There are some tried and true procedures for good compost production. It’s more than throwing anything in a pile and hoping for good results! Which will end up with a dirty mess or a dry pile infested with ants or other pests. Here are some time-tested tips:
1. It is okay to compost poisonous plants, such as rhubarb, yew, poison oak, etc., because the heat during compost will break down all the toxins. If you have some poisonous plants that you need to remove, don’t burn them! The smoke will get into your lungs and can cause all kinds of problems. Just put them in our compost pile.
2. To have a successful compost, you need a mix of green materials, such as grass clippings, kitchen waste, cow and chicken manure, and sturdier brown materials, such as twigs, cardboard, paper, plant clippings. Larger pieces keep the pile from getting tangled up and becoming a sticky substance. Once you’ve finished your compost, if you still have a few twigs or other larger chunks, you can sift them out and put them in your next batch.
3. Don’t add diseased plant material to your compost pile.
4. Do not compost dog feces or cat litter boxes, cooked food, grease or disposable baby diapers. Cow and horse manure, poultry manure, and bedding from your stables are great for composting.
5. It is necessary to keep the pile moist, but not too wet or it will not receive enough oxygen (aerobic) and will be considered an anaerobic (no oxygen) pile. Anaerobic batteries take much longer to break down.
6. Whichever composting method you use, the pile should be turned or turned frequently. This adequately aerates the pile and accelerates the decomposition process.
7. Keep a compost bin or compost bucket in your kitchen for an easy way to transport your kitchen trash to the compost pile. Both come with filters to control odor.
8. If you don’t generate enough materials, get leftovers from canners, or all the produce they throw out at Farmer’s Markets, ask your neighbors to mow the lawn, get the garbage from the farmers’ barn, or ask if you can go out on your pasture and collect “cow cakes”. You are only limited by your own imagination and ingenuity.
Here are some different composting methods:
You can have a successful compost pile using just one fork. All you need to do is hold the pile together and turn it over frequently. Don’t let the edges get too dry or the top get too wet. You may have a problem with rats, ants, and other pests with an unprotected and unprotected pile.
Using a compost bin protects your pile from pests and helps keep moisture even. There are many available for purchase; however, these are easy to build with wooden stakes, wooden pallets, chicken wire, wire mesh, or a variety of other materials.
Using compost cups is the easiest. There are several varieties available, from drum shapes that roll on the floor to elaborate crank-operated systems. Some come with internal baffles to help compost materials aerate better. Either you move the drum around the garden or turn a crank or crank to aerate the compost. It is not necessary to use a hairpin.
Here is another suggestion: in the fall, when there is an excess of leaves, it is better to put them in a black plastic bag and make a mold of leaves. The process will take about a year and it will definitely be good for your garden.
The time it takes for your compost to finish varies depending on the materials you’ve included, the time of year, and the type of compost manufacturing method you’ve chosen. When it’s finished, you’ll have something great for your garden, and it was all free materials you saved from the landfill.