Compost – such a humble thing yet so important to the garden. I spent the several hours this weekend screening compost before adding it to the beds. Standing over the screen I had time to consider how I came to having this black gold in my hands and under my fingernails.
Almost anything can be composted, and despite what many believe even animal products can be composted though it may be difficult to achieve and maintain the necessary heat in order to kill off the pathogens in the material. But leaves, vegetable kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, lawn clippings, eggs shells, and shredded clean paper are all fair game. I would not compost obviously diseased plant material or any pernicious vining weed, such as bindweed. That’s just asking for trouble! I think one of the best reasons to compost is to remove valuable organic matter from the waste stream of the community. To put organic material in a plastic bag, then have it toted off to the landfill where it will sit for how long before that plastic bag breaks down strikes me as lunacy. Instead compost those veggie trimmings! It’s free! It can improve your garden. Its turning trash to treasure!
While there are nutrients in compost, I think the primary benefit is improving the soil structure – that is, moisture retaining properties, permeability for air and the positive benefits of all the microbial life in compost.
But I digress….
Two years ago when I started turning my attention to vegetable gardening over at the “remote plot” I knew we needed a compost pile. Over the course of the year we added grass clippings, vegetable kitchen scraps, poultry stall waste until we had a big pile.
Early last year we covered it with black plastic so it would “cook.”
After a year it was ready. I scooped it up, screened it and put it in the beds. I made screen out of scrap lumber and a bit of 1/2″ screen. I can put it across some sawhorses over the wheel barrow and just dump in the material and push it through the screen removing any small sticks and stones or other debris.
Organic material that is too big for the screen will be returned to the pile to break down some more.
And here it is after screening.
Though I added some last fall and more just this past weekend, I still need more to top off the beds.
There are so many options for composting available to the home gardener. You can use a simple bin made of pallets or wire, there are fabricated plastic bins, and tumblers of all shapes and sizes. I know the “pile the stuff up and wait” method works just fine; but what if you want to speed things up a bit? Do the tumblers really work or are they limiting because once they are full you have no place to go? Are the plastic bins with lids useful? I want to know!
I had planned to run an experiment as to the best method for home composting but there is no sense in reinventing the wheel. Here is an interesting series of videos that do their best to objectively compare composting systems. I found the results somewhat surprising. You can just watch the first and last if you are pressed for time.
Introduction – http://bit.ly/GTOTma
Part 2 – http://bit.ly/GPCNFL
Part 3 – http://bit.ly/H677Ae
Seems the “best” system may in fact be the simplest. A basic container that allows ample air flow, easy to empty so the material may be turned and lightweight enough to be handled by one person. I’ve constructed a wire mesh column to incorporate those attributes. It’s almost loaded so we’ll have to see how fast it converts to “compost.”
Do you compost? If so, what method do you use? If not, Why not get started today!
Keep Digging and Eat Well!
*Disclaimer – I received no compensation or consideration from Dave Wilson Nursery.
March 27, 2012
I use purpose-made plastic bins (I have 3), and I find they produce very good compost, largely with the aid of a huge population of worms. As you say though, the limiting factor is their size. When they are full you have to remove the bottom layer of material which is hopefully ready for use, and that can be tricky – as well as messy. Alternatively you can buy / make another bin! The little flaps at the bottom (allegedly for removing the finished material) are hopeless and I never use them.
March 27, 2012
Did you innoculate the bins with worms?
March 27, 2012
I’ve often written about what a composting failure I am. I used to have a lovely compost pile, made of salvaged wood pallets and welded wire fencing, but that was when I had an unlimited supply of horse manure/straw from a nearby stable. Now that we live in town, I have my black compost barrel that is usually ignored and/or unattended, so I find trench composting to be the most successful method for me. Find an unplanted piece of ground and dig a hole, dump in the kitchen waste and cover it up. That’s all there is to it! Of course, the compost never reaches the entire garden. If one plants using the row method, it works great to trench compost the paths, which then become the next year’s rows. With wide row or SF gardening, one would have to leave too much ground unplanted to really effectively build the soil in the bed. So there you are, I’m still a composting failure!
March 27, 2012
That’s a great tip Granny! And there is no way you’re a failure. I”ve seen what you do!
March 27, 2012
I really do wish that I had designed my yard differently when I first moved in. I just don’t have much room for anything, including any sort of compost arrangement. As it is, I’m seriously considering ripping out my lawn and building a few raised beds. The lawn is only about 9 X 15″ so it’s not like I’m tearing up a fairway. That little patch, especially with a dog, is more trouble than it’s worth. I need to look at the options before I make a move. Would you mind, David, if I email you at some point with some questions? I’d appreciate your input. Thanks.
March 27, 2012
John, I ripped out my mini lawn last year. I’ve never been happier about it! I’d be happy to let you pick my brain. Fire away!
July 13, 2013
JOHN WHY TARE UP THE LAWN,TO MUCH WORK,JUST PUT DOWN CARD BOAR D THEN STACK GREENS THEN BROWNS ,TILL ABOUT 18 INCHES HIGH ,OF COURSE HAVE TO SIT ABOUT 3 MONTHS IN SUMMER ,OR LONGER IF U CAN BUT WOW WISH U COULD SEE MY TOMATOES FIRST YEAR WOWWWWWW OH WET EACH LATER DECAYS FASTER
March 27, 2012
I agree – grass is highly overrated….. Gardens are so much more fun……… Every year more and more of my grass disappears and more and more gardens exist….. Now with all the weird food issues – I love knowing where the majority of our produce comes from……
March 28, 2012
I’m with you Patrice!
March 27, 2012
Granny
Your trench gardening sounds like the perfect solution. I don’t really have a place for a compost pile but I sure could dig a hole big enough for my kitchen scraps (I have a under the sink kitchen compost bucket). Yes it will take a while but over time the compost will break down and at the end of the growing season after cleaning out the garden one can turn all that material and spread it out across the entire garden…. Plus I have for years spread the grass clippings between my veggie rows to add to the garden and I really believe that makes a difference. Since I started doing that, I have eliminated the need for any weed killers and have a much more “organic” veggie garden and l eliminate paying to haul grass clippings away…. Of course as more of the grass becomes garden – I may have to start gathering grass clippings from the neighbors…….
March 28, 2012
Thanks David for the post-as you say it’s turning trash to treasure! It’s funny how gardeners get so excited about their compost and we love to compare notes-non-gardeners think we are quite, quite mad…but of course we aren’t…are we??
March 28, 2012
Mad? Perhaps.. Passionate? Definately!
April 1, 2012
I compost in an old water-but where the bottom cracked… I removed the bottom, turned it upside-down and used the lid as – ta-dah! – lid. Simple, efficient and free.
Rather than using “imported” composting worms I just pick up a few handfuls of worms when I’m digging in the garden and then throw them in the compost bin to do their thing.
April 1, 2012
SImple, efficient, free – three of my favorite words! Thanks for stopping by!
April 21, 2012
Spent my morning sifting compost with a set up almost exactly like yours but quite a bit more beaten up. Isn’t it amazing to make something so good out of what other people put in bags and send away.
April 21, 2012
I agree Kate, it is pretty cool to take what would normally be discarded and put it such good use!