Composting

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Composting

• Presented by Theresa Ryan

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Composting

• Decomposition of plant remains and once living
  materials
• Produces an earthy, dark, crumbly substance that
  can be added to household plants or garden soil
• Reduces waste from piling up in landfills

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Microbes
Air
Water
Plants
What not to compost
What to compost
Getting Started
Types of composts
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Microbes

• Composts are made up of billions of microbes
  (fungi, bacteria, and etc.)
• Microbes digest yard and food waste
• Under cool conditions worms, insects and other
  related bugs will help out the microbes

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Air

• Air is really important in decomposition of the
  waste
• Without air the microbes will take over the pile
• Make sure there are plenty of air pockets for the
  waste to move around
• Turing your compost pile will also allow it to
  breath

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Water

• Water is very important for microbes to live and
  disperse themselves
• The consistency needs to be that of a soaked
  sponge
• If the compost is dry then the microbial habitat
  can not grow and the composting will be slowed
  down
• Too much water can also slow down the process
  leaving no room for air to circulate

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Plants

• It is necessary to have a mix of green and brown
  plants
• Brown plants are dry and dead straw, dry brown
  weeds, autumn leaves, wood chips, and saw dust
• Green plants are fresh green weeds from the
  garden, fruit and vegetable scraps, green leaves,
  coffee grounds, and tea leaves
• fresh horse manure can also be used
• A good mix of brown and green provides good
  nutrition for the microbes and balances the water

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Types of Compost

• Soil Amendment adding it to soil prior to
  spring planting
• Mulch Place it on the surface around landscape
  and garden plants
• Tea Make compost tea by combining equal parts
  compost and water and allowing to rest. This can
  be used to strengthen household plants and plant
  transplants

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What to Compost

• Hay
• Green hay
• Alfalfa hay
• Grass clippings
• Autumn leaves
• Dry straw
• Wood chips

• Fruit peels
• Vegetable peels
• Tea bags
• Egg shells
• Coffee grinds
• Saw dust
• Some weeds

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What not to Compost

• Chemically treated wood products
• Diseased plants
• Pernicious weeds other plants can re-spout into
  compost pile.

• Human waste
• Meats
• Bones
• Fatty foods
• Pet wastes

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Getting started

• You can purchase a compost started kit from 5 to
  25 at a local garden center
• Use a plastic tub or wire bin many websites
  have directions to build a compost bin
• Purchase a pre-made bin from local garden center
  or internet
• Use no bin - pile leaves and grass clippings and
  get started

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Your ready to get startedTest your
knowledgeClick below!

• http//compost4fun.recyclenow.com/