Workshop Lecture Notes

Organic Gardening Workshops
Wheeler Farm
Sunday, June 23rd 2013

Backyard Composting 101:

What is compost?

• A dark brown, humas-rich material that results from the decomposition of organic matter.
• Occurs with the help of water and beneficial microorganisms

What are the benefits of compost?

• It is a diversity of beneficial soil organisms
• Optimizes overall health of your garden
• Improves pest resistance
• It reduces the need for fertilizers
• Helps the soil hold onto nutrients
• And is a way to recycle kitchen and yard waste!

In one teaspoon of soil, there are billions of organisms...

• Bacteria-nitrogen-fixing bacteria-fhizobium
• Fungi- mycorrhizae
• Macro organisms- earthworms, insects, beetles, protozoans, nematodes

HEALTHY SOIL= BALANCED SOIL + ORGANIC MATTER + LIFE!

 

Composting:

 6 Factors effecting decomposition of organic matter:

 

1. Heat (140 F)

2. Moisture

3. Oxygen

4. Microorganisms

5. Carbon

6. Nitrogen

 

Location:

-Consider your neighbors and smell

-Put near a water source

 

Bin Style Options:

• Wire bin- easy to construct, good for easy turning and aeration, not pest proof
• Cement block bin- simple to build, good aeration, not pest proof
• Tumbler- expensive, easy to aerate, pest proof, may be too small for volume
• Straw bale bin- simple, inexpensive, good aeration access, not pest proof
• Stationary plastic bin- expensive, hard to aerate, pest proof
• Wooden bin- takes skill to build, sturdy, can be harder to aerate based on construction, can be pest proof

Cold vs. Trench vs. Sheet Composting- What are the differences?

• Cold: The simplest method, layer the material on the ground in a heap
• Trench: Dig a hole in the ground, fill with kitchen waste, cover with soil and wait 6 months
• Sheet: Lay 10 sheets thick of damp newspapers over the area, overlapping edges, spread 3 inch lay of manure or compost, add 6 inches of chopped leaves, kitchen scraps, wood shavings, etc. spread more newspaper, cover with attractive mulching material, sprinkle with water and wait 6 months

Things NOT to add to your compost:

• Meat, bones, dairy products, anything with added fats and oils
• Weeds bearing seeds
• Diseased or pest-infected foliage
• Manures from meat eating animals
• Used kitty litter
• Human or pet waste
• Glossy or colored paper
• A matted, thick layer of any one material
• Wood ashes
• Toxic chemicals
• Charcoal or coal
• Chemically treated plants or grass clippings
• Large limbs, sawdust, pine needles- all slow to break down

The Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio- C:N
-2 parts carbon rich material to 1 part nitrogen-rich material
-Carbon source= dried leaves, shredded newspaper, straw, hay, dried class clippings, etc.

*Add 1 inch of soil for every 8-14 inches of organic waste to increase microbial activity*

Key notes:

• Keep moist- not soggy, just moist
• Let your compost reach the proper temperature- Only at 113-160 degrees F does the thermophilic bacteria actively decompose, the temperature of an active pile should be around 140 degrees F
• Add oxygen- turn your compost regularly to promote aerobic conditions
• Let it cure- leave finished compost undisturbed for about a month to ensure the process is complete and that your plants are not damaged

If you plan on adding worms to your compost...

• You want Red Wigglers, ordinary earthworms will not work
• Can be done indoors or outdoors during the summer
• Really good for composting kitchen waste
• Worm castings (feces) are the richest form of compost
• To keep the works healthy and alive, temperature must stay about 40 F and below 90 F (60-70 F is ideal)