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What Do Organic Growers Do About Making Compost?
The central feature of every organic garden is the compost heap. The function of the heap is to recycle nutrients which can be returned to the soil. Anything living or once living can be put on the heap.
Some sort of enclosure is needed to keep the heap together. Many gardeners use a composting bin but for those with a lot of garden waste these are generally too small. You can make your own compost enclosure by putting four wooden posts in the ground and attaching timber planks on three of the sides. Leave generous gaps between the planks to allow the air to circulate.
All plant material can be added to the heap but tough leathery plants should be shredded first. Brassica stalks are the most difficult. They are best attacked with a lump hammer. If you have a lot of heavy material it might be worth investing in a garden shredder.
Build the heap in one go. Layer the materials in six inch layers, alternating soft material with the heavier stuff.
Feeding micro-organisms
The actual composting is carried out by bacteria and microorganisms and these life forms need to be fed. In summer they will feed on any fresh green material that you put on the heap. But in colder weather you may need to apply an activator such as seaweed meal or poultry manure on the various layers. When the heap is completed, cover it with straw or black plastic to prevent it from getting too wet. An over wet heap will putrefy rather than compost.
Weeds
A properly constructed compost heap with adequate amounts of air and water and a good variety of materials can reach a temperature of 70° C. At this temperature most weed seeds are destroyed and many of the residues in plant material or animal dung are neutralised. However, if you are not entirely confident about your compost making skills, it might be better to destroy diseased materials or weeds rather than take a chance on them surviving in a less than perfect heap.
The larger the heap the better as more of it will heat up faster. When the temperature dies down the heap should be turned to ensure that the outer layers will be fully composted.
The compost heap is ready when it doesn't look like any of the things you put in it. It should be brown and crumbly with no unpleasant odours. Almost good enough to eat!
Worm compost
A less complicated method of composting is making worm compost. The heap doesn't have to heat up - the worms simply chew their way through the material. The worms used are the red striped ones that can be found in compost heaps or bought from fishing suppliers. A wormery is ideal for those with a lot of kitchen waste. Just put it in a bin with the aptly named tiger worms and watch them go to work.
