Compost is a natural fertiliser and soil conditioner that can be made at home from organic wastes. Once the correct waste materials are in the compost heap, with air and moisture, the compost will heat up and the process begins. In a compost heap, these wastes are converted into a rich humus by soil micro-organisms, insects and earthworms.
- Compost improves the soil by returning the nutrients and adding texture. Compost rich soils grow healthier, more productive plants
- Compost is low cost and easy to make
- Composting reduces the amount of rubbish sent to public landfills
Manufactured compost bins are neat, efficient, covered containers that fit into a small space. They are ideal for small gardens or a high proportion of kitchen waste.
Home made compost bins can be built from available materials. They should be about 1m square and ½ to 1m high.
Compost bins should be bottomless and placed on the bare ground. The process works best in warm, moist locations.
A mixture of ‘Greens’ and ‘Browns’.
‘Greens’ – Nitrogen rich wastes.
Include: kitchen food scraps, fruit peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, grass and plant clippings, hair, fur, animal manure, blood and bone, seaweed, fish bones, chopped weeds (less noxious varieties).
‘Browns’ – High in Carbon and other elements.
Include: dried leaves, twigs, sawdust, wood shavings and wood ash (untreated), hay, peat, vacuum cleaner dust, shredded paper and newspaper, egg shells, crushed sea shells.
Meat, grease, fat, dairy products, large bones, weed parts that can propagate, walnut leaves.
Begin with a bottom layer of coarse twiggy material, this will provide drainage. Compost needs to be a mix of organic materials containing both ‘green’ and ‘brown’ material. A simple way is to layer materials as they become available, but storing some materials, so green and brown materials can be alternated in layers of about 100mm. If you do not have enough green material add some manure or blood and bone. Twiggy brown material may need to be compacted to reduce the heat loss – a good method is to jump on the pile.
- Chop or shred components well and turn frequently. (Note: your pile will compost without turning but it will take longer).
- Turn once the heap starts to cool down (keeping it hot destroys weeds and seeds) or it develops a bad odour.
- Cover the heap in heavy rain
- Keep moist. Don’t let it dry out
- If at first it doesn’t heat up, add more ‘green’ material, such as manure or blood and bone.
- If it becomes too wet, turn and add ‘brown material’
Compost is ready to use when the majority of it looks like potting mix. The un-composted material can be removed and put back into the heap for further composting. It can be forked into the garden or used as a mulch.