LEARN HOW - what can I compost?
Composting is the breakdown of organic material, such as kitchen or garden waste, by organisms in a controlled environment. Bacteria, fungi, worms and beetles are some of the organisms that cause breakdown or decomposition.
These organisms bring about decomposition by feeding on organic material. Organic material is anything that was once living. For instance flowers, trees, grass, fruit & vegetables, eggshells, tea, coffee, are all organic and will decompose. Composting of organic waste from your kitchen is a relatively simple process that can be carried out in your own garden. The result is compost, a dark, nutrient-rich soil conditioner.
A lot of people try and fail on even the first few attempts to successfully home compost. It comes with a bit of experience and can be very satisfying when you eventually end up with a lovely brown/black rich compost for your flower beds and elsewhere in the garden.
Anything organic (i.e. anything that was once living, whether animal or vegetable) can be composted but some materials are more appropriate than others for home composting.
Organic material falls into two categories:
* Green (or “Nitrogen Rich”) organic material is wet and often green like grass clippings or fruit and vegetables.
* Brown (or “Carbon Rich”) organic material is dry, woody material that is usually brown, such as fallen leaves, and tree-cuttings.
Home composting can be done in two ways:
1) Create a compost heap at the end of your garden
Put the correct proportions of GREENS and BROWNS together with plenty of air spaces through the heap. Ideally the heap should be covered to keep off unnecessary rain water. The heap will heat up. This is the micro-organisms at work. If the heap cools down then it may need to be turned. This turning will aerate the heap again and the micro-organisms will get back to work and you will be most of the way there to having a useful fertiliser for your flower beds.
2) Use a home composter
Home composters are normally made from plastic and are relatively inexpensive.
Important factors to consider if buying a Home Composter include:
* Capacity - 300 litre is a good working size;
* Rodent proof;
* Designed to facilitate the maximum possible aeration;
* A mesh base that comes up the sides a little, allowing air to enter from the bottom and sides and helping air to get into the middle of the compost;
* Removable side door to allow for easy access when you want to remove the composted material. Many composters have a very small opening and are difficult to empty;
* A design that enables you to remove fully composted material from the bottom, with non-composted material moving down to replace it. This means you can always remove useable compost without having to wait until the batch is fully finished.
Successful composting of your garden waste, and the creation of your very own non-peat-based compost, is very fulfilling and is, in many ways, superior to that you would buy in the shops!
These organisms bring about decomposition by feeding on organic material. Organic material is anything that was once living. For instance flowers, trees, grass, fruit & vegetables, eggshells, tea, coffee, are all organic and will decompose. Composting of organic waste from your kitchen is a relatively simple process that can be carried out in your own garden. The result is compost, a dark, nutrient-rich soil conditioner.
A lot of people try and fail on even the first few attempts to successfully home compost. It comes with a bit of experience and can be very satisfying when you eventually end up with a lovely brown/black rich compost for your flower beds and elsewhere in the garden.
Anything organic (i.e. anything that was once living, whether animal or vegetable) can be composted but some materials are more appropriate than others for home composting.
Organic material falls into two categories:
* Green (or “Nitrogen Rich”) organic material is wet and often green like grass clippings or fruit and vegetables.
* Brown (or “Carbon Rich”) organic material is dry, woody material that is usually brown, such as fallen leaves, and tree-cuttings.
Home composting can be done in two ways:
1) Create a compost heap at the end of your garden
Put the correct proportions of GREENS and BROWNS together with plenty of air spaces through the heap. Ideally the heap should be covered to keep off unnecessary rain water. The heap will heat up. This is the micro-organisms at work. If the heap cools down then it may need to be turned. This turning will aerate the heap again and the micro-organisms will get back to work and you will be most of the way there to having a useful fertiliser for your flower beds.
2) Use a home composter
Home composters are normally made from plastic and are relatively inexpensive.
Important factors to consider if buying a Home Composter include:
* Capacity - 300 litre is a good working size;
* Rodent proof;
* Designed to facilitate the maximum possible aeration;
* A mesh base that comes up the sides a little, allowing air to enter from the bottom and sides and helping air to get into the middle of the compost;
* Removable side door to allow for easy access when you want to remove the composted material. Many composters have a very small opening and are difficult to empty;
* A design that enables you to remove fully composted material from the bottom, with non-composted material moving down to replace it. This means you can always remove useable compost without having to wait until the batch is fully finished.
Successful composting of your garden waste, and the creation of your very own non-peat-based compost, is very fulfilling and is, in many ways, superior to that you would buy in the shops!
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