Backyard composting

Backyard composting

There is something magical about compost. In goes the waste — trimmings, scraps, cores, dregs, mouldy bits and pieces — and out comes a valuable resource — a natural soil conditioner and fertilizer that is rich, earthy, and sweet smelling.

A natural part of your garden

The parallel that exists between composting and wildlife gardening make it a natural addition to any nature lover's garden. Both processes encourage nature and its creatures to enter an artificially created environment. Hopefully, the organisms find conditions suitable and stay to colonize. In fact, maintaining healthy insect and microorganism populations is the key to composting.

Because one can never have too much compost, we are focussing here on how to compost actively and efficiently. The outdoor container model, despite being one of the most common, continues to challenge many would-be compost-makers, however determined they are. May the following information guide you to success with your composter.

Why compost?

Whether gardener, wildlife enthusiast or concerned citizen, it makes practical sense to compost.

Compost is a soil conditioner that aerates your soil and improves moisture retention. Any type of soil benefits, regardless of clay or sand content.
Compost is an organic fertilizer that is easy and safe to apply. Over-application of man-made fertilizers can produce environments which become "toxic" to plant growth. That won't happen with compost.

Composting is a natural process of recycling organic matter. It reduces landfill waste and associated costs and creates a valuable resource.

What is compost?

Compost is humus, the earthy end-product of the decomposition of organic matter. Composting emulates this process, which occurs at a slower pace in nature.

How does it work?

To work with your composter and not against it, it is vital to understand a few basics about the process. Large chewing insects begin breaking down the organic material. The smaller chewing insects handle finer matter while the microorganisms (bacteria and fungus) complete the process of creating humus. Working together, these organisms are what drives composting. Like all living creatures, they require food, air, water and warmth to survive.

Their food is a mixture of "brown" matter (high in carbon) and "green" matter (high in nitrogen). Each type of organic material has its own carbon-nitrogen ratio. Green material (like waste produce, fresh plant and grass clippings, green weeds) is generally available year-round. Brown matter (like dry grass and fall leaves) is abundant in the fall, but can be made more accessible during the summer months by storing it in piles.

For efficient decomposition, the carbon-nitrogen ratio of the material in your composter should be between 25 and 30 to 1. This guide emphasizes the need for regular additions of high-carbon material throughout the composting process to maintain as high a carbon-nitrogen ratio as possible.

How do I compost?

A sunny location is best but shade will work, though at a slower rate.
Use a large enough container, minimum 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet (27 cubic feet or about 1 cubic metre).
Contact with the soil surface is crucial so that organisms have access to their food.
Add no more than a 3-inch layer of any particular material at any one time.
Build with alternating layers of "green" and "brown" matter.
Use sufficient material to maintain organism populations and levels of heat and moisture.
Ensure that the pile remains moist, but not wet.
Keep the pile aerated (e.g. turn with a fork once a week).
Adding a few cupfuls of composted manure will speed up the process.

What to add

Soft plant material from your garden including weeds
Waste food scraps of plant origin
Egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds, bread
Dryer lint, hair clippings, feathers
Newsprint, cotton or wool scraps
Grass clippings, leaves
Wood ash

What NOT to add

Meat, fish or milk products unless you want to attract "problem" wildlife
Diseased plant material or plants that have gone to seed
Pet litter or excrement
Pesticides on grass or plants

And don't let the pile dry out!

Composter types

Closed container with lid and air holes
Open wood frame structure
Mesh framework, most suitable for full season composting (e.g., fall leaves, sod)
Rotating container, into which garden soil must be introduced
In-ground pit, with cover which can include meat scraps
Worm composter (indoor, year-round)

Get to know your composter

Composting is far from being an exact science. Observe and experiment with your composter. Incorporate new knowledge into a system that will work for you — and don't give up. There is so much more to be gained from composting, than compost. It's educational, economical and nature will thank you for your efforts.