Backyard and Worm Composting

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How to Compost

• Backyard and Worm Composting

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Why Compost

• Composting Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
• Organic material in landfills creates methane and
  leachate.
• Finished compost sequesters carbon and supports
  healthy plants.
• Composting turns waste products into a valuable
  product.
• Compost is a beneficial soil amendment that
  reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides
  and uses water more efficiently.
• Composting reduces trash volume which can lower
  trash hauling fees, reduce air pollution and
  reduce wear and tear on roads.
• Lots of waste is compostable
• Food scraps accounts for 13.9 of the waste
  stream
• Yard trimmings accounts for 13.4 of the waste
  stream

US EPA Municipal Solid Waste Generation,
Recycling, and Disposal in the United States
Facts and Figures for 2010
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How to Backyard Compost

• Make or buy a compost bin.
• place in a convenient spot near water
• Throw in kitchen scraps and yard waste.
• Mix it up with a pitchfork or shovel once in
  awhile. Add a little water.

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Composting Ingredients

• Successful compost piles are comprised of two
  basic materials
• Greens/Nitrogen vegetable scraps, fruit,
  coffee grounds, grass clippings, green leaves
• Browns/ Carbon Dried Leaves, twigs, straw,
  sawdust
• Do NOT Include Meat, Dairy, Weeds that have gone
  to seed, pet wastes, fried or fatty foods

Greens
Browns
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Compost Pile Maintenance

• Nature will ensures composting will happen
• Turn the pile periodically (add oxygen)
• Water the pile periodically
• Screen material for finished compost
• Use compost in your garden on with your potted
  plants

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Tips for Successful Backyard Composting

• Dont stress its hard to do wrong
• Find ways to make it convenient
• Use a kitchen bucket
• Place your outdoor bin where you can access it
  easily
• If things are going slow add water and aerate
• Keep some extra leaves around
• browns can be hard to find in the summer
• Leaves can reduce odors and pests
• Expect a few insects

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Worm Composting

• Ideal for composting indoors
• Great for apartment dwellers

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Getting started

• Make your own bin
• Use two bins that will nest together
• Drill holes inside the interior bin
• Drill air holes in the lid and along the side of
  the container
• Use a container 8 inches x 16 inches

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Bedding Food Scraps

• Common bedding materials are peat moss, shredded
  paper or newspaper, and leaves.
• For every half pound of food you need one pound
  of worms (per week)
• Acceptable materials include uncooked fruit,
  grains or vegetables
• Avoid Meat, Dairy, Egg Shells, Pet Waste, Greasy
  or Fried Foods

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Acquiring and Caring for Worms

• Use Red Wiggler Worms Only
• Available online for 15-25
• Also sometimes available from friendly neighbors
  who already compost with worms
• 1 Pound of Worms can handle ½ pound of food waste
  per week.
• Over time more food can be added and worm
  population will grow
• Keep in area where the temperature is between 50
  and 75 degrees F.
• Ideal spots are under kitchen sink, in closet or
  basement.
• Add food waste once or twice per week to
  minimally disrupt the worms.

www.wormwoman.com www.redwigglerworms.com www.wo
rkingworms.com www.gardenworms.com
Worm Websites
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Recovering your Compost

• Harvest worm castings every 6 months or so
• Shift everything to one side of the bin
• Place new bedding on other side
• Add food only to side with new bedding
• After about 2 weeks worms will migrate to new
  side
• Collect castings from old side and add bedding
• Liquid worm juice --will collect in the
  bottom bin

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Using your compost and worm juice

• Castings can be used for indoor or outdoor
  plants.
• Castings have high nutrient levels. Use one
  handful of castings to 10 handfuls of regular
  soil.
• Worm Juice is a strong fertilizer for
  indoor/outdoor plans
• Dilute 201 prior to use

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Resources

• www.reduce.org
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website
• http//www.pca.state.mn.us search Resource
  Center Fact Sheets

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Thank You

• Tim Farnan
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• 651.757.2348
• timothy.farnan_at_state.mn.us