composting 101 - cultivate 2016

Composting 101Composting 101

Cultivate 2016Greenville, SC

byDan Abend

What Is Compost?

Anything that was once living will decompose.

Composting is nature's process of recycling organic material into a rich soil amendment.

Soil

What is it?

● organic material

● minerals

● water & air

● organisms

What does it do?

● medium for plant growth

● water storage, supply, purification

● modifier of the Earth's atmosphere

● habitat for organisms

Soil is alive!

Why Compost?

Why don't things compost well in the landfill?

● reduce chemical fertilizers● reduce pesticides● reduce erosion● reduce waste

About 30% of what South Carolinians throw away is yard debris & food waste.

● increase aeration● increase water retention● suppress plant disease● suppress pests● maintain neutral pH● help plants absorb nutrients

How Does Composting Work?

Four phases allow organic matter breakdown & sanitization.

Temperature, moisture, and oxygen attract and support the microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) and other creatures (worms, sowbugs) who do the hard work.

1 2 3 4

PlanningLocation

● Away from roots that may grow into your pile● Away from structures that prevent airflow

Container Considerations

● How do I add material?● How do I remove the compost?● How does air circulate?● How do I control moisture?

Composter Styles

bin

Composter Styles

tumbler

Composter Styles

heap / pile pit / trench

Composter Construction

pallets wire


blocks bales


simple or stylish commercial

Composting Ingredients

The first step is collecting food scraps & waste suited to composting.

stainless steel compost pail

Composting IngredientsGreen (nitrogen)

● fresh clippings● vegetable scraps● coffee grounds● tea bags● herbivore manure

(chicken, rabbit, cow, horse)

Brown (carbon)

● dead leaves● wood chips / twigs● paper / cardboard● hay/straw (animal bedding)● potting soil● egg shells● fireplace ashes● dryer & vacuum lint

Composting IngredientsWater & Air feed the organisms decomposing the material

● Moist like a damp sponge● Turn and mix to prevent buildup of odor-causing bacteria

Avoid● plastic● glass● meat● dairy

● diseased plants● charcoal ash● treated/painted wood

● fat● grease● herbicides● stickers

Compost Problems

Ugly

● Use an attractive container● Bury and cover

Smelly

● Inappropriate materials● Too wet● Not Enough Air

Attracts Animals

● Keep covered● Avoid inappropriate materials

Takes Too Long

● Too dry● Incorrect ratio● Turn turn turn

Alternate Composting Methods

Hügelkulturraised beds built on decaying wood debris and biomass

+ regulates moisture+ warms soil for extended season+ can compost whole trees+ low maintenance


Bokashioxygen-free indoor fermentation of organic matter

+ compost almost any food scraps including meat and dairy+ fast (2-4 weeks)+ odorless+ bokashi juice– requires inoculated bokashi mix– only pre-composts– acidic


Mushroomsthe spent residual compost from growing mushrooms

+ fungi eat cellulose plant material+ you can eat the mushrooms– spores– odor– temperature requirements (60℉-80℉)


Mob Grazingallow the animals to do all the work

+ less fertilizer cost+ better weed control+ plant diversity+ erosion control+ you can eat the animals– land requirement– animals are time consuming


Vermiculturelet the worms do the work

+ can be done indoors year-round+ reproduce steadily+ worms can feed chickens+ worms can be used in the garden– difficult to harvest compost– require moisture


Black soldier fly larvaelet the larvae feed and grow

+ produce larvae as feed+ don't process high cellulose+ consume meat+ don't bite, sting, or vector disease+ reproduce quickly– requires special bin to harvest– produce little compost– optimum temperature 90℉


Blatticompostinglet the cockroaches multiply

+ reproduce fast+ can be used as feed+ compost all most anything+ low odor+ low maintenance+ fast– produce little compost– temperature minimum 77℉

use non-climbing feeder roach species

composting 101 - cultivate 2016

Environment