Compost
Frosty
Frosty
a lot to be said for container-less composting. The keys to good
composting are some moisture, some darkness (inside the pile of stuff),
and some aeration. You can simply throw your compost into a heap or
pile, and then using a pitchfork or shovel turn it every few weeks to a
month, or less often if you are OK with the process taking more time.
No plastic or wood container required! It is easier for beneficial
composting organisms (including pillbugs and earthworms) to find your
compost pile and to thrive in it, if you don't "contain" it. You will
have an active metropolis of happy critters transforming your kitchen
and yard waste into lovely rich dirt!
Frequent turning/aeration both accelerates the decomposition process
and reduces (prevents) bad odors - indeed, the smell of a healthy
compost pile is rather pleasant and earthy. You just want to be sure
the material appears damp (not soggy or wet), and that you have some
air spaces between the matter in the pile (accomplished simply by
turning the pile periodically). The microorganisms and good bugs that
thrive in a compost pile will generate heat naturally, you don't need
to monitor the temperature (it will vary somewhat with the seasons as
well). If it seems too dry, add water from the hose; if it seems like
the process is going too slowly, just turn the pile.
I keep three such piles, one for new material, one for partially
composted material, and one for ready-to-use material. As I turn the
piles, I shovel or pitchfork the maturing compost into the next "older"
pile as it is ready. I turn each pile by moving it a few feet to the
side - thus what starts in the center and bottom winds up on the top.
Then in a few weeks or months or move the pile back where it was by
turning it over again. I use about 20 square feet in the yard for
this, but it could be done is less space, or you can have just one pile
(I like to sort it out a bit, but that is not essential).
Also, I compost everything, including twigs, small pruned branches, oak
leaves, weeds with weed seeds -- given enough time, it all breaks down
into innocuous material that is great in the yard and garden.
note - If you throw food on top of the compost pile, you will likely
attract animals. We have a nightly visit from the local deer, checking
out the 'salad bar.' We don't throw out bones (vegetarian), but those
can be composted too - you may find that raccoons or other critters eat
them first, though.
happy composting!
Wendy D. Larson <wendy....@comcast.net>