Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

speakup

Recycling often calls to mind piles of newspapers, aluminum cans and discarded plastic bottles.

But recycling and gardening can be married when you create a compost area in your yard.

Composting is recycling in the most basic sense. It takes materials from the home and yard and returns them to the environment in a usable form. Composting can reduce the amount of trash put into landfills, and it can be a viable alternative to getting rid of yard waste - especially where leaf burning and lawn clipping disposal is outlawed. Whether you are composting because you want to improve the environment or out of necessity, it can be an easy and enjoyable - not to mention, costeffective - thing to do.

What You’ll Need Composting requires only a few basic tools and materials:

· bin or other type of containment for the compost (you can also choose to leave the compost in a “heap,” but this could be unsightly in urban areas) · pitch fork for turning · good-quality soil · lawn and garden clippings, leaves · kitchen scraps, such as fruit rinds, coffee grounds, unused vegetables, egg shells, etc.

· compost thermometer, if desired Getting Started Compost “recipes” vary among gardener, but a good rule of thumb is 50 percent “green” (grass clippings, food scraps) to 50 percent “brown” (soil, dry leaves, wood shavings).

The green is nitrogen-rich and will keep the compost heap hot. The brown adds carbon to the mix and will keep the heap cool. Both work in concert to create the right blend for maximum compost creation.

Locate the compost heap in a relatively shady area, under a tree, but not an acidic one, such as a pine tree. The heap should measure roughly 6 feet by 6 feet, and be at least 5 feet tall in the middle. Anything smaller will not achieve the right temperature for decomposition of matter.

Layer your ingredients and thoroughly mix together. Just about any yard waste that you would normally bag up and trash can be added to the mix. Use caution with weeds, which can regenerate, or poisonous plants, which should be avoided.

Also, sprawling plants such as ivy should be chopped and shredded so they will not grow in your heap or regenerate wherever you use your compost.

Key Tips The secret to good compost is maintaining the ratio of ingredients, mixing regularly to incorporate newly added material, and aerating. Any issues with odor or attraction of insects normally results from improper incorporation of materials or simply dumping waste on top of the pile. Turn and use compost from the bottom, which should be a rich, dark color and no longer gives clues to what was added separately to the heap.

Problem Solving Odor or pests can be avoided in the following manner:

· Insects: Flies should not be attracted to your pile if you bury food waste six to 12 inches in the center of the heap.

· Odors: These are usually caused by too many greens or a proper amount of greens not adequately stirred into the mixture. Try mixing in more browns if an odor other than an earthy smell is present.

· Rodents or animals: Rodents are usually attracted to fatty foods or meats, which should not be added to the compost.

· Moisture: Too much or too little can cause problems. Cover your compost during rainy weather to avoid over-wetting and rotting.

Sprinkle a little water on the pile only in periods of drought. The moisture consistency should remain that of a wrung-out sponge.

Other Ingredients Once your compost heap or bin is established, experiment with adding other materials. Here are some good ideas:

· breads, pastas and tea bags · paper towels, toilet paper tubes and other shredded paper products · manures from plant-eating animals