Environment Talk - Composting in Your Own Backyard

If you love the environment, then you ought to think about composting. Composting is the process of turning waste into organic fertilizer. While wide range composting is done in industries, it can also be done on a small scale. In fact, there are those who make their own natural compost in their own gardens, yards, and small farms. Any type of small space on your property can serve well for your composting area. You need not be an expert since making compost on your own is very easy and very beneficial not only to the environment but also to you.

With the help of compost bins, you can make your very own organic fertilizer. Whether you have a small farm, a humble garden or backyard, or even just a very small lot, you can have your very own composting corner. Instead of throwing away all the scrap that you collect from your home every single day, you can segregate your trash and waste and choose the ones, which can be turned to compost. While most people in the past years would just settle with the home-made compost bins, you can now maximize a ready made compost tumbler which can be easily bought online or offline. The big advantage of using a compost tumbler over compost bins is that you need not have difficulty in turning the compost manually using a pitchfork.

With the use of a compost bin or tumbler, you can turn your very ordinary kitchen scrap, fallen leaves and branches and even used paper and cartons into high nutrient fertilizer which you can use in your own garden or farm. If you do not have any personal use for such fertilizer, then you can easily make money out of it as organic fertilizer can be sold easily as they are preferred over chemical fertilizers.

In making your own natural fertilizer, you can always settle for home-made compost bins or you can just buy one. Remember, though, to invest in a sturdy compost tumbler that can last you for many years. It would also be wise to have a tumbler that lets the process of turning and aeration easier. Search online and offline for the best deals in compost tumblers and bins so you can start right off to taking care of the environment by making your own home compost. Not only will you be assured of cheaper and healthier fertilizer but also a home that is free from too much unused waste.

If you want to learn more about composting visit our site [http://www.composttumblerguide.com/] or if you need more information about compost tumblers [http://www.composttumblerguide.com/loving-the-environment-creating-your-own-organic-fertilizer/].

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Kitchen Composter Hinged Top Filtered

The KC-2000 is a handy, portable compost carrier and perfect for short term storage of kitchen compost. A special feature on this container is the optional carbon filter: it helps to eliminate odors caused by compost. All of the corners and edges are rounded so that it is much easier to clean and empty, in addition to being dishwasher safe. The KC-2000 can also hang on a wall or cupboard door by way of two screw holes in the back. With its wide opening it is easy to clean off dishes directly into the container. Volume: 9.6 US Quarts (9.1 Liters) Dimensions: 8.5in x 9in x 11in H Weight: 1.35 lbs. (0.6 kgs.) Color: Medium Green Material: High Density Polyethylene Recycled Content: Minimum 25%

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Worm Factory DS5TT 5-Tray Worm Composter - Terra Cotta

Composting with a Worm Factory® worm bin is an incredibly efficient way to convert kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich compost for your garden. The Worm Factory® worm composter automatically separates worms from finished compost.Operational in temperatures between 45 and 85 degrees. 5 year warranty on on materials and workmanship

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Exaco Trading Aerobin 400 Insulated Composter and Self Aeration System

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High Density Gardening

How to design, build, set up, grow with and maintain a High Density Garden to provide you and your family with fresh, wholesome and tasty vegetables.

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Worm Factory DS5GT 5-Tray Worm Composter - Green

The Worm Factory® is easy to set up and use. Place bedding and scraps in the bottom tray then add your worms. Place the lid inside the top tray to provide light cover with proper ventilation. As the worms finish digesting, they will migrate upward into the tray above, leaving rich castings behind. The concentrated liquid created from the worm castings, also known as worm tea, can be effortlessly drained as liquid fertilizer from the spigot at the bottom of The Worm Factory®. It couldn't be easier or cleaner. The lid also provides proper ventilation so there are no unpleasant odors. Because its clean, mess free, and odor free, composting with The Worm Factory® makes it possible to be placed indoors or outdoors for home owners and apartment dwellers alike and produce compost year round. In full operation, the Worm Factory® houses 10,000 to 12,000 worms, consumes 5 to 8 pounds of food a week, allowing you to harvest a full tray of nutrient rich castings every month. You will also have an ample supply of worms for fishing.

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A Garden Perpetually Bursting With Life

This article will show you how you can start to have such a garden full of edible plants with only 8 to 10 hours of work per YEAR, no digging, fertilizers or pesticides.

Now is just the right time of the year for people living in the northern hemisphere to start preparing to have their own organic vegetables on the table coming spring. That is a start to becoming self-sufficient, which by the way, is the only way to weather an economic slump; and it's common knowledge that organic food improves overall health. When you are healthy, you don't have medical bills to pay. That's another big saving, apart from saving on your food expenses.

The secret for a nonstop growing vegetable garden like this is first of all the soil. If you inspect the soil in natural woodlands, you'll see it's moist, loose and crumbly. You want to have this kind of soil for your garden to have it perpetually bursting with life. If you cannot collect it straight from the woods, you somehow need to produce it yourself. This actually is very easy and real cheap. You need to have constant supply of compost, which doesn't take much effort or a big investment to produce yourself.

You can start right now with composting.

Compost is the best and cheapest soil conditioner you can get. You don't have to buy compost unless you want to start your ecologically sustainable vegetable garden immediately.

First get two composting bins at a hardware store, preferably those you turn, or take any old containers with a lid and poke some drainage holes into them.

Use one for the breaking down of the materials, the other to fill with the broken down material. Also buy some manure if you don't have access to stables, dairies or chicken farms

Then start collecting all organic material that you normally throw into the waste. Organic material is anything that is or was once living or came from a living thing such as: fresh and dry grass clippings, kitchen scraps, shredded newspaper and leaves. Even meat that's gone bad, can be composted, although it takes longer to decay.

Thirdly: put the organic material into the compost bin in about 6 inches thick layers, varying the different materials. During dry spells you may have to moisten your breaking down materials, otherwise you just leave it to break down for 4 to 6 weeks, turning everything once or twice. That's it, real easy to make your own compost. Once it's ready, use it as top layer in your vegetable garden; don't dig it in.

Summing up this article:

Once you have soil like in natural woodlands, organic vegetables and fruit can be grown perpetually right through the year without any digging or weeding, since weeds don't like compost. A rich soil also does not need to be watered as much as poor soil. Composting is the start for ecologically sustainable gardening.

By implementing your own vegetable garden you not only advance your health, but can save a bucket full of cash on a monthly basis.
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Ecologically Sustainable Gardening

Hanne-L du Plessis has implemented her organic vegetable garden successfully in Namibia, a semi-desert country, to improve her own health and supply a balanced, organic diet to 35 exotic parrots. Her vision is self-sufficiency and living in harmony with nature. She was actively involved in Nature Conservation before retirement. Now she does her little part to save endangered species from extinction, provide a safe home for unwanted pets and teach the poor to become self-sufficient.

Changing Seasons – Fall

Fall is certainly a bitter sweet season for me. I see all the flowers of summer fading away. As the last of the garden crop is picked and canned my thought drift towards the dull dreary days of the upcoming winter months. In just a few weeks though the leaves of the trees will change into a technicolor explosion in the last blaze of glory for this year. Walking on a cool brisk afternoon enjoying that amazing display of nature is one of the things that lifts my spirits as I taken the colorful fall leaves. While certainly in the back of my mind I know that I will shortly be raking all those leaves, it is still amazing in how much color the fading year is painted with as it moves towards it’s winter slumber.

I realize of course that winter is a very important part of the garden life cycle. The plants all need a rest so that they can repair themselves and build up for next years display I just wish that winter was not so black and white. Fortunately there are still amazing color combination’s in the winter time that would not come about if it were not for the fall leaf drop. Red and yellow twig dogwood shrubs are a striking site after a new layer of fresh fallen snow. The branches of the yellow cork screw willow or the papery peeling bark of a paper bark elm shows a whole new dimension to the trees that can not be seen at their best until they have shed their summer coats. Yet I still long for the days of spring and summer when winter does finally take over.

The fall garden harvest is a great reminder when a jar of zesty home made salsa is opened on a cold winter day to enjoy with friends and family that might stop by. When that savory tomatoes sauce you canned is used for a nice spaghetti dinner that warms your body from the winters cold it seems like fall is not all in vain. Yes it is true that fall feels like the end of your gardening experiences for another year. But is just the beginning of a new time in the garden.

As I ponder the end of the gardening season for me there are still many ways that the garden in winter will bring you a sense of well being and give you quiet tranquility. Even though the flowers are gone along with the leaves the garden is still home to the birds , squirrels, and rabbits that could use a hand with some food. You will be rewarded as you watch these garden visitors gathering up the goodies that you leave out for them. Their antics can be quit amusing and draw you in for a little quiet time in the winter garden. The trees and shrubs in their bare bones appearance can also be an interesting feature and maybe make you think about other interesting things that can be planted next year to complement your garden in winter.

Yes while fall brings a lot of work and a bit of melancholy over the fading garden it does bring you time to recharge as well during those winter days. Most important if there were no winter days when would you ever find time to look through all those garden catalogs?

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Enjoy Better Flowers, Ferns and Veggies With Organic Gardening Compost

Lawns luxuriant in greenery, abounding with flowers and ferns of immense beauty, need no more be only a picture in that gardening journal, which you subscribe to every month. Nor are they limited to the prerogative of the rich and the famous, if you take the initiative of switching over to organic gardening compost to feed that green gold growing in your backyard.

Do you want your roses and dahlias to be as plush and healthy as those growing in the garden of the celebrities? Do you want your kitchen garden to produce nothing but healthy eatables free of chemicals and pesticides? You most certainly do. Then treat your plants with organic compost.

With environmental concerns gaining precedence with each passing day, the health of your plants has become as important as your own well-being. Just like you, your plants too require a good diet of nutrients to help them stay fit and last long. This can only be supplied by administering a good dose of organically prepared compost.

Compost is, in other words, the complete planned food for plants as it carries all the nutrients that the plants need in just the right measure. Phosphorous, Potassium and Nitrogen are the key nutrients that plants derive from it. It is free from those harmful chemicals that may cause damage to the health of your plants and at some point of time to your own health if you eat veggies laced with chemicals.

It comprises organic matter which decomposes gradually, thereby imparting nourishment and health to the soil. Organically produced compost replenishes the soil with all the vital nutrients that may be missing, but which a plant requires to grow in a healthy manner, preparing it for good gardening.

Next, it helps the soil lock in adequate moisture, which again, is quite important for good growth of the plants. It gives the soil nutrients that plants can ingest with great ease. If you are an environment buff, it is advisable for you to prepare compost on your own. This can be done easily by collecting materials at hand.

Organic Gardening Compost can be prepared with anything that has the capacity to decompose organically including left over food, decaying veggies and animal droppings (excluding that of cats and dogs as it can spread diseases), but care should be taken to avoid those elements that have the capacity to germinate again. The material should be put into a composting bin in layers and kept covered to protect it from rain, mixing it regularly to see that the layers decompose properly and completely.

Clint Sidney is a gardening enthusiast and recommends this excellent Organic Gardening Compost. You can learn more about gardening at GreatGardener.eHelpshome.com.

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For a Healthy Garden Start a Composter Program

Composting is really just a way of giving back to the soil or mother nature as it were what it has given you. There is a cycle that things go through in order to grow. Making sure that the soil is healthy is the beginning of a good garden.

A compost program is good for the planet because it cuts down on the amount of waste that is sent off to the landfill. It is amazing to watch things that were once considered refuse to be recycled and put to good use.

Compost has many other functions besides just being good fertilizer for the earth. It also acts as a soil conditioner, a mulching agent Soil that has the proper amount of compost retains moisture better and that is beneficial for the plants.

Composting is a very old strategy and is practiced all over the globe. It is used on a large scale for farms but backyard gardeners can benefit from the effects also.

Every day materials that you gather together from your home and parts of your yard will be converted into a black substance, somewhat fragrant, and crumbly. This will become the compost material.

The materials in soil bacteria and fungi can survive and multiply as they break down. The bacteria is the key to a good compost. The bacteria will act as a converter for all the other materials so they need to be in a proper environment.

To begin a compost program gather as much of the green and dry elements as you can from around your garden. Collect grass clippings and green weeds, they have a lot of sugar elements and protein and will decompose rapidly.

Leaves should be added to the greens when they are decomposing. This type of material takes a long time to break down as they have little nitrogen.

You do not need to be a pro to start a compost program. All you really need is a love of nature and a desire to learn.

S W Allen
Kitchen Composter Blog
http://www.kitchencomposterblog.com/

Living Off The Land

Back in the late 60's and early 70's there was lots of talk about homesteading and living off the land. Many people where learning homesteading skills and planning to move to the country to practice this lifestyle. There where books and magazine articles and of course the homesteaders bible The Mother Earth News. People were wanting to get back to the land.

Last night on the news I watched a story about people all across the country that where starting to raise chickens in their back yards. I am not talking about out in the country, I am talking about suburban and urban towns and cities here. People are worried about the source of their foods especially in light of the massive egg recall and the condition that some of these egg producers allowed to exist in their facilities. People are concerned they want to know where the food they eat is coming from and how it was produced. They are getting involved. There are city councils and local town governments that are starting to think about changing laws that prevent people from raising chickens in their backyards. I would think that this type of awareness is a good thing.

I don’t know that raising chickens is the answer for everyone although I know for a fact that only a couple of blocks from the Urban Garden in the City Of Chicago I have seen chickens running around in a back yard complete with a coop. This tells you something!

With the cost of food going up and the questionable wide spread out breaks of contaminated food in the supply chain a lot of people are concerned enough to do something , anything on their own to ensure fresh healthy foods on the family table. There has been a marked increase in the number of people growing vegetable gardens in the last couple of years. There are a number of restaurants in Chicago that have taken to growing their on produce in gardens next to the restaurants as well as roof top gardens. Not only are the customers receiving the freshest products but the restaurants are saving money as well.

Along with the above social services associations, not for profit groups, as well as church’s have started sponsoring community garden programs to help community members as well as food pantries. What I think is really great is that children are being exposed to gardening at an early age. Not only is this an important life skill it is a ways to keep them out of harms way and to get them involved in a learning experience that is not only educational but fun.

I think anyone can grow some of their own food be it potted tomatoes or cucumbers on a trellis sitting on a patio or a little plot in the back or front yard with beans and peppers. If you Google community gardens I bet you would find a lot of groups in your area where you could volunteer, attend classes , or get some help.

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Compost - Building the Pile Big - Collection for Gold

Organic gardeners consider compost to be black gold, the ingredient above all for healthy soil and healthy soil means healthy plants. It is fairly simple to acquire the materials for a good sized backyard composting system, but what if you are preparing a new, large garden in poor to nominal soil? In such cases a layer of compost 3"" thick is desired and in some cases 4".

Consider a 25 foot by 50 foot garden plot. A 3" layer of compost can be considered one quarter foot and 25 times 50 times one quarter gives us a volume of 312.5cubic feet or 11.57 cubic yards of compost. Call it 12 for simplicity. Assuming we lose a third of the volume of compost material in its manufacture as carbon dioxide gas and moisture are released, that means we need 18 cubic yards of compost material or a pile 3 feet by 3 feet 54 feet long. Perhaps we would like to compost half the plot the first year and green manure the rest. Still we need 9 yards of compost material, half in green and half in brown matter.

Starting in the fall of the year before, begin to collect brown matter. The easiest to find is leaves in most areas. You may have a few oaks or maples and all those leaves are great. In fact, any leaves you rake up are good. Some may avoid walnut leaves because of the juglone in them which inhibits plant growth, but a hot compost pile should take care of that.

Your neighbors will likely help you in your quest for leaves. Just drive around on the evening before garbage pick up for compostable materials and you will likely see lots of bags of leaves waiting for you. Any of them on the curb are fair game. Leave them in the bags and stack them for the winter. They will start to break down for leaf mold. In fact, you can do yourself a favor and get lots extra to make leaf mold for the garden.

The next spring start to do the same thing on collection day for compostables by looking for bags of grass clippings. People actually gather clippings, some in bags on the mowers, and throw them away. This is lawn fertilizer at its best but these same folks will apply commercial fertilizers at a high cost after the work of collecting all those clippings for you. Ignore the strange looks and grab the bags. Try to avoid any from lawns that have applied chemical weed killers in the last couple of weeks but you should have seen the required warning signs on the lawns around you.

Build the pile by matching the number of bags. Lay down so many bags of leaves and put the same number of grass bags over them. Then repeat the layers until you run out of material. It should be three feet wide and high by as long as you can get. Immediately turn the pile, mixing it well. This is a lot of work but it will be worth it in the end. Turn every three to four days for two or three weeks. The pile should be finished and ready to use by then. Next year you will need a lot less and likely the home supply for compost material will be enough.

Darrell Feltmate is an avid gardener who has been composting and gardening for over 25 years with gardens up to 1/2 acre and compost piles for each. His composting site may be found at Compost Central. You can be a master composter in no time at all.

Much of his compost uses wood shavings from his wood turning hobby. The site for wood turning may be found at Around the Woods.

Organic Gardening and the Magic of Compost Tea

Imagine the taste of a fresh sugar snap pea right off the vine, cool and sweet. Or a fresh, ripe, sweet tomato or warm juicy strawberries that you know have not been treated with any chemicals. Yum! Every day, and sometimes several times a day, I stroll into my backyard garden and harvest something fresh and delicious to use in my breakfast, lunch or dinner. There is nothing like the taste of fresh wholesome fruits and vegetables that you grew yourself. It is amazing how much more flavor they have than most of what you can buy in the grocery store. And the feeling of having grown your produce yourself, knowing where it came from and providing food for yourself and your family is extremely rewarding. Surprisingly so. And fun!

If you want to have an organic garden, free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers one of the best things you can use in your garden is compost tea. Compost tea is exactly what it sounds like. A "tea" that has been "brewed" from compost. Composting is easy and a great way to recycle much of your kitchen waste and it is much easier on your plumbing than putting everything down the garbage disposal.

Using compost tea is a great way to utilize compost for several reasons:

1) It is a fabulous fertilizer and increases the amount of nutrients available to the plant.

2) Making compost into tea makes the benefits of using compost go farther.

3) When used as a spray, compost tea acts to help suppress foliar diseases.

4) Compost tea is a natural pesticide.

5) Compost tea has been shown to increase the nutritional quality and improve the flavor of fruits and vegetables.

If you want to use compost tea, find a detailed explanation of how to make it on the Internet. There are many fine sites that explain the process, but it is a bit complicated and has to be done correctly. Possibly an even better idea is to check around and see if any is available in your area. In my neighborhood the local hydroponic store gives it away every Saturday. What a great gift to the community! Call your local Master Gardener Hot line or County Extension. They should be able to let you know if anyone in your area gives away compost tea. But either way you should give it a try, your veggies your body and your taste buds will thank you for it!

I invite you to visit my websites today for more free information on natural and holistic health and everything you want to know about Aura Patch products.

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Kristine Clemenger, Holistic Health Practitioner

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Compost - Why Make it Anyway?

As anyone who has composted will tell you, it can be a lot of work. Most commercial farm efforts have moved away from composting with animal manures, leaves and straws and have moved instead to the easier chemical fertilizers. However, these do not improve the soil and year after year plants remove materials that are never returned and the soil is less healthy each time.

Compost is one of the best mulches and soil amendments that nature has developed and it will do more than the commercial fertilizers it replaces because it also improves the soil. Best of all, compost is cheap. It can be made without investing anything but your time and energy. As you use compost it improves soil structure, texture, and aeration and increases the soil's water-holding capacity. Clay soils are made less sticky and sandy soils are better able to retain water. Adding compost improves soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development in plants. Certain microorganisms feed on the organic matter provided by the compost and keep the soil in a healthy, balanced condition. Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, the big three of plant nutrition, will be produced naturally by the feeding of microorganisms, so few if any soil amendments will need to be added.

Most gardeners have long understood the value of this rich, dark, earthy material in improving the soil and creating a healthful environment for plants. Plus the understanding of how to make and use compost is in the public interest. Waste disposal is at crisis levels in parts of the world and is becoming worse in others. Landfills are overflowing and new sites are difficult to find. Legislation over their use is rising to prevent material from entering the landfill when it could be disposed of or recycled elsewhere. While many municipalities have begun programs of organic waste composting and recycling, every pound kept out of the program is a saving to the taxpayer. Even though many of those municipalities allow pick up of a limited amount of compost, it is easier to move it from the back yard. There is no need to throw away materials when you can use them to improve your lawn and garden. Start composting instead.

Darrell Feltmate is an avid gardener who has been composting and gardening for over 25 years with gardens up to 1/2 acre and compost piles for each. His composting site may be found at Compost Central. You can be a master composter in no time at all.

Much of his compost uses wood shavings from his wood turning hobby. The site for wood turning may be found at Around the Woods.

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Todays enlightened gardener recognizes composting as a simple, efficient way to create nutrient-rich soil for plants and reduce waste. Made of 100% recycled plastic, our simple-to-use bin traps solar heat to accelerate the production of compost. The Garden Composter includes adjustable air vents, easy-open hinged lid for adding materials and sliding bottom door for compost removal. It snaps together in minutes without using tools and includes a guide to successful backyard composting. 40" High, 23" Wide, 10.2 cubic ft capacity. This composter also has a five-year manufacturers warranty. Made in the USA.

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Adjustable air vents

Easy open lid snaps shut so nothing tumbles out

Sliding bottom door makes it easy to remove compost

Includes a user guide and tips for successful first time, every time composting

Everything comes in one convenient recycled corrugated box which can be composted. Just shred the box and include it with your browns.

Use & Care:
The Garden Composter is shipped unassembled. Snap-together assembly requires no tools.

Remove the drum from its shipping position. Snap the cradle into the drum bearings (big end first). Install the shaft and handle. Put 4" bearing end in place. Secure the drum in place by installing the drum cap. Put optional rollers in place.

Natural compost should be central to your eco-responsible garden. A significant portion of the variety of nutrients that your garden loves is generated right in your kitchen. Many different kinds of kitchen waste can be very beneficial to your garden soil, once the waste has broken down. The Garden Composter from Gaiam is made from 100% recycled materials. Its practical, easy to use and keeps your raw composting material tidy and odor-free.

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Coir is Chemically Balanced for Better Results Helps develop more elaborate & stronger root systems. Ph balanced mixture easily holds nutrients and gradually releases them to the roots. Saves on fertilizer by up to 30% compared to rock wool. Coir is Disease Resistant Significantly reduces root diseases. Doesn't contain weeds, seeds, or pathogens. Coir Makes the Highest Quality Potting Mix High lignin (>70%) and cellulose content prevents oxidation and shrinkage. Contains organic compounds unavailable in other hydroponic mediums. Replaces the use of sphagnum, and is superior to peat moss and rock wool for structural stability, water absorption and drainage, cation exchange capacity and electrical conductivity. About Coir Coir (from Malayalam kayar, cord) is the coarse fibers extracted from the fibrous outer shell of a coconut. Coir is a 100% natural and renewable resource. It has spongy characteristics, possessing excellent air space and drainage with a water holding capacity of > 70%. How to Use Coir A compressed brick, block or bale should be soaked in water for at least 15 minutes before using. Coir can expand 5 to 7 times in volume. Make sure you have a large enough container when soaking your coir. Coir can account for up to 40% of a potting mix, so add it to your soil or as an ingredient of your potting mixes. Always keep the coir that you don't use. Coir is a material that will keep its properties and can be stored/covered for several years.

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How to Make Compost

How to make compost is a central part of good gardening. Compost acts as a soil amendment loosening clay soil and allowing sandy soil to hold moisture while increasing fertility. It seems to have an influence on plant growth that is more intense than would be expected from its nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium balance. So the question is not if compost is good but rather how to make good compost.

Compost should be made to have as great a nutrient concentration as possible and in sufficient quantities for the garden concerned. Obviously a small container requires less than a full sized, raised bed, organic garden.

There are three basic methods for making compost. The pile it and forget it method, and hot compost and cold compost methods. All depend on the simple maxim that organic material rots when left alone. Microorganisms move in and digest it making compost along the way.

Pile it and forget it means just that. Organic material is allowed to accumulate in a pile and left for a couple of years. Depending on the carbon/nitrogen balance of the materials along with adequate moisture the pile will compost in its own time. Usually after a couple of years the top six inches or so can be removed to reveal usable compost below. There is some concern that the exposure to the elements over the time will have depleted some of the nutrients but it is still a great mulch and soil amendment.

Cold composting is the next step along the way. Basically it varies from pile it and forget it by way of planning. A source of dry material is piled for later use. For example it may be damaged straw, fall leaves or wood shavings. As green material such as kitchen trimmings and garden waste is accumulated it is added to a pile along with an equal amount of th brown. Once the pile reaches at least three feet wide, high and deep it is turned once to mix all the materials and to ensure that it has a moisture content about equal to that of a damp sponge. After about a year it will be composted in the manner of the first method.

Hot composting is the fastest method and thus leaves the most nutrients. It also uses the natural heat of the microorganisms bodily processes to pasteurize the pile and kill most of the weed seeds. There is some doubt as to how much this matters since it will be placed and soil that tends to have millions of weed seeds per cubic foot, but for mulch it will certainly help. To make hot compost basically one follows the building method of the cold pile and then turns the pile every three days or so. In warm weather it will be ready to use in about three weeks although some claim finished compost in two weeks.

Regardless of the method, stuff rots and making compost is a natural process that can be helped along with a little effort.

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A Guide on the Compost Bin Types to Recycle

Composting has become a popular means of recycling organic materials so that they can be used in beneficial ways instead of adding them to a landfill. In addition to being a great way to participate in recycling efforts, composting is also a great way to generate rich organic materials that can be added to soil for organic garden projects. Compost bins provide a simple and easy way to help people get started composting and are particularly good solutions for people who have limited living space.

There are a number of different types of composters on the market to meet a variety of needs and situations. Bins for composting can be built from materials that you already have around the backyard, or they can be purchased from garden supply stores, especially those that specialize in organic gardening. In some municipalities, the recycling centers provide bins free or at a reduced cost to encourage people to recycle their organic materials themselves.

One variety of compost bins are called holding units. These bins are very low maintenance and are probably the best solution when the amount of space for the home composting project is very limited. With holding units, the compost pile is not turned and therefore not aerated, so the overall process of decomposing will take anywhere from six months up to two full years.

Portable bins are another common type of bins and they are very similar to the holding units but they are able to be taken apart, moved and rebuilt. Different types of materials can by used and mixed with this kind of bin. Many types of plastic portable units are available on the market to purchase or they can be constructed out of wood and wire fencing.

One of the best types of bins is the variety called turning unit composters. These are specifically designed to facilitate easy turning of the compost pile which helps to aerate the heap. Turning units will produce fully decomposed material in a shorter amount of time because the composting process is accelerated by the improved aeration, allowing the bacteria to better do its job in the decomposition process. In addition, people like turning units because there are less odor problems because of the improved ventilation.

Turning unit composting bins can either be a set of bins or they can be a device that easily rotates or tumbles such as a barrel or a ball-type of unit. The drawback is that turning units generally cost most, are harder to build and require more space. The organic materials to be composted also need to be collected separately until enough has been gathered to fill the unit to the correct level and once it is full and the composting process begins, new materials cannot be added.

Simple heaps are an alternative for people who do not want o purchase or build composter bins. Turning a compost heap is always optional, but it should be kept in mind that the process of composting is accelerated when the waste material is turned at least a couple times a month.

You will want to locate your compost bins according to the functional needs of your family and also taking into consideration the aesthetics of the area. You should not place your compost pile near an area that you frequently use for entertaining, even if you have it screened with fencing or plants. It should be located where it gets plenty of air circulation, in a partially shady spot and near the garden area if possible.

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The Right Ways to Compute Compost Coverage

Compost is undoubtedly one of the most important garden components available and can improve almost every kind of garden. Aside from the nutritional value it adds to the soil, less the chemical use, compost also aids in loosening the soil, avoids compaction of soil, prevents drying up during warm and winter seasons, and provides protection for delicate plants. Compost also lessens the amount of effort required to keep a garden healthy, lawn or flower bed by decreasing or eliminating the growth of weeds. With the proper amount of compost, all your garden plants will surely become healthier. So what are the ways to compute compost coverage?

First step is to determine the width and the length of garden where compost is planned to be spread.

Second, to get the total area of the lot where compost is desired to be applied, multiply the width by the length.

Third, you have to determine as well how much or how deep would you want the compost to be spread. Most solid waste and gardening institutes recommend that the right amount for composting vegetable gardens is between one to three inches. For covering plants and crops during the winter season, the recommendation is between one to three inches as well. For flowers inside containers and grass lawns, the ideal depth is a quarter to a half inch.

The fourth step is to multiply the area of the lot in square footage by the desired thickness of the compost spread in inches.

The resulting figure will be used to determine the cubic yard, as required in the fifth step. Multiply the resulting figure in the fourth step by.0031.

To wrap up the calculation, here is an example. If you have an area of 6 feet (width) by 6 feet (length), multiply both and you get 36 square feet. Multiply 36 square feet by the desired thickness, 2 inches, for example. And you get 72. Then multiply that by.0031. The final result is the cubic yards or the volume of compost needed.

Just a reminder, you do not have to be too detailed on the width or length. Just simply round off the figures, especially when you measure odd shaped lots. You can never go wrong with using compost, but then again, knowing how much to put will save you time, money and effort.

Randy Robertson is a composting expert and writes unbiased reviews on compost container and compost tumbler products.

The Basics of Composting

Composting is an essential part of any serious gardener's routine. It's an easy and necessary way to create good nutritious soil for use in planting. Many gardeners take pride in their composting and think of it as a type of art form.

Composting is a process of humans using natural processes to achieve a desired product. With mounding and composting contraptions, we are only speeding up what would happen on its own in nature. By composting, you are creating a win-win situation. You are getting a valuable gardening product, while cutting down on how much gets thrown into your trash can, and ultimately dumps and incinerators. By composting, not only that the municipal dump has less "stock" to worry about, but it also aids in increasing the soil fertility, which happens to be the main purpose of composting. Composting will, in the long term, save you money by providing a valuable plant medium.

There are really no set rules on how to go about composting perfectly. It is a learned art form, and you will figure out what works as you go along. Really there are no set right and wrong answers. The first thing you'll need to determine is where to place this somewhat unattractive and smelly pile of rotting debris.

Selecting a proper location is essential, taking into consideration the accessibility and asthetics. You don't want to choose a place which is too far away from your main source of composting materials. Will it be easy to get the kitchen scraps to the pile? At the same time, however, a location too close to the house will result in an unpleasant odor.

Another key factor in location is the mound's relationship to water. Water is a key element in triggering this process to take place. Whether near a ditch, gutter drip, or hose, your compost heap needs water in order to decompose properly.

Meanwhile, the sight should not be oversaturated and sloppy. It should be level and well drained, but with access to water.

Once your location has been selected, you'll need to determine what kinds of compost materials you are going to use. You might think that you'll just throw everything onto the heap, but this might not be such a good thing. Weeds, for example, do not make a very productive compost material, and should be avoided. One must also consider the carbon:nitrogen ratio. A perfect 30:1 ratio is ideal for rapid decomposition. The higher the carbon level, the slower the process will happen. Meanwhile, if the nitrogen gets too high, an odor problem will occur.

To clear this up, you can think of carbon as brown materials and nitrogen as green ones. Carbon materials for your pile include paper, dead branches, and other dead wood ingredients. Food scraps, manure (even though it's brown), and grass clippings.

When adding to the pile, add the new composting materials, some soil, and give the heap a sprinkle of water. The soil will house microorganism, which will help to heat things up. Keep your pile moist but not too damp. Good air circulation is also key for optimum productivity. This can be achieved by turning the pile occasionally to provide fresh air to the internal regions. The infusion of this air should also help to keep bad odors under control.

Your compost heap should maintain a temperature of between 100 and 140 degrees F. Any higher and the microorganisms could die. You can use a soil thermometer on occasion to check the temp of your pile.

Once your compost is dark, crumbly and has that earthy smell, it should be ready to use.

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Free Step-By-Step Guide - How To Build Your Own Compost

This is the topic of our new gardening blog poll. The choices range from: bird droppings, seaweed, horse manure and more. Please drop by and submit your vote. The poll and subsequent posts regarding composting, compost piles, compost tumblers, how to make a compost pile, starting a compost pile, how to make a compost bin, ect., will also be posted at mygardentips.net

They say that plants in Hawaii grow unbelievably in fast and furious. Is there a connection to the volcanic material in the soil?

Build your Own Compost or just Buy Compost?

Should we just give in and buy our compost from the local nursery, or build it yourself? I suppose the answer lies in whether or not you have place for a compost bin. If you do, I recommend making it yourself. If you don't, research your local market, in search of the perfect compost. Ask at your local farmer's market, as you'll have a better chance of finding affordable home-made compost. Let's assume you do have space in your garden for composting... the next question is: Should I build it myself or buy a ready-made compost tumbler?

Compost Tumbler or Compost Pile?

Ready-made has its advantages, but home-built is my choice personally, despite its disadvantages. There's just no substitute for this natural recycling experience. What are the basic steps in building your own compost pile? How does one go about starting a composting pile?

What to put in your Compost Pile?

Actually, the real question should be, what don't you put in it? The answer to that is simple: Don't put in cat or dog droppings, or any type of meat. That makes it pretty simple. Put in everything else, like grass clippings, manure, straw, leaves, fruit and vegetable refuse, coffee grounds, seaweed, even ripped up newspapers. How's that for recycling? The basic rule is 1 part green stuff to 20 parts inorganic stuff, like the leaves or newspaper. Remember to cover your live stuff with the dead stuff, so it doesn't stink too much, and this also aids in the aeration and decomposition. Once a week or so, mix up the compost pile so that air and dry materials gets mixed in. The easiest method is to remember to cover your mushy organic materials with enough shredded paper or dead leaves, each time you throw in your kitchen scraps. For more Spring Time Tips, visit the no-crank site or gardening tips blog.

Dan is a writer for Hydro Industries. To learn more vist: No-Crank.com

Composting Bin Or Compost Pile? How to Decide

When you begin composting at home for the first time, you'll be faced with the question of whether you should make compost in a simple pile, or use a compost bin.

There are pros and cons to each option.

Hard core gardeners will often swear by compost piles, because that's what they use.

A pile works best if it is relatively large: 3 feet by 3 feet, piled as high as you can go. You'll want to gather up all your materials in advance. Leaves, grass clippings, coffee grounds, garden debris or whatever you're going to compost.

Mix it all up into a great big pile, and it will start to heat up and break down into compost. A pile can work quickly too, within a matter of weeks if you have the right mix of materials, you keep it moist, and mix it up a couple of times per week for aeration.

But there are a few problems with this scenario.

1. Do you really have enough material to make a 3 foot by 3 foot compost pile? Most people don't, except for in the fall when they have large amounts of leaves.

2. Are you willing to do all the work of mixing up the material for this huge pile, and then keeping it stirred up a couple of times a week for several weeks?

If you're a serious gardener or composter, then you probably will because you enjoy it. But if you're a casual composter, it's starting to sound like a lot of work, isn't it?

Do you have room for a big, ugly pile of debris? And are your neighbors going to freak out if they see it?

4. What about pets or rodents getting into the pile? If you are composting kitchen scraps, they can be attracted to your pile.

A compost bin, on the other hand, neatly contains all of your materials inside of the bin. So it's often a lot nicer to look at, and it keeps pets and rodents away. Some cities require a composter and do not even allow uncovered piles.

So what are the disadvantages of using a bin?

1. The main disadvantage of using a composter is that it won't typically hold as much material as in a giant pile.

2. A manufactured bin can be expensive. Some compost tumblers cost hundreds of dollars. Even a basic bin that holds 80 or 90 gallons of material can cost $100 and up.

There are plenty of plans available online for building your own, if you're handy. But there's still the cost of materials, and the time involved with making it yourself.

If you have a lot of materials and you don't mind the work, then composting with a pile might be the way to go for you. After all, it's how the serious gardeners often do it.

But if you're just starting out and you want to start casually, a bin is probably the way to go.

Lars Handley is a Master Composter based in Dallas, Texas. Learn how you can make compost faster and more easily at his web site, Compostinstructions.com. You can ask your question about composting there, and get an answer directly from Lars.

The Tulips Of Spring

Tulips are an exciting spring flower.  They have three different bloom times depending on the variety early spring , mid spring, and late spring . This makes for some exciting possibilities in your spring flower garden.  By choosing the right variety you can time the blooms to coincide with other spring flowering plants. This can result in a very attractive and unique display which will have the neighbors jealous and people stopping on the street to look.

One of my favorite designs is to mix 2 or 3 colors of tulips together and then plant in groups of 6, 9, or 15 bulbs in different areas throughout the flower bed. Each group should be a little bit different a shape so they look random instead of uniform. This will look more natural. I once did a corner bed with a mix of tulips called stop the car. The mix was orange and purple tulips. I dug up the whole bed at once and planted 400 tulips in the bed. Then I covered the bed back over. The bed was crescent shaped . When they came up in the spring the effect was spectacular. I received more complements from that bed it really was something.

Another really great idea is to plant early tulips with other early spring flowering plants such as white anemones and red tulips the tulips will look like they are floating above a sea of white. Very attractive. You can really mix other bulbs as well that will bloom just before the tulips such as hyacinths.  The hyacinths will bloom and fill the area with some early color not to mention the incredible fragrance and then be followed by the tulips.

For shade beds why not plant early spring tulips between Hostas and Astilbes  as the tulips are fading these plants will come up and cover the tulips as the leaves start to fade and go brown. This is also a good way to add color that would liven up a shady area before the leaves start to emerge on the trees.

Some Quick Tips

Tulips like a quick draining  soil they do not do well with soggy conditionsUsually Tulips put on their best show the first year treat them as annuals and replace every year for the best displays.Always plant in thick cluster 4 or 5 bulbs wide avoid single row planting it does not  look very impressive.Plant your tulips at a depth that is twice the width of the bulbs usually 4? to 6? deep.Try both complementary and contrasting color blends to draw attention to your beds.

Using these ideas will give you a beautiful array of color and a full color show next spring that will surely impress every one and really please you!

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Beginner Tips on Making Compost

In the world of gardening, compost is the star of the show. This does not come as a surprise since compost is the most cost-efficient and eco-friendly fertilizer and pesticide rolled into one. Plus, it certainly helps that compost and its tea are very easy to make, requiring only your household trash, simple equipment and a little manual labor.

With the following tips on making these organic materials, you are sure to get the most benefits out of them!

Measure by Volume

One of the secrets of successful compost making is to measure all the ingredients by volume. This way, you can achieve just the right temperature since your mass is just at the right volume. Usually, one cubic yard is the right volume when making compost.

Maintain Dampness

You can tell if a compost pile is too wet or too dry by taking a handful of compost and squeezing it as hard as you possibly can. If you only get one or two drops out of it, then it is just right. Any more or less than that amount means that it is too wet or too dry, respectively. Obviously, if it is too dry, add more water and if it too wet, let it dry out.

Add as Necessary

Balance is also the key to the success of the compost pile. You can either add in small amounts either green materials like shredded newspapers and kitchen leftovers or brown materials like wood shavings and dried lawn clippings. Why small additions only? Well, because these do not significantly affect the ratio between green and brown materials, thus, making it possible to adjust as necessary without making too many mistakes.

Let It Cook

And when we say cook, we mean maintaining the right temperature. Keep in mind that almost as soon as the pile is made, it will heat up and the microorganisms will start breaking down the green and brown materials.

The ideal temperature should be between 135° F where the human and plant pathogens are killed and 160° F where the beneficial organisms are also killed.


You can use either a long-stemmed thermometer or a turkey thermometer. Just make sure that you take several (2-3 will be good) readings from at least 3 points in the pile and that you stick the thermometer into the center.
You should turn the pile when the temperature reaches 155° F, which will mix the cooler materials on the outside of the pile to its center as well as introduce oxygen into it. You will need to do the turning every other day for the first week so as to maintain the 135° to 155° F range.
You will know when it is ready when the center of the pile is cool to the touch, which should be in about 6-8 weeks. However, you should be alert to any bad smells coming from the pile since it is bad business for you and your garden.

Your compost should have an earthy but pleasant smell to it instead of rotting flesh. You may need to introduce more aeration or more materials into the mix.With well-matured compost, you are assured that your vegetables and other plants will grow in abundance, all other things like weather being favorable. Plus, you saved on the cost commercial fertilizers, too.

Whitney is an expert gardener that owns a greenhouse manufacturing company and writes articles for his own article directory called the Garden of Articles.

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Preparing For Your Spring Color Explosion

I was in a home improvement store the other day and was thinking Wow the Christmas decorations should be going up in a week or so. I know that sounds a little bit crazy as it is only the 2nd week of September but I could not help to wonder as I was looking at all the Halloween Merchandise on Display. Seems like the stores are getting earlier and earlier when it comes to merchandising for the next big holiday. That is what led me to write this article.

The months of March Through May are usually the most colorful times of the year in the garden. The Spring flowering bulbs are a blaze with a riot of color. Early perennials are blooming and the early Spring flowering shrubs are wearing their coats of many colors. The only problem is that there are a lot of people that don’t realize that the tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinth, Allium, and all the other spring flowering bulbs need to be planted just before Halloween to get that great spring color show. You would not believe the amount of times I get asked where you can get some of them flowers to plant every spring.

Just as impressive are the spring flowering shrubs azaleas and rhododendrons are well known as is one of the earliest to bloom with an explosion of bright yellow the forsythia. Vanhoutte spirea commonly called bridal veil puts on a spectacular show of pure white that looks like a giant snowball. The absolute most popular though has to be the lilac. It comes and a variety of colors and give off magnificent scents. Now is the time to be planting your shrubs in early fall where the cool wet weather will help them to get established roots before winter.

To plant your shrubs dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball then mix in a couple of shovel fulls of compost to the soil. Set the plant in the ground with the top of the root ball even with the soil line. Back-fill with the soil tamping to eliminate air pockets and water well. Be sure the plant stays moist till the ground freezes.

To prepare your flower beds for spring bulbs work up the soil and mix in a couple of inches of compost. Dig it in at least 6 “. Once the bed is prepared you are ready to plant your bulbs. A good rule of thumb is to multiply the width of the bulb by 2 to get the right depth to plant the bulbs at. Remember to consider height of the plant when planting don’t hide the crocus behind the daffodils or you won’t be able to enjoy them. Another hint is to plant bulbs in cluster they look more natural and are more interesting that way.

So now is the time to get started on your spring flowering garden.

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Composting and Their Structures

Selecting a structure for your compost pile not all that important, what is important is that you are going to be composting.

Composting has several requirements that need to be in place in order to decompose properly. The requirements are size of the compost pile, air, fragment size, dry matter, heat, green matter and moisture. To start with you need to make sure your structure will provide for the minimum compost size. A compost container structure or pile that is too small won't be able to create enough heat for the organic matter to decompose. The minimum size of you compost pile, in order for it to decompose properly, should be about seven cubic feet. Seven cubic feet is approximately 55 gallons or 208 liters.

A compost structure is not necessary for composting but it will prevent the wind and pillaging animals from carrying anything away. If you live in a rural area that is not very populated you can get by with an open compost pile. A compost structure is a necessity if you live in a high density urban area. You can purchase a structure or you can build your own. Many people will cover their compost piles with plastic in order to prevent the outer layers from drying out too much. You will need to remove the covers occasionally to add more water, plant material and to aerate the pile.

Structures built of wire can have drying problems. This all depends on how many sides are exposed and whether they are on the windward side or not. Wire mesh compost bins are generally the most versatile of compost bins. They are fairly simple to build and maintain. Your compost will be well aerated, it is easy to move, resistant to rodents, easier to manipulate the finished compost, inexpensive to build, and contact with your soil for microorganisms and earthworms.You will often have to use plastic covers or tarps with using a wire bin.

Compact plastic compost bins work well for small yards that don't have a lot of plant wastes. Some of these structures are strictly vertical where you add fresh material to the top and your finished compost is removed from a drawer at the bottom. For this particular structure you will need an aeration tool to reach inside to stir the contents on a regular basis. The plastic compost bins are available through garden centers, some garden nurseries, catalogs, and on-line. If you decide to use a metal barrel for composting, you will have to drill holes to allow air to enter. You will also have to turn the barrel on its side to roll it for mixing and aerating compost.

A tumbler compost bin is a structure that has a drum that is placed between vertical uprights and you need to manually turn the compost tumbler for mixing. They are easy to mix and turn, the compost will be well aerated, you won't have the rodents and it is very easy to move around.

Fixed compost containers are stationary, and are usually situated in a permanent location. The materials that are used for building are usually blocks, brick, wire, or wood. They will have plenty of contact with your soil for microorganisms and earthworms, and are very easy to camouflage.

The multiple compost bins work is based on moving your compost from one bin to the next. Once the first bin's compost has been filled and has decomposed, you then turn it into the second and so on to the third bin. Most of the finished compost will now be in the last bin, and you can start using it for your garden starting at the bottom of the pile. Your compost will have plenty of contact with your soil for microorganisms and earthworms, they can easily be camouflaged, easier to turn compost for aeration, and it is much easier to work with large quantities of compost.

A Freestanding compost mixer is convenient in that it is easy to build and maintain. You can add your organic material as needed. They are not expensive to build, will have plenty of contact with your soil for microorganisms and earthworms, it won't take much effort to maintain it, and you can change its location as needed. 

Barbara is testing her skills at composting and enjoying the research behind it. Many of her articles pertain to the garden and the great outdoors. Come and visit us at http://www.gardenersgardensupplies.com for more interesting ideas and ways to plant.

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7 Factors Needed for a Compost Pile

Compost, made from decomposed grass clippings, leaves, twigs, and branches, becomes a dark, crumbly mixture of organic matter.

Learn how composting works. Even a newbie to composting can make good quality compost. It can be compared to cooking as art or part science. The following 7 factors will help you master the art of composting.

1. Materials

After a time anything that was once alive will naturally decompose. But, not all organic items should be composted for the home. To prepare compost, organic material, microorganisms, air, water, and a small amount of nitrogen are needed.

These items are safe to compost at home:

* grass clippings

* trimmings from hedges

* vegetable scraps

* leaves

* potting soil that has grown old

* twigs

* coffee filters with coffee grounds

* tea bags

* weeds that have not went to seed

* plant stalks

These items are Not safe to compost at home:

* weeds that have went to seed

* dead animals

* pet feces

* bread and grains

* meat

* grease

* cooking oil

* oily foods

*diseased plants

2. What To Do To Make It Work

There are small forms of plant and animal life which break down the organic material. This life is called microorganisms. From a minute amount of garden soil or manure comes plenty of microorganisms.

Nitrogen, air, and water will provide a favorable environment for the microorganisms to make the compost. Air circulation and water will keep the microorganisms healthy and working. The nitrogen feeds the tiny organisms. You may have to add a small amount of nitrogen to the pile.

Putting on too much nitrogen can kill microbes and too much water causes insufficient air in the pile. You just cannot add too much air.

3. Beneficial Microorganisms

Bacteria are the most effective compost makers in your compost pile. They are the first to break down plant tissue. Then comes the fungi and protozoans to help with the process. The arthropodes, like centipedes, beetles, millipedes and worms, bring in the finishing touches to complete the composting.

4. Smaller is Better

The materials will break down faster if the microorganisms have more surface area to eat. Chopping your garden materials with a chipper, shredder, or lawnmower will help them decompose faster.

5. Size of The Pile

The activity of millions of microorganisms generates heat in the compost pile but a minimum size 3-foot by 3-foot by 3-foot is needed for a hot, fast composting pile. Piles that are any larger may hamper the air supply needed in the pile for the microorganisms.

6. Moisture and Aeration

If you can imagine a wet squeezed out sponge with its many air pockets, then this would be the ideal enviroment for the microorganisms in the pile to function at their best. Pay attention while your pile is composting, to the amount of rain or a drought you may have. Water in a drought and maybe turn the pile in a lot of rainy days. The extremes of these two may upset the balance of the pile. The use of a pitchfork would come in handy at this time.

7. Temperature and Time

Keep your pile between 110F and 160F and the beneficial bacteria will love it. Not too cool nor too hot.

The temperature will rise over several days if you keep a good ratio of carbon and nitrogen, maintain lots of surface area within a large volume of material, and maintain adequate moisture and aeration.

-Importance of Compost-

+Compost has nutrients, but it is not a complete fertilizer.

+Compost provides nutrients in the soil until plants need to use them.

+ It loosens and aerates clay soils

+ Retains water in sandy soils.

-Using the Compost-

+ A soil amendment, mix 2 to 5 inches of compost into gardens each year before planting.

+ A potting mixture, add one part compost to two parts potting soil.

+ Make your own potting mixture by using equal parts of compost and sand or perlite.

+ A mulch, prodcast 2 to 4 inches of compost around annual flowers and vegetables, and up to 5 inches around your trees and shrubs.

+ A top dressing, mix finely sifted compost with sand and sprinkle evenly over lawns.

The final thing I would suggest once you have mastered the art of composting is to look very seriously at making your very own aerated compost tea. This elixir will give you results that are hard to believe.

James has been a gardening enthusiast for 40 years and has converted to organic gardening for 10 years. To learn more about organic gardening go to: http://www.basic-info-4-organic-fertilizers.com

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In our ecologically aware times, composting is one smart way to minimize our carbon footprint and help the earth. This new entry in the highly successful Specialist series gives gardeners all the guidance they need to start making, storing, and using their own compost. It offers Information on different types of compost and their ingredients, advice on constructing a compost bin, and detailed explanations of wormeries, green manuring, and seed and potting composts. There’s no better or easier-to-follow guide for the eco-smart gardener!

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Composting Recycles Vegetable Garden Wastes

To make next year's vegetable garden even better than this year we have a few chores to do in the fall. If you take care of things at the end of the growing season, you'll have less disease to worry about and starting off next year will be easier. When the tomato plants stop flowering and when their foliage turns brown, they're done. This is the time to harvest the last tomatoes and dig out the dying plants. Hopefully, all your hard work paid off in abundant and tasty fruits. But what do you do with the leftover plant parts?

The old foliage and bad fruits can be burned, especially if disease is suspected. Do your tomatoes have an off-color? Maybe they're black or just spotted with black. Are they rotting on the vine? Do the leaves have a mottled look or are they spotted with brown or black dots? In any case burning the old foliage from your garden at the end of the growing season is one remedy for starting disease-free in the spring. Viruses and bacteria and all kinds of blight problems can be taken care of by burning the dying vegetation.

Of course, some neighborhoods won't allow burning and sometimes it's just not practical, so instead try composting. Compost temperatures can get high enough to kill disease-causing bugs. Many closed system compost bins are available on the market in case you don't have room for a great pile of decaying leaves and garden wastes. These tumbler-type bins really speed up the composting time and as an added bonus they keep the smells inside.

The worst way of getting rid of garden vegetation is to bag it up and place it at the curb for trash pickup. Does that stuff in the bag go into a landfill? What a waste of time and effort, not to mention petroleum products in the bags and to fuel the trash pickup truck. Why waste all those good nutrients? With all the money spent on plastic trash bags and trash pickup fees, one could easily save up for a compost bin.

Compost has been called black gold because it is so valuable to the vegetable plants in your garden. If you haven't tried composting your vegetable garden wastes, please give it a try. You'll be surprised at the results and you'll be helping to reduce your dependence on petroleum, too. Once you set up a composting system you can use it all season long to take care of kitchen scraps, plant trimmings, yard waste and leftovers from the garden.

Be kind to the environment by composting your garden wastes. Instead of putting those excess nutrients in a landfill where they will likely never be useful again, help nature out by recycling those old plants into compost. Blending compost into your garden soil will add nutrients and boost the fertility of your soil for next year's garden.

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Composting To A Successful Garden

Have you ever had really great soil for gardening around your house? Few do. In my case, the clay-like soil prevented good water drainage and was difficult for cultivating new plants. At other times the sand content was too high, providing the opposite problem - water retention. Additionally, a proper soil nutrient for great plants was missing. One could replace all the soil - a very expensive time consuming process, build raised beds or work to improve existing conditions. To do this, composting is the answer.

Composting is the decomposition of plant remains and other once-living materials to make an earthy, dark, crumbly substance that is excellent for adding to houseplants or enriching garden soil. It is a great way to help the environment. Composting is nature's process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil known as compost.

Composting is a lot like cooking, and the easiest compost recipe calls for blending parts of green or wet material, high in nitrogen and brown or dry material, high in carbon.

Materials - Materials that are excellent for composting are kitchen waste, like coffee grounds, wastes, things you might throw down the garbage disposal. Meat, bones, eggs, cheese, fats and oils are not recommended for backyard composting because they attract animals. Composting materials are divided into two types, green and brown. Green materials include green leafy plant residues like weeds, grass clippings, vegetable tops and flower clippings. Brown materials include fall leaves, straw, sawdust, wood chips and shredded newspapers. To speed up decomposition, use two-parts green material to one-part brown material. For best results, mix materials high in nitrogen such as clover, fresh grass clippings, and livestock manure with those high in carbon such as dried leaves.

Compost Bin - First, choose a location for your compost bin. Place the bin at least 20 feet away from the nearest house. Avoid placing the bin against a tree or wooden building; the compost could cause the wood to decay. Bins can be built from scrap lumber, old pallets, snow fence, chicken wire, or concrete blocks. When building a composting bin, such as with chicken wire, scrap wood, or cinder blocks, be sure to leave enough space for air to reach the pile. Usually when building a composting bin, one side is left open or can be opened to facilitate turning the materials. Once your bin is in place, you can begin immediately to fill it with yard wastes and kitchen scraps. While a bin will help contain the pile, it is not absolutely necessary - some prefer to compost in a large open area.

Process - Basically, backyard composting is an acceleration of the same process nature uses. If left alone, these same materials will eventually break down, decompose and produce soil rich materials. Eventually, the rotting leaves are returned to the soil, where living roots can finish the recycling process by reclaiming the nutrients from the decomposed leaves. Home composting provides ideal conditions to greatly reduce the time it takes

Cooking refers to the process where the compost heats up and breaks down, which is necessary before you can use it as soil additive in the garden and on your house plants. The cooking process takes about 4-8 weeks once you stop adding to the bin. Don't be surprised by the heat of the pile or if you see worms, both of which are part of the decomposition process. If you want to accelerate the process, turn it every four days, but more frequently than that is not recommended.

Carbon - Carbon and Nitrogen are the essential elements of a compost pile. Carbon rich materials are referred to as "browns". Carbon-rich, relatively low-nutrient material are slow to decay. The rate at which breakdown occurs depends on several factors - oxygenation, temperature, water content, surface area size, and the carbon to nitrogen ratio Soak high carbon materials with water before composting. Alternate six to eight inch layers of high carbon materials such as leaves and other dry plant debris, with layers of high nitrogen material such as grass clippings, kitchen waste or manure.

Nitrogen - Nitrogen is the most important food nutrient, because a nitrogen shortage drastically slows the composting process. Brown materials composted alone require supplemental nitrogen to feed the decomposing bacteria. Greens are quick to rot and they provide important nitrogen and moisture. Add one-quarter to one-half cup nitrogen fertilizer per bushel of brown material. If you are low on high-nitrogen material, you can add a small amount of commercial fertilizer containing nitrogen. In other words, the ingredients placed in the pile should contain 25 to 30 times as much carbon as nitrogen. Some ingredients with higher nitrogen content are green plant material such as crop residues, hay, grass clippings, animal manures.

Manure - Manure may be used to increase your compost piles nitrogen supply. Animal manure should only be collected from vegetarian animals, such as horses, cows, sheep, poultry, etc. Sheep and cattle manure don't drive the compost heap to as high a temperature as poultry or horse manure, so the heap takes longer to produce the finished product.

Moisture - Moisture and oxygen are important factors in the composting process as both influence temperature. An active compost pile will be warm - frequently between 75 - 85 degrees. Every time you add fresh grass or kitchen waste you add some moisture retention to your compost pile. Moisture is provided by rain, but you may need to water or cover the pile to keep it damp. To test for adequate moisture, reach into your compost pile and grab a handful of material and squeeze it; if a few drops of water come out, it's probably got enough moisture, if it doesn't, add water.

Eliminate Odor - The most common problem is unpleasant, strong odors. To prevent this ensure a good flow of oxygen in the compost, don't overload the pile with food waste so that the food sits around too long, and if the bin contents become too wet add in more dry materials.

Home composting is both fun and easy to do, and does not require large investments of time, money and effort to be successful. Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into valuable food for your garden. Composting is a way to reduce the volume of organic wastes and return them to the soil to benefit growing plants. Your garden will love you for it.

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