Compost is nature’s way of recycling. Organic matter decomposes, decomposition creates compost, and compost makes plants grow like mad. Adding compost to your garden will help bring out the best in your plants and making your own compost is easy as.
What Is Compost
Compost is simply decomposed organic waste. Nature’s been creating its own compost for millions of years and people have been making compost for thousands of years to help boost their crops. Today, garden waste and fruit and vege scraps from the kitchen are all that’s required to keep up the good work. In just two to three months you can create an ongoing supply of organic fertiliser that’s packed with nutrients your plants will thrive on.
What Type Of Compost Bins
You can build your own bin, use an open bottom plastic bin, a multi-layered plastic bin, a tumbler/rotating bin, or just start a heap straight onto the ground. It depends on how much waste you will have and what space you have available as to what type of compost structure you need. A plastic bin is good for smaller scale composting and multiple wooden bins for larger scale composting.
Where To Put It?
Choose a well-drained site away from the house. It needs to be sheltered from wind and extreme heat.
Compost Bin Tips
Whatever type of compost bin you decide to use, it needs to have plenty of drainage through the bottom and adequate ventilation through the sides. Your bin should be able to be covered and ideally your bin would have three compartments (newly added organic material, partly composted material, and fully decomposed/readyto- use compost) but this is more for convenience and is by no means essential. A removable front is another option that makes access for turning or removing the compost simple. It doesn’t make better compost but it will make your bin much easier to use.
Making Your Compost
Once you’ve decided where you’re going to make your compost, it’s time to get started. Add your organic material in layers to create a balance of carbon and nitrogen. Start with a layer of carbon – your brown material: dried leaves, twigs, pea straw, newspaper etc. Next add a nitrogen layer – your green material: plant trimmings, grass clippings, anything green and leafy. Adding a product like lime to each layer as you prepare your heap will accelerate the composting and help neutralise acidity, plus it has the added bonus of helping to keep flies away. Keep adding alternate layers, then add water and cover the heap to enable it to decompose quickly. Compost needs to be turned regularly to aerate and help the decomposition process.
What Doesn't Go Into Compost
Plastic, chemicals, diseased plants and trimmings, animal waste – it contains harmful bacteria and viruses which will infect the soil.
Worm Farm Compost Problems/Solutions
PROBLEM
CAUSE
SOLUTION
Rotting food
Too much for population
Feed less
Fruit/vinegar flies around farm,
or small white bugs and worms
Too acidic
Cover food with damp paper. Add lime to increase pH
Worms climbing up sides or worms very fat and pale
Too wet
Add paper products and dry leaves, gently fork holes in the working layer
Ants
Too dry or acidic
Add water/lime. If your worm farm is on legs, place each leg in a container of water to stop such pests from getting in
Food rotting and not eaten
Too much or wrong food/pieces too big
Add less food, break into small pieces
No worm tea
Not enough water
Add water
Worm Farms
Worm farms are becoming an increasingly popular way to turn organic household waste into a fantastic soil conditioner. The worm casts and “worm tea” they produce, is regarded by many gardeners as superfood for plants.
Select your worm farm. You can make one yourself by stacking tyres, boxes, or plastic tubs, or simply buy a plastic tiered bin from Mitre 10.
Select a site that is sheltered from sun, wind and rain.
Start with a layer of bedding material such as hay, shredded cardboard or paper.
Dampen down the bedding material.
Add approx. 250g compost worms.
Start adding in your food scraps (avoid citrus, meat, dairy, flour products, large amounts of cooked food or shiny paper).
Covering each layer of food scraps with paper or soil will help reduce odour and flies hanging around.
Don’t over feed worms in the beginning, 200gm a day for 250gms of worms – as the population grows so can the volume of waste.
Make sure there is good ventilation for the worms but not light. When you take the lid off the bin you will notice the worms dive down into the scraps to get away from the light.
Make sure the worm farm remains moist. Soaking water/cardboard is a good idea.
You can put a tarp or old carpet over your worm farm during colder seasons to keep them warm.
After a few months the bottom layer should be full of worm casts. This can be added to your garden and will provide fantastic organic matter.
The liquid that catches in the tray – “worm tea” can be diluted at a rate of about 1:10 and used on your garden.
