Composting:
Composting, why bother? It seems like a ton of work, and for what? Would it not just be easier to buy something to ad to the soil? So why bother. Well I am glad you asked ( ok I asked the questions but for the sake of this piece just go with it). There are several really good reasons to compost. Here are just 6 reasons why:
1 Composting turns garbage into "black gold"( its my term I use for this free soil, rich soil you add to the garden)
2.Composting helps to build up the soil in the garden
3.Composting helps build strong, healthy plants
4.Composting gets rid of the need for chemicals. Fully composted materials added to your garden acts as a natural, slow-release garden fertilizer.
5. Composting reduces water usage. A 5% increase in compost ( organic material) may increase the amount of water the soil can hold by four times.
6.Composting reduces items that fill our landfills
So now that we have some great reasons on why to compost it is important to know how. It is quite easy actually. But it is a little harder then just dumping all food scraps into the bin. It starts with having an area or bin (with air holes) designated for the purpose of composting. Let's be honest here, it's decomposing materials, it really doesn't have to be fancy. It just has to be a way to hold everything together. If you live in the city it is helpful if your bin is pest resistant, so a bin with a lid would be best. However, if you have the space, like we do at the community garden, then something bigger that allows sun light, rain and air to penetrate is best.
Next, it is important to use the right materials. Start with a base of soil. It can be old, useless soil because over time that will all change. After that it is all about layers; greens, browns and soil.
Greens:
Vegetable/fruit peels and scraps
Green Grass clippings
Green Garden waste ( items pulled out of the garden)
Flowers
Tea leaves and bags
Browns:
Brown grass clippings
Dried leaves
Shredded non glossy paper and cardboard
Coffee filters
Straw
Ok, pretty simple right? I told you. Now comes the hard part. Do not give up just because I said there was a hard part. I never said it was impossible, I just meant to say that it is harder then throwing the items in. It is important to make all the items you put in somewhat small. Do not put in a whole pepper plant. Yes, it will decompose but that will take forever ( ok not forever but you get the idea). The smaller the pieces the faster they will break down. Just take a moment and rip leaves off steams or break the large pieces up. Once you have put a nice layer of green materials in add some of the good brown materials. Since it is already on the way to decomposing it will speed things along nicely. Then comes a nice layer of soil. Stir it all up a bit ( to add air) and top with some water. And repeat!
Now if you have a 3 part bin like we do, it is good to take all the compost you have been piling up in the first bin and flip it over to the middle bin. This will mix things up, move the worms and bugs around and speed the process along. Start all over in bin number one. Whenever you stir one bin, give the middle one a good toss too. Finally when the first one is building up again, toss the pile in bin #2 into bin #3 ( should be close to done at the point. It should resemble a nice dark soil) and begin the process all over again. Remember to add water to all three bins from time to time if it is getting dry. All this tossing, stirring and flipping will speed the process up so that you will have rich organic material to use the following year in your garden.
That's it my friends, you have rich "black gold" for your garden. See, not difficult at all. The benefits will out way all the work you put into it!! I promise.
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