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One of the big reasons for me having to deviate from my initial gardening goals was due to the health of my soil. As I began my lawn re-sodding project (more on that soon), I discovered I have nutrient-deprived, clay soil that would prevent the growing successes I’m looking for. Truly terrible soil! So, growing this year just didn’t make sense. Rather I’ve concentrated my time on projects that will improve the health of my soil and set me up for success next year.
Composting is one of those projects. Presenting the topic of compost so early on my site might seem like an interesting choice because it might seem like such an advanced gardener move (at least that’s how I initially viewed it). You might remember from my inaugural post that I count composting among my successes. The reasons are several; it’s easy, low-maintenance, low to no cost, adaptable, and crazy beneficial for your garden. But in order to be successful with composting, some basic information is needed.
So let’s dive in! First off…
WHAT IS COMPOST?
Simply put, it’s decomposed organic matter. Decomposition breaks down the organic matter with the help of microorganisms, earthworms, and other tiny creatures into a simpler matter: compost. Easy concept, right? For gardeners, we make compost by combining plant-based kitchen scraps, outdoor materials, and recyclables.
WHY ARE GARDENERS SO OBSESSED WITH COMPOST?
You’ll often hear gardeners refer to compost as “black gold”. And for good reason! The process of decomposition creates a nutrient-rich compost that is a very beneficial additive to any garden improving soil health which in turn makes healthier plants. And on top of all that, it’s incredibly cost effective and easy to make!
Apart from what compost can add to your garden, I personally love the idea that I’m reusing scraps and trash that would normally head to the dump. Knowing that I’m putting that amount of waste to good use in my backyard gives me a dose of fuzzy feelings. Awesome!
*As of this post date, I haven’t been composting long enough to have a compost supply I can put to good use. So this fuzzy feeling has been my major driver. And watching my supply grow for next year is so exciting!
ANY DOWNSIDES TO COMPOSTING?
There might be what some would consider cons, but none of these are significant enough for me to outweigh the pros. So let’s just think of these as the not-so-fun things you can expect:
- It’s slow going. Composting takes time, especially when you’re just starting out. You have to gather enough materials and wait for it to break down before you can use it. That can take 6-8 weeks, and with improper planning you may not get to use your compost until the following growing season (like me!).
- It’s a little bit of work. Turning a compost pile is nothing to sneeze at. It can be a tough little workout. There’s also the daily trips from the kitchen to the pile, gathering and hoarding your brown supply. It involves a little management.
- It’s dirty. Pretty self-explanatory, but that’s also the nature of gardening! However, we can mitigate the dirtiness somewhat if you don’t like the idea of a completely open pile.
You might notice that “It’s stinky” is missing from my list. That was not an oversight. Honestly, my biggest fear about starting a compost pile was that I was going to be a smelly nuisance to my neighbors. But it turns out, when done correctly, compost piles will have a very minimal smell. Sure, they’ll have an earthy odor, but they should not be offensively stinky. If you smell a rotting pile, it’s actually a good clue that something needs adjusting (pssst…keep reading to find out more).
So, what do you say? Are you in? On board? Ready to roll? Fantastic! Let’s keep going…
SO, WHAT ALL GOES INTO MAKING COMPOST?
Your compost is going to need to contain a good mixture of greens (nitrogen), browns (carbon), water, and oxygen in order to do its thang. The general rule I’ve found around the internet is that you should aim for a 2 browns:1 green ratio. I’ve also seen 1:1 ratios. But in my experience, those are loose guidelines. Great starting points! As you get into it though, here’s what you should keep in mind:
- If you have too many greens, the compost pile will start to stink and turn slimy. Adding browns will counter this.
- If you have too many browns, the pile will not break down as quickly as you need, so you’ll want to add greens to counter this. I will personally err on the side of too many browns to make sure I avoid a smelly pile, but it’s ultimately a judgement call.
- If you think you have plenty of greens but your pile is still looking dry, then add water. You can use a hose, watering can, or kitchen scrap liquids to help moisten the pile. Ultimately, you want a moist mixture sort of like lightly rained upon earth. Not soggy, or everything will turn swampy. And not dry, or it won’t break down like you need it to.
- Hint: if you find that your pile is attracting ants, it means it’s too dry.
- And last but not least, remember the airflow. If you’re keeping compost in an enclosure, make sure there are holes. Easiest way to get air moving throughout your pile is to regularly turn or mix it. Don’t let the pile sit to form a large clump. I’ve seen recommendations for turning every 2-3 days, but let me be honest. I turn mine about once a week, maybe a little more in the hotter summer days. Seems to be working out ok. Again, judgement call.
So, what’s considered a green? What’s a brown? The list below provides some of the things you’ll most likely have at your immediate disposal.
IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULDN’T PUT IN MY COMPOST PILE?
So glad you asked! Here are some things you should avoid:
- Meat, bones, fish, and dairy products: You know what’s stinky? You know what will attract large pests and maggots? If you guessed rotting meat, bones, fish, and dairy, you win a prize. And the prize is not putting these in your compost. Ever!
- Pet poop: Once you get into composting, it’s easy to get swept up in trying to recycle everything you can get your hands on. And pet poop seems like an easy target (I’ve even read about people composting their own human waste!!!). Resist! Dog, cat, and human feces can carry disease and parasites that can be difficult to isolate and kill prior to use. The risks far outweigh the benefits. Benefits that you can achieve by sticking to my safe, mostly poop-free list above.
- Plastics, metals, glass: These materials will not break down in your lifetime. So unless you’re creating heirloom compost to bequeath unto your future generations of loved ones, keep taking these to your local recycling drop-off.
- Materials that have been pressure treated: Treated wood, for example, is treated to prevent damage (such as rotting and insect damage), so adding this to your compost is going to be quite counter productive. It’s also a good idea to try and omit those types of chemicals from your compost pile as they provide no benefit.
CAN I COMPOST IN THE WINTER?
Why, yes you can! In fact, the freezing/thawing cycle is also great at breaking down your compost. The bigger question, if you live in the frozen north like I do, is do you want to? And that’s totally up to you. If/when the temperature starts dipping below zero here, my commitment may wane.
You’ll want to keep in mind that come spring, you’ll be dealing with extra moisture from possible snow melt and rains, so have plenty of browns on hand to counterbalance your pile.
So there you go! I hope you found this information helpful as you start to toss around the idea of starting your own compost pile. I will be making a follow up post about the nuts and bolts of actually starting the joyous work of putting together your very own composting operation.
In the meantime, use the list above to start thinking about ways you can integrate composting and materials storage into your routine. Feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comment section.