegradable elements within the compost pile that increases the decomposition rate, 2) their worm poop is a natural fertilizer that improves the soil structure, texture, and aeration while increasing the water holding capability of the soil.
- Proper temperature - Heat is a byproduct of the breakdown of organic material. You can use the temperature of your compost to gauge how well the system is working and where your pile is in the decomposition process. With adequate nitrogen and moisture, the compost pile will increase in temperature as the biodegradable material decomposes. As readily decomposable organic matter becomes depleted, the temperature begins to drop and the process slows considerably.
There are of course a few things that could go wrong which are easily fixed. One of the most common occurrences is nothing occurring in your bin or pile despite having added the proper ingredients and worms to the mix. Always consider things such as not enough nitrogen or oxygen within the initial batch. Temperature levels and moisture levels are also very important to monitor when looking for an optimal production level for your compost.
Creating organic compost can be rewarding while providing and endless supply of nutrients for your organic garden.
Once you have learned the composting process, have a feel for the ratio of carbon to nitrogen, and built a farm of worms, you will have an ongoing supply of organic compost for your garden.
To get started building your active compost pile, grad a copy of the Compost Guide. I have included the table of contents and sample page for your review below.
| The Compost Guide - Table of Contents | The Compost Guide - Sample Page |
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