Composting

 

Composting Compost is an excellent, inexpensive way to increase the productivity and workability of soil. It reduces and recycles yard waste and produces excellent soil.  Help the garden, the environment, and the pocketbook by composting lawn and garden waste.  To learn more about composting, click here.

 

Getting started

Basics

You can begin your compost either indoors or outdoors.  For indoor composting use a type of bucket and place underneath your kitchen sink.  For outdoor composting you have more flexibility in the size of bin you can handle.  Base the size of compost bin on how much waste you produce, do you have a large family or have a large garden?  If your answer is both to know, begin with a smaller box.  If your answer was yes, then make space around your garden for a larger box.   For ideas on how to build your box, click here.

Location

When choosing the location of your compost box find a site that includes.

• At least 6 hours of sunlight a day.
• A site that does not detract from the landscape.
• Convenient for adding materials and removing compost.
• Available water.
• Acceptable materials

Maintenance

 

A compost pile is not just rotting garbage.  Successful compost piles are structured as follows:

• Turn pile every 2 to 4 weeks and keep pile moist to speed composting, allow air circulation and eliminate unpleasant odors.
•  Build pile 3 to 5 feet tall, with an equal circumference. Small piles don’t heat enough and large piles don’t receive enough air in the middle for good composting.
•  Apply a 1" layer of soil every 8 to 14 inches of organic waste to increase microbial activity.
•  For more helpful hints, click here.

 Acceptable and not acceptable materials to add to your bin:

Acceptable	Not Acceptable
Grass clippings Leaves and Weeds Manures Coffee Grounds Wood Chips and Sawdust Bark, Stems, Stalks Garden and Canning Waste Fruit and Vegetables	Meats Bones Large Branches Dairy Products Synthetic Products Plastics

Trouble Shooting

 

• Strong odor: Needs more oxygen, turn the pile more often to increase air circulations.  If the material is too wet add dry materials.
• Pile is damp, but won’t heat: Insufficient nitrogen, add fertilizer or grass clippings.  Or the materials are too wet, allow pile to dry or add dry materials.
• Ammonia smell: Too much nitrogen, add sawdust or other high carbon materials and turn pile.