Download - How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 1/17
how to make
compost
1
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 2/17
Making your owncompost isn’t asmysterious as many
new gardenersmight think.
It’s the naturaldecomposition of organic matters thatrevert back to theiroriginal state andprovide a greatbasis for much of our gardening.
Start with 3 wooden pallets up-ended and tiedtogether or staked.
Make sure the ground is clean and free from debris.
Step 1
2
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 3/17
There are two basicmaterial requirementswith compost: Carbon
and Nitrogen
Carbon gives the volumewhile Nitrogen providesthe fuel.
The ratio of
carbon:nitrogen is 4:1.
Collect all your carbon
sources. If you don’thave much then try andsource some from otherareas around yourcommunity.
Step 2
3
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 4/17
Sources of CarbonCardboard
Hay & Pea Straw
Dead Prunings
Corn Stalks
Newspaper
Pine Needles
Shredded Paper
Sawdust
Leaves
Dryer Lint
Old Potting Mix
If you need morecarbon try sourcingshredded paper
from offices, hayfrom a rural suppliesoutlet or directlyfrom a farm andpine needles from aplantation.
You could evenapproach a local millfor bags of sawdust.
4
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 5/17
Nitrogen will fireyour compost upand help generate
some microbialactivity to keep theheap ticking along.
Collect all your nitrogen
sources. If you don’thave much then try andsource some from otherareas around yourcommunity.
Step 3
5
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 6/17
Sources of
NitrogenSeaweed
Manures
Coffee Grounds
Vegetable ScrapsLawn Clippings
Hair
Weeds
If you need morenitrogen you couldask your local
restaurant if you cankeep a bucket intheir kitchen forvegetable scraps.
Or, approach a caféfor some of theircoffee grounds.
Or, talk to a lawnmowing contractorabout keeping sometheir clippings.
6
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 7/17
What else can go
in the heap?Wood ashes
Egg Shells
Onion Skins
Vacuum Dust
There are manyother materials thatcan go into a
compost heap buthave little or nobenefit apart frombeing recycled
Here they are…
7
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 8/17
What can’t go in
the heap?
Dog or Human Poo
Meat (Cooked or Raw)
BonesOils and grease
Dairy Products
There are also manymaterials that can’tgo in the compost
heap because theyeither attract verminor they harm theother materials.
8
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 9/17
Starting acompost pile isall about
layers.A layer of carbonfollowed by alayer of nitrogen. Top itwith anotherlayer of carbonand so on…
Use your largest materials on the bottom of your heap. This isgood for two reasons; (1) It helps keep air moving throughthe heap, and (2) there is more chance for them to
breakdown on the bottom than at the top.
Step 4
9
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 10/17
Somegardenersrecommend
that you mixmaterials priorto setting upthe compost.
My advice isthat it doesn’tmatter if youplan to turn theheap at leastevery week.
Keep layering the materials with mobs of bulk (carbon) andthen added fuel (nitrogen).
Keep a hose on hand to water the heap as it grows. After eachaddition of nitrogen water that layer in really well.
Step 5
10
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 11/17
The final heapwill look quitebusty but it will
drop down asthedecompositionbegins to start.
Leave the heapin this state fortwo (2) weekswithoutturning. Keep itmoist.
Top the heap off with a good smothering of fresh lawnclippings and water again – just in case.
I place a piece of PVC pipe in the middle of the heap to help
keep some airflow through the pile.
Step 6
11
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 12/17
Two weekslater…
As you can see,I’ve beenadding foodscraps on topof the heapover this time.
Now it’s time to do the first turn and it will give you someidea of how it’s going.
Step 7
12
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 13/17
There a two ways to turn a compost pile. If you have spacethen run with 2 or more bins forking the contents from one toanother.
If space is at a premium you can do it with one bin using thistool.
13
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 14/17
You shouldnotice whenturning your
heap, thatsome of thematerials arequite warm andare covered ina white
powderysubstance. Thisis good…
Once it’s turned, you can leave it for up to a week beforeturning again. However, the more you turn the compost heapthe quicker the materials will decompose.
Step 8
14
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 15/17
After 4-6weeks of continual
turning yourcompost shouldbe at a pointwhere it’sready to use.
When all the materials are no longer recognisable and theheap looks more like organic soil. The heap should no longerbe hot but it may still be a little warm.
How do you know when it’s finished?
15
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 16/17
Once you havethis greatorganiccompost, whatcan you do withit?
Don’t use compost directly as potting or seed raising mix. Youwill need to add some other ingredients so that plants get thebest start. There’s a recipe on the next slide…
Caution…
• Make your own potting
& seed-raising mixes• Mulch garden beds
• Use it as a soilimprover
• Turn it into a composttea liquid fertiliser
Compost
Uses
16
8/2/2019 How to Make Compost Bins and Compost
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-to-make-compost-bins-and-compost 17/17
Recipes
Your own compost
Peat moss or coir fibre
SandVermiculite or Perlite
Makingyour own
potting
mixes
Ingredients
17