Composting Techniques

Composting Techniques / What's Compost

Composting, often described as nature’s way of recycling, is the biological process of breaking up of organic waste such as food waste, manure, leaves, grass trimmings, paper, worms, and coffee grounds, etc., into an extremely useful humus-like substance by various micro-organisms including bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in the presence of oxygen.

Actinomycetes are similar to fungus in the way they grow and spread, but its distinguishing elements are that the types of materials they are efficient at decomposing. The active nature in this microscopic bacteria and the sheer number present (about 10 million per 1 gram of soil), make them highly effective at breaking down materials like tree bark, newspaper, and other hard organic material.

Today, the use of composting to turn organic wastes into a valuable resource is expanding rapidly in many countries, as landfill space becomes scarce and expensive, and as people become more aware of the impact they have on the environment.

Composting Techniques / Using Nature's Gifts

Earth and nature has been through numbers of period, era, and evolution but the amazing process it conceives still astounds us and gives us the feeling of surprise and amazement. We consider nature’s products as God’s gift. Compost to a gardener is what fish is to fishermen.

Although nature conceives compost inherently, there are ways and techniques to create better than the usual results. There are times that it shortens the process which saves the time of people. There are also times when it produces a healthier product.

We could maximize the benefits we could get from our resources through proper procedure.

Composting Techniques / Balance

Basically composting is all about balance. As earthworms and insects help digest the plant to make the compost healthy, the finished compost also helps boost the activity of Earthworms and insects. It is still magical how this perfect mixture produces nutrients to the soil.

People have already found the secrets to help improve the process of composting. Compost piles in the old times are created manually but nowadays, composting bins come in a wide variety. Composting toilets already exist today. There are also compost aerating tools for easy mixing, and people have already experimented and distinguished what mixture can create compost activators.

Piles should neither be too dry nor too wet. Unpleasant odor often exists because of compost packed too tight. It needs to have air passage because bad odor activates when there is poor air circulation. Compost is not just about biodegradable scraps but it requires a certain amount of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen so we have to make sure that our compost piles allow the passage of these.

Any excess or insufficient ingredient may create an unpleasant result like over-watering. Leaves that fall from trees, grass clippings, or dried plants contribute carbon to our compost.

Composting Techniques / Knowledge is Power

To achieve the perfect balance, we must research about our compost materials. We should know what is high in carbon or what lacks nitrogen. When the insects in your compost already have infested, this indicates that the fruits and veggies in your compost are excessive than what needed.

The first step in composting is researching, followed by segregating, then proper composting, and the last is making sure we have used all our resources to make our compost healthy.

Sources

http://cityofdavis.org/pw/compost/techniques.cfm
http://www.compostsantacruzcounty.org/Home_Composting/Backyard_Composting/by_techniques.htm

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For more information on composting follow these links:

Definition of Composting

How Does Composting Work

Commercial Composting

Composting Newspaper

Composting Coffee Grounds

Composting Paper