It's All About Nutrition!

Organic Gardening…Composting

Proper and consistent composting will provide a natural and valuable resource for any organic gardener.

Making a compost heap: Garden style, square up to 2m square by about 2m high, this size ensures that oxygen can reach the inside of the heap while still being big enough to retain the heat needed for efficient working.

There are four factors in making a successful compost heap…

1 Oxygen: make the compost no more than 2m wide so air can pass into the centre of the heap, also the heap should not be over compressed so to prevent the access of air to the centre.

2. Water: necessary for the bacteria to develop and to allow the heap to heat up. When high nitrogen is added to a heap the composting process can be so rapid that it uses up all the available water and stalls the composting process. In winter however the heap must be protected from too much water as this will push the oxygen out causing anaerobic conditions which will also stall the process. Water may have to be added to the heap in hot dry conditions.

3.Heat: this will be generated by the composting process but the design of the heap will help to retain it and kep the process going. The heap should be compacted so each layer is in contact with the next but so squashed as it removes all the air. Avoid water logging and drying out.

4. Carbon to nitrogen ratio: The nitrogen (leafy material) speeds up the process while Carbon (wood/straw lignified material) provides the material to turn in humus and slows the process. With too much N the compost will heat up quickly then stall. With too much C the compost will be cold and slow to start.

In the case of a stalled heap it can be restarted by turning the heap adding water, lignified (woody) material, leafy material as needed to get a proper balance.