Composting: the rotten truth

Anne Kolaczyk
Purdue University Master Gardener
2006Anne Kolaczyk

Composting
Composting is the transformation of organic material (plant matter) through decomposition into a soil-like material called compost.
Invertebrates (insects and earthworms), and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) help in this transformation.

Kinds

Bin composting Tumbler composting Sunken pail composting Sheet composting Anaerobic composting Vermicomposting

Why do it

Environmentally responsible

Keeps biodegradable waste out of landfills and sewage plants Alternative to burning Gives you a vibrant garden without chemical fertilizers

Saves money Learning tool

What it involves

Adding ingredients Maintaining proper temperature Turning Maintaining moisture Harvesting

Bin composting
backyard composting

Composting bins

Ready made Homemade Bin-less pile

Ready made

Expensive Limited capacity Good if space is an issue

Homemade

Three bins are best

One to fill One thats cooking One to turn others into or to draw from

Bin-less pile

Just a pile with no partitions Hard to maintain sufficient depth to achieve high enough temperatures Easy and nothing to build Moveable

What you can compost

Yard waste Kitchen scraps Newspaper Cardboard

What not to compost

Meat scraps Bones Dairy products Pet waste Diseased plants Invasive weeds

C:N ratio

Should be 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen by weight

Grass Clippings 19:1 Leaves 40:1

Equal weight of each would give you approximately 30:1 ratio for pile

Whats what

Brown (Carbon)

Green (Nitrogen)

Leaves Dirt Grocery bags Bird seed hulls Wood chips

Grass clippings Plant clippings Fertilizer Coffee grounds

C:N ratio, my take Whatever!

Care of compost

Passive

Let sit Takes months and months Turn often Keep moist (H2O 40-60% of weight) Have proper ratio of C:N (30:1) 2-6 weeks (depending on ingredients)

Active

Lets get real

Concerns I dont have room
It takes too long It smells Temps too low to kill diseases, fungi, weed seeds Attracts animals

Solutions Use commercial bin

Maintain proper conditions Cut up large pieces Not if you maintain C:N ratio

Use local community composting facility for problem pieces, compost the rest Bury food waste in center

Uses

Early stages as mulch

Keeps weeds from growing Helps retain moisture Beneficial minerals go into soil Enriches soil Helps with moisture retention

Later stages for soil amending

Removes/reduces need for chemical fertilizers that leach into our ground water

What method is right for me???

How much space do I have?

Is it indoor or outdoor or both?

What do I want to compost?

How much waste do I have a week?

How and where do I want to use the compost? How much time can I spend on it a week? Whats my ewww! factor? How committed am I to composting?

Resources

Purdue Extension office Library Internet

Bin

Anaerobic

Just do it!
composting

Tumbler

Vermi

Pail

Sheet