Compost - The Ultimate Gift From the Garden

Compost and organic soil is the lifeblood of organic growing...

Don't feed the plants, feed the soil - The plants will look after themselves. The composting process will be more effective if you follow these suggestions.

• To get started, make a layer of leaves or other brown vegetation. Then add a layer of green plant material.

• Add kitchen waste as it accumulates.

• Dig this into the pile or cover with a thin layer of soil.

• Continue adding material, alternating layers of brown material, green yard waste and kitchen waste. Brown yard waste is generally high in carbon.

• Kitchen scraps and fresh yard waste are high in nitrogen.Both carbon and nitrogen are needed to build a balanced compost pile. Fine materials such as grass clippings should be added in thin layers so that they do not compact.Keep the material as moist as a wrung-out sponge.
  

• Covering the pile with a plastic sheet may help to retain moisture.

• Water the pile occasionally if it becomes too dry.

• Turn the pile every few weeks or whenever it becomes compacted, too wet, or develops an odour. A garden fork, rake or pitchfork can be used to turn the pile properly and keep it aerated. Mix the material from the edges of the pile into the middle for more even decomposition.
  

Karen Sloan
AWOP Gardening Contributor
Author of Wall Flower Studio Seeds and Garden

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How to make yourself a 3 Bin Composter - -(U of Kentucky, College of Ag.) http://www.ca.uky.edu/ENRI/PUBS/enri310rev.pdf

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