Composting
2010-11-16 at 01:49 pm pshipley
Composting
I haven`t spoken too much about composting but it is an extremely important aspect of the vegetable garden. It`s easy to do and will supply you with a percentage of your organic material required for mulching and incorporating into the ground.
Composting is the process by which decaying organic matter is broken down and turned into compost. This process relies on the activity of aerobic bacteria, micro fungi and in some cases, the action of worms and insects.
For the process to work efficiently these micro organisms need four things, air, water, food, and warmth.
Air - Composting microbes are aerobic, they require air to work well. Make sure that there are plenty of airways into your compost heap, thoroughly break up and mix the ingredients, and turn the pile regularly to aerate it.
Water - The compost heap needs to be kept reasonably moist for optimal composting.
Food / Nitrogen - The ingredients you add to your heap are the food for the micro-organisms, and these are split into two groups, `browns` and `greens`. A good mix of `greens` and `browns` creates a balance of nutrients for the microbes and helps with the aeration and moisture content of the heap. `Browns` are dry, dead plant materials like straw, autumn leaves, bark or even cardboard. These `browns` are a source of energy for the microbes, but may need moistening when added. `Greens` are fresh garden plant materials like grass clippings, fruit and uncooked vegetable scraps or even tea bags. These `greens` are generally high in Nitrogen and an essential element of your heap for the micro-organisms.
Warmth - Without warmth the rate of the composting process will be slowed, generally the warmer the pile the faster the process. Larger heaps tend to generate more heat. The heat is generated by the microbes.
You should avoid using grass clippings or plant materials that have been subjected to herbicides and chemicals that may persist. The chemicals may make your compost unsuitable through contamination. Do not use, human or animal waste products, meat, bones, fatty foods, pernicious weeds or cooked vegetable waste. Neither should you include plant material that is diseased.
Compost Bins
There are a variety of composting bins available commercially, these include plastic (usually recycled) bins, wooden bins, rotating tumblers, and worm composting bins to name a few, or you could simply build one of your own. Some people use two bin or even three bin systems.Leaf Mould
Leaf mould is an excellent material for use as either a soil conditioner or mulch. Although the leaves from your garden can be simply added to your compost heap / bin, they are best composted separately. This is because they are usually slower to decompose and will probably require around a year to break down. The method to create leaf mould is simple, just stack them in a wire cage / cages, and tread them down as you add more. They may need some additional watering during dry weather but should require no further action until ready for use.
To build your leaf mould cages, simply drive wooden stakes into the ground to create a a square or rectangular shaped bin, then staple chicken wire to the stakes, to hold in the leaves.
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