Composting 101 and Dirt-the movie

[Rachel Butler]

I find myself in my new home. I live with two male roommates, like a reverse Three's Company. The boys have really gotten into the garden. The one I'll call Chrissy was floored by the idea of eating out of the garden. My favorite comment when I first harvested some lettuce was, "So, I can just come out here and grab a piece of lettuce and put it on my sandwich?" So now that the boys are on board with the garden, I'll be setting up my compost bin/pile. I did a little research and this is what I found out there primarily while reading about DIRT, The Movie.

Luckily, I have also had the wonderful experience of building a composting system in my permaculture class. Being able to actually get my hands and boots dirty while learning about it was invaluable!

OK, Here it goes!

Composting involves the decomposition of organic matter, such as plants and once-living household waste. Millions of microscopic organisms, including bacteria and fungi, consume and recycle this waste to produce a dark, crumbly soil that is called compost. This process occurs in nature every day — vegetation naturally decays, and plants, animals, and microorganisms use it produce nutrient-rich dirt. Instead of filling landfills with organic waste, we can compost in our own outdoor piles or indoor bins. The resulting soil can be added to enrich yards, houseplants, and gardens.

But let’s face it: Keeping garbage around essentially rotting in our midst runs counter to everything we’ve internalized about hygiene and cleanliness. But fear not; your house need not smell like the town dump, and a small change to your routine (you already sort your recycling of course, right?) can not only shrink your footprint on the planet, but actively contribute to the restoration of the ecological lifecycle. Compost benefits the Earth in many ways, from remediating contaminated soils and facilitating reforestation to reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers and removing pollutants from the air and water. When we compost, we merely accelerate a natural biological process.

The Right Stuff
Several factors must be present in a compost pile or bin in order for decomposition to occur. Microorganisms need water to survive and to access the substances in the compost pile — but not too much water. They also need adequate oxygen and a balance of nitrogen and carbon. Nitrogen is found in “green” materials like grass clippings and food scraps — which also naturally keep the compost pile moist — while carbon is contained in “brown” materials like shredded newspaper, dry leaves, and branches. To keep it simple, just remember: Air, Water, Greens, and Browns.

As the microorganisms in the pile or bin eat, they generate heat, raising the temperature of the pile and increasing the rate of anaerobic activity, or decomposition. Compost piles that are functioning optimally will have a temperature range of 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. When organic materials heat up and decompose, they shrink — up to 70 percent of their original size. The composted materials produced will contain a dark-brown or black “humus” that smells earthy and like dirt. If you want your compost pile to heat up, it should be at least 3'x3'. You can have a fine compost pile that doesn't get that hot, it will just take a little longer to compost, and won't kill weed seeds.

Do It Yourself
First, choose the type of compost container and location you’d like to use. If you have the space to compost outdoors, you can build or purchase a compost bin, or simply go binless and build your pile on the ground — a minimum of three feet high by three feet wide is best. In my permaculture class, we used pallets and made nice little doors so the pile is contained and I think the look is pretty good! In an outdoor bin, greens like food scraps are combined with browns like dead plants and dried leaves. Composting will be quicker if the pile is aerated, monitored for sufficient moisture, and turned regularly. Rotating bins, or a series of bins,allow the compost to be turned on a regular basis, speeding up the process.

I hope this helps you on your adventures in composting. As for me and the boys, it will significantly reduce what we are putting in the trash bin AND provide some love for our garden!

Warm thoughts of walks around the lake, bountiful gardens and joyous love!

Rache

[Laird Bishop]

Great post! Very well written and informative.