COMPOSTING 101 Paula Ziadi

GOAL OF THIS PROJECT

•  To create an education program to: •  Provide people the tools and skills to create their own compost

•  Encourage people to incorporate this practice in their day to day lives

•  Inspire people to spread the message and teach others how to compost

WHAT IS COMPOST?

•  It is the controlled decomposition of organic matter into an all natural soil amendment!

•  Composting involves the mixing together of vegetable and fruit material, animal matter, soil and water to form humus.

•  Humus describes chemically stable soil matter, that contributes to moisture and nutrient retention.

WHY COMPOST?

•  Solid waste management is one of the most prominent environmental issues we face today.

•  Landfills are filling up at an alarming rate… •  We generate about 230 pounds of yard waste per person per year, 100 pounds of

food waste per person per year!! •  Some problems associated with solid waste landfills are:

•  Release of toxins into the air, soil, ground and surface water

•  Composting is the cornerstone of solid waste reduction, it is easy, cost-effective, and will improve the productivity of your soil!

WHY COMPOST?

•  Compost contains nutrients and micronutrients that plants need for optimum growth.

•  It is can be as simple as piling up materials in a corner in your backyard, or building or purchasing a compost bin to help accelerate the composting process.

HOW TO COMPOST

•  A good composter must focus on the materials that are being composted and the climate around these materials.

•  The materials that you will need to begin composting are the same ones right out in your yard (fallen leaves, grass clippings, twigs, etc.) and in your kitchen (vegetables, fruits, eggshells, coffee grounds and filters)

•  The greater diversity of materials, thus the greater diversity of nutrients and elements, the better your compost!

DECOMPOSITION

•  The process of decomposition, or the breakdown of raw organic matter into compost, is measured complex process.

•  It is the process by which organic materials such as vegetables, animal manure and other organic matter is converted from wasted materials to a stable soil amendment.

•  There are two main processes that can yield compost: •  Anaerobic (without oxygen) decomposition

•  Aerobic (with oxygen) decomposition

ANAEROBIC DECOMPOSITION

•  Oxygen is required by most microorganisms, especially the most efficient bacteria, called aerobes.

•  When there isn’t enough oxygen available, the aerobes cannot surface and the anaerobes take over. Once this occurs, decomposition slows down by 90%!

•  Anaerobes cannot produce carbon dioxide, energy, water, and nutrients. Additionally, they produce a lot of organic acids and amines, which are smelly, contain unavailable nitrogen and can even be toxic to some plants.

AEROBIC DECOMPOSITION

•  Aerobic decomposition is most common in nature.

•  Aerobes are the most efficient of the bacteria.

•  They are able to break down carbon compounds into carbon dioxide and water, which is readily available to plants, and they are also producing lots of ENERGY!

•  This is why it is very important to maintain the pile well aerated!!

EFFICIENT DECOMPOSITION

•  A successful compost pile will depend on maintaining microbial activity.

•  This is what the workers of the compost pile will need:

•  Carbon (energy source)

•  Nitrogen (protein source)

•  Oxygen

•  Moisture

REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFICIENT DECOMPOSITION

•  Compost pile needs to be well aerated, achieved by turning the pile often.

•  Adequate moisture is essential for microbial activity.

•  Grinding or shredding the organic material before adding it to the compost reduces decomposition time.

•  Temperature of the compost pile is very important to the biological activity. Lower temperatures will slow down decomposition, while higher temperatures with speed it up.

ORGANISMS IN COMPOSTING (AKA YOUR FELLOW FARMERS)

•  Chemical decomposers •  Bacteria (make up 80-90% of the billions of microorganisms found in one gram of

compost).

•  Actinomycetes (part bacteria, part fungus) – grayish, cobwebby looking things

•  Physical decomposers •  Macroorganisms: earthworms, mites, millipedes, centipedes, spiders, beetles, ants, flies,

QUANTITY AND COMPOSITION OF RAW ORGANIC MATERIAL

•  The most important elements to have in mind when creating compost are carbon and nitrogen, and thus it is important to add them in the correct ratio.

•  The ideal C:N ratio is 30:1, we would want 30 times more carbon than nitrogen.

•  Materials should be proportioned on 30:1 ratio by weight for optimum decomposition.

OUR COMPOST BIN

We constructed our compost bin using 4 pipes (3 feet long each), and wrapping chicken wire around to connect all four pipes. The compost pile sits on top of the ground, without

ay sort of artificial foundation.

Carbon sources used: dry weeds, dry leaves from the area.

Nitrogen sources used: kitchen scraps (veggies, fruits, coffee grounds and filters, egg shells)

Dimensions 3 X 3 X 3 ft

STEP BY STEP GUIDE Ø Find a good location for your pile: if you live in a cold climate locate the pile in a place where it will receive enough sunlight to keep it warm. If you live in a warm climate locate you may locate your pile in the shade.

Ø Gather the right ingredients to add into your compost pile, as well as, a container to maintain the pile in a specific and manageable spot.

Ø Minimum size for optimal compost to occur is 3 by 3 by 3 ft.

Ø Fill it up! The compost must have a mixture of carbon and nitrogen at a ratio of 30:1. General rule of thumb: browns = carbon, greens = nitrogen.

Ø Make a “garden lasagna”: alternating between browns and greens.

Ø Turn your pile often (depending on the size of your pile).

Ø Remove the compost, and enjoy a wonderful, all-natural fertilizer!.

DO’S AND DON’T’S

•  DO

•  Fruit and fruits peels (N)

•  Veggies and veggie peels (N)

•  Dry leaves (C)

•  Newspaper (C)

•  Coffee grounds and filters (N)

•  Manure (horse, pig, sheep, goat, chicken, rabbit) (N)

•  Dryer lint (C)

•  DON’T

•  Dog/Cat droppings

•  Fish scraps

•  Meat

•  Fat

•  Grease

•  Oils

•  Bones

Bibliography/Suggested Readings

•  Campbell, Stu, and Kathleen Bond. Borie. Let It Rot!: The Gardener's Guide to Composting. Pownal, VT: Storey Pub., 1990. Print.

•  Trail, Gayla, and Leela Corman. You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005. Print.

TAHNK YOU!

A special thanks to Mike Thomasen!!

Also, special thanks to Kendyll Goeman

Katherine, Jimmy, and Kelsey for helping me acquire materials

And all the interns for being supportive and awesome

Thank you for a wonderful summer!!!!!