Organic Composting

Compost for your Garden

Introduction:

Composting is the process of using micro-organisms to decompose organic material by a controlled manner in the presence of oxygen. The micro-organisms that are used for this purpose include bacteria and fungi. Composting for your garden is a great way to provide rich fertilizer for your flowers and vegetables.

You can create your own organic compost by building a pile on the ground and covering it with cardboard or build a compost bin. It is best to use a compost bin that has a cover and has few holes or gaps in the sides. Compost bins are inexpensive to buy or you can build your own from scrap material.

Choose a spot that is close to your garden to avoid the spread of worms and microbes to areas where that you may not want them. The ideal location is a sunny spot in or near the garden.

Organic Compost Ingredients

Composting works best if you use an equal mixture of green and brown ingredients. Green ingredients for composting include manure, by-products of crops, vegetable peelings, and cow manure. Brown ingredients include wood shavings, cardboard, waste paper, and sawdust.

Avoid all meat, dairy, cooked food, and cat or dog litter ingredients that can invite unwanted vermin. Avoid adding plants that suffer from root rot or other such soil-borne diseases.

How the Process Works

Collect a mixture of equal amounts of green and brown ingredients in a bin. The mixture must make a layer at least 2 feet deep. Add ingredients such as paper that will aerate the mixture. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and add water to it as you mix it. As the microbes begin to act on the mixture it will generate heat. Turn the mixture over every couple of weeks. When the mixture does not warm up anymore stop turning the heap over and leave it undisturbed. Always ensure that the heap is moist and aerated.

The organic composting process can take anywhere from six weeks to a year. The end result will be a condensed dark brown earthy substance that is pleasant smelling. For best results let the compost mature for a couple of months before using it.

Benefits of Compost

· When added to soil the compost acts as a fertilizer and supplies all the required nutrients that aid the growth of plants.

· Compost helps plants build resistance to disease and pests.

· Compost helps break down toxins in the soil, and improves soil texture.

· Mature compost is high in humus which improves the soil fertility and structure. Humus will improve water retention in the soil.

· Composting is an ideal way of using waste products to produce soil fertilizer. This helps in reducing the load on landfills.

· Use of compost helps you save money because it reduces the requirements for chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

· Compost contains many important nutrients that are not found in chemical fertilizers.

· Compost can be used as mulch. It will suppress the growth of weeds, and reduces the need for plant irrigation.

· Compost releases nutrients to plants slowly as compared to a large one-time dose provided by chemical fertilizers.

· Compost helps in improving soil porosity and increases soil bulk by the addition of humus and organic nutrients.

Happy gardening!

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