What Is Composting?
Compost is the key to organic gardening, both indoor and -outdoor. It is an easy and inexpensive way to recycle food scraps and yard waste, so your amount of trash will be reduced. It regulates the soil acidity and it improves the soil structure. Next to that it has a lot of environmental benefits. But above all it is fun and very satisfying to make your own homegrown - and organic - fertilizer.
There are loads of methods of compost-making. You can make it as easy or complicated as you want. The simplest method is ‘cold composting’, also referred to as "slow composting". As the name suggests, this takes time. You just let nature do its job and after about a year you will have compost. You can speed up the process as well, in that case we’re talking about "hot" or "fast composting". You’ll have compost within a few weeks, but it takes a lot more effort and time. This method requires more space and materials. And you also got to learn more about temperature, humidity, aeration, soil microbes and so on. In this blog, we are going for the golden mean, we will focus on the basics for composting outdoor. In case you don’t have the luxury of a yard, but still want to give composting a try, indoor composting might be what you’re looking for. You can read all ins & outs of indoor composting and learn how to create your own worm compost bin
in this blog.
What Do You Need To Get Started?
You can use a container to speed up the process, but you don’t need it. You can build a bin or cage from pallets, (chicken) wire, stones, tyres etc. Let your creativity run wild! Compost heaps - in a container or not - should be about 1x1m to be effective.
Don’t put it in an area where rainwater collects. When you have a container that can be closed, you can put it on a sunny spot. When you have an open pile or a container that doesn’t close, it is better to put it in the shade, to prevent it from drying out.
To get started, you need a good foundation, there are several options. One is to start with browns on the bottom and build a layer of about 10-20 cm. from twigs and small branches. This will absorb moisture from the pile and keep things well-aerated (read: it’s not going to smell like the swamp). Another option is to sprinkle a bit of finished compost on the bottom.
The Building Blocks Of Compost: Greens & Browns
Initially, I presumed that I could simply put all garden & food waste on the compost pile, take it easy, right? WRONG! There are some rules you should bear in mind, but don’t panic, composting is not rocket science.
Technically spoken, all organic matter, all that once was living is good to put on the pile. There are two essential elements to make it work: carbon-rich ingredients (browns) and nitrogen-rich (greens) ingredients. The micronutrients that are responsible for breaking down your compost pile, prefer a balanced diet of Nitrogen and Carbon.
You’ll have to master the art of getting the right carbon-nitrogen ratio. In general, it should be moist, but not soggy. Not too wet and not too dry. When it is too wet, microorganisms don’t have enough oxygen.
Some tips: Add greens in thin layers, not piles, this way all the material is in contact with the browns. Put some browns on the outside, this will prevent unwanted aromas and helps to prevent rain from soaking into the pile and moisture from evaporating out of the pile.
Too much nitrogen means that the ratio is lower than ideal, the pile will be slimy and stinky. When the ratio is higher than ideal, there is too much carbon and the pile will be dry and decomposes very slow. The optimum ratio is roughly 25/30 part Carbon to 1 part Nitrogen. This way the heap stays odor-free. Below you find an overview of the browns & greens.