Simple Compost
I promised a simple approach to thinking about your compost. Compostable materials are either Green or Brown and you need a good mix of both. If you want the full scientific monte then you need a book.
Green Compostables include grass clippings, tea bags, old flowers, nettles, weeds, comfrey or rhubarb leaves, pond algae, spent bedding plants, rotting fruit and vegetable peelings – these provide the nitrogen and bacteria to generate heat.
Brown Compostables include twigs, prunings, leaves, straw, cardboard, straw, wool, feathers, shredded paper, wood ashes, vacum bag contents, pine needles and egg shells and provide substance in the form of carbon and mixed chemistry.
Good compost is made from a mixture of some or all of these components with air, moisture, heat and bacteria. Too much green and it will be a smelly, slimy mess. Too much brown and it will remain uncomposted as twigs and ants. Mix up your heap with browns and greens, add some garden soil with worms to help bacteria if you wish. If the heap is dry, water the browns if it is soggy and green add some paper or cardboard.
A scientific approach to creating good compost with good photographs can be found in this book.
Or a simpler organic view in this book.
Animal Manure
Rotted manure from grass eating and vegetarian animals probably contains more fertiliser than compost. Dog and fox feces should not be spread on the garden or put in the compost bin.
One thought on “Simple Compost”
This makes it sound good and simple .. the problem for me is .. that I don’t have extra space to dedicate it towards a composter .. but , I do buy our local compost from the recycling plant, so I hope that helps “cycle” the good side of recycling locally ? : )
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