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MASTERCOMPOSTER

HomeStudyCourse

LessonsonHowtoEffectivelyManageYardTrimmingsandOtherOrganicMaterials

GeneratedatHome

G4107

Master Composter

Table of Contents

Welcome to the Master Composter Course!

This series of lessons will teach you how to become more proficient at managing yard trimmings and other organic materials that you generate at home.

Lesson 1. Managing Yard Trimmings and Organic Wastes at Home ....................................... 1 Why Manage Organic Materials at Home? ........................................................................................... 1 How Much Organic Material Can be Composted? ............................................................................. 3 Are There Certain Regulations I Should be Aware Of? .................................................................... 3 Lesson 2. The Composting Process ........................................................................................................... 8 History of Composting ................................................................................................................................. 8 The Science of Composting ........................................................................................................................ 9 Key Factors Affecting the Composting Process ................................................................................14

Lesson 3. Materials and Methods for Composting ..........................................................................20 What to Compost ..........................................................................................................................................20 Composting Methods ..................................................................................................................................25

Lesson 4. Making and Maintaining a Compost Pile ........................................................................32 When to Start a Compost Pile ..................................................................................................................32 Where to Compost .......................................................................................................................................33 Making a Compost Pile ...............................................................................................................................34 Troubleshooting: Problems and Solutions.........................................................................................37 Compost Pile pH ...........................................................................................................................................39 Health Considerations ................................................................................................................................39 Lesson 5. Using Compost ..............................................................................................................................42 Benefits of Compost ....................................................................................................................................42 Finished Compost ........................................................................................................................................44 Compost Application ..................................................................................................................................45 Lesson 6. Other Options for Managing Yard Trimmings & Food Scraps .............................49 Vermicomposting .........................................................................................................................................49 Grasscycling ...................................................................................................................................................56 Mulching ..........................................................................................................................................................59 Resource Saving Landscape Design ..................................................................................................... 61 Appendix Study Question Answers .........................................................................................................66

MASTERCOMPOSTERHOMESTUDYCOURSE 1

Master Composter

MANAGING YARD TRIMMINGS AND ORGANIC WASTES AT HOME

Lesson One

What’saheadInlesson1ofthehomestudycourse,you’lllearn:§ whyitisbeneficialtomanageyard

trimmingsandkitchenscrapsathome;

§ howmuchorganicmaterialyoucanexpecttocompostandmulch;

§ stateandlocalregulationsrelatedtomanagingyardtrimmingsandotherorganics;and

§ differentoptionsavailabletohouseholdsforhandlingyardtrimmings

Whymanageorganicmaterialsathome?

Inoursociety,wespendconsiderabletime,energy,andresourcesstopping,controlling,andignoringdecay.Wesprayproduceandaddchemicalstofoodtoinhibitit.Garbagetruckscomebyweeklytoremoveourdecay,takingittolandfillssoitcanrotelsewhere.

Atthesametimeweareinvestingourenergiesintodisposingofdecay,wearealsodeprivingthelandofvaluablenutrients.Allthatrottingorganicmaterialhasthepotentialtosignificantlyimprovesoilhealthandplantgrowth⎯rightahome.Everyfall,manyfolksgotogreatlengthstobagupdeadleavesandgardencuttingsthatgethauledawaytoacompostingorland-spreadingsite.Theypayfeeseitherdirectlyorthroughtaxestohavesomeoneelsemakethedecaygo

away.Inthespring,theyrushtostorestobuyfertilizersandotheramendmentstoputontotheiryards.

Thewordsassociatedwiththenaturalprocessofdecompositionseemtohaveunpleasantconnotations:rot,decay,putrefaction,spoilage,waste.Thismayexplainwhysomepeoplearehesitanttogetinvolvedwithcompostingandmulching.Compostingisaprocessthatfacilitatesrotanddecay.

Througheducationandsubtlepeer

pressure,the“ick”factorassociatedwithcompostingandmulchingisslowlydisappearing.Homecompostingisbecoming“eco-chic”insomeneighborhoods⎯abackyardisnotcompleteunlessitfeaturesacompostbin.Moreandmorepeoplearetalkingaboutcompostingwithneighbors,atpartiesandinworkplacelunchrooms.

Thereareanumberofreasonsforthisgrowinginterestinbackyardcomposting

Yardtrimmings:thisisaterm,whichhasthesamemeaningasyardwaste.ManypeopleinvolvedincompostingandrecyclingacrosstheU.S.feelthattheword“waste”makesitharderforthepublictoappreciatethevalueofcompostandmulchproducedfromleaves,grassclippings,brushandgardendebris.Mostprofessionalsnowusetheterm“yardtrimmings”inplaceof“yardwaste”.

2 UNIVERSITYOFWISCONSIN–EXTENSION

andmulching.Childrenlearnaboutrecycling,compostingandotherenvironmentalissuesatschoolandtheytaketheinformationhometotheirparents.Communitiesareexpandingeducationeffortsassociatedwithrecyclingprogramstoincludebackyardcomposting.Moreimportantly,peoplearestartingtorealizethatpersonalactionscanmakeadifferenceinourenvironment.Asstewardsoftheplanet,oneofthemostpowerfulthingswecandoistocareforthesmallpatchesoflandsurroundingourhomes.Insteadofpackingupexcessorganicmaterialstosendtoadistantdestination,wecanturnthemintoavaluableamendmentthatmakessoilhealthy,vibrantandliving.Wecanreapbenefits,whichincludeamorebeautifulyardwithreducedwaterandfertilizerbills.Inaddition,ouractionswillreducecostsfortransportingandmanagingyardmaterialsoff-site,andsavelandfillspace.Reduce,reuseandrecycle

Manyfolksfinditeasiertounderstandtheconceptsofbackyardcompostingandmulchingwhentheyareexplainedusingrecyclingandwastereductionterminology.Wecanreduce,reuse,andrecycleasizablequantityofouryardtrimmingsandinmanycommunities,aconsiderableamountoffoodwastes.Withasmallamountofplanningandeffort,wecanmakeasignificantdentintheamountofmaterialputoutatthecurband/orbroughttocentralizedcompostingsites.

Reduce-Oneoftheeasiestwaystoreduceyardtrimmingsistoleavegrassclippingsrightwheretheyfall.Clippings

worktheirwayintothegroundwithindaysofcutting,improvingthesoilandfeedingthelawn.Anotherwaytoreduceyardtrimmingsistodevelopandmaintainhomelandscapessotheymimicnaturalsystems.Considerreducingyourlawnareabyplantingmoregroundcoversandcreatingsmallbedsaroundtreesandshrubs.Byanalyzingyourcurrentyardlayoutandmakingsomemodifications,youcanreducetheamountofyardtrimmingsgenerated.

Reuse-Manyorganicmaterialsare

beingputbacktouseinyardsandgardenswithverylittleeffort.Youcanmulchwithyardtrimmingssuchasshreddedleaves,grassclippings,andchippedwood(frombranches).Mulchingoffersnumerousbenefitssuchasprotectingthesoil,conservingmoistureandsuppressingweeds.

Recycle-Twoformsoforganic

recyclingarebackyardcompostingandvermicomposting(wormcomposting).Homecompostingrecyclesyardtrimmingsandcertaintypesoffoodscrapsintoavaluablesoilamendment.Vermicompostingisanothermethodfor

recyclingawidevarietyoffoodwastesintonutrientrichwormcastings.Youcanusethesesoilamendments,compostandwormcastings,inpottingsoilmixtures,formakingcomposttea,ingardens,onlawns,andaroundshrubsandtrees.Redwormsusedforvermicompostingcanalsobeusedforfishingbait.Inaddition,

youcanrecycleyourChristmastreeintoabirdfeedingstation,potpourri,mulchforacidlovingplants,andfireplacelogs(treetrunk).

Lesson1ManagingYardTrimmingsandOrganicWastesatHome


AlmostallhouseholdsinWisconsinarerecyclingasignificantportionoftheirwastes⎯cardboard,metalcans,plasticcontainers,glassjarsandbottles,newspapersandmore.Byreducing,reusing,andrecyclingyouryardtrimmingsandfoodscraps,youmoveclosertowardszerowastegenerationandimproveyouryardatthesametime.Howmuchorganicmaterialcanbecomposted? Youmaybesaying,“OK,ifIreduce,reuse,andrecyclemyorganicmaterials−justhowbigadentcanImakeinmyhouseholdwastestream?” Mostpeopledon’tknowhowmuchwastetheygenerate.In2009,theaverageWisconsinresidentgenerated4.5lbsoftrashperdayor1,643lbsperyear.Anaveragefour-personhouseholdwouldthengenerateabout6,572lbsoftrashperyear. Itisestimatedthattheaveragecompostinghouseholdrecyclesabout650lbsperyear(EconomicCost-BenefitAnalysisofHomeCompostingProgramsintheUnitedStates,TheUSCompostingCouncil,1995).Thiscompareswithotherstudiesthathaveshownaveragesof550to750poundsofyardtrimmingsandfoodwastewerecompostedinhouseholds. ArecentWIDNRstudysortedandweighedarangeofmaterialsdeliveredtodifferentlandfillsinthestate.EventhoughmostyardmaterialswerebannedfromWIlandfillsin2010,theyfoundthatabout161,000tonsofyardmaterialswasstillbeinglandfilled.Ifwecompostedthesematerialsalongwithfoodscrapsthe

amountofwastesenttolandfillsfromresidentswouldbereducedbyupto25%. Foreachhouseholdthatstartscomposting,thereisthepotentialtodivertanadditional650lbsofmaterialfromlandfillsandmunicipalcollection/curbsideprograms.Expandingexistinghomecompostinghelpstoo.Increasingthenumberofhouseholdsthatcompostcanextendthelifeofexpensivelandfillsandreducescosttomunicipalitiesandresidents. Homecompostpiles,however,shouldnotincludemeatandoilyfoodsduetothepossibilityofcreatingodorsandattractingpests.Yet,manyfoodscrapscanbecompostedalongwithyardmaterials,humanhair,naturaldryerlint,lakeweeds,waxedcardboardandmore.(Seelistsofacceptableandnon-acceptableitemstocompostinLesson3.) Perhapsthebestpartaboutreducing,reusingandrecyclingorganicmaterials,isthatyouryardwilldirectlyprofitfromyourefforts.Thecompostproducedfromthesematerialsisagreatsoilamendment.Inadditiontoprovidingnutrientsfortheplantscomposthelpstoimprovesoiltexture,suppresscertainplantdiseases,andimprovessoilhealth.AretherecertainregulationsIshouldbeawareof? WisconsinisoneofmanyU.S.statesthathavepassedyardtrimmingslegislation.Inaddition,somecommunitieswithinWisconsinhaveordinancesrelatedtohomecompostingorburningleavesandbrush.Theseregulationsaresometimesconfusingforresidentsandbusinesses.Manypeopleareawareofthestatewidebanon


landfillingyardwaste,buttheymayhavequestionsonexactlywhatmaterialsarebannedandwhattheiroptionsareforhandlingthem.Wisconsin’srecyclinglaw AccordingtoWisconsin’srecyclinglaw,yardtrimmingsarebannedfromlandfillsandincineratorsthatdon’trecoverenergy(sinceJanuary3,1993).Yardtrimmings,definedas“yardwaste”underWisconsin’srecyclinglaw,consistofthefollowingmaterials:

• leaves,• grassclippings,• yardandgardendebris,and• brushincludingclean,woody

vegetativematerialsnogreaterthansixinchesindiameter

Thislawappliestoyardwasteproducedfromeitherresidentialornon-residentialsources,withsomeexemptionsforbrush.Thelegaldefinitionofyardwastedoesnotinclude:

• stumps,• roots,• shrubswithintactrootballs,• Christmastrees,• wreathsorgarlands,• floralarrangements

Itshouldbenotedthatthelandfillbanappliesonlytobrushgeneratedin“yardsandgardens”.Theterm“yardsandgardens”hasafairlybroaddefinition.Itappliestoanydwelling,includingprivateresidencesandapartments,oranybusiness,institution,orgovernmentthat

generatesbrushonbuildinggrounds,inparks,orinyardsand/orgardens.Brushgeneratedintheselocationsmustbemanagedtocomplywiththerecyclinglaw.TheWisconsinDNRexemptsbrushgeneratedby:

• farms,• commercialorchardsand

nurseries,• publicandprivateforests,• roadmaintenanceand

construction,• utilityorrailroadrightof-way

clearing,and• prescribedburnsdonetocreateor

maintainwildlifehabitatbyprivate,public,ornon-profitorganizationsorindividuals

Exemptedbrushgeneratorsmustcomplywithlocalandstateburningrestrictionsimposedforreasonsoffiresafety,airpollutioncontrol,andpreventionofpublicnuisances.Optionsformanagingyardtrimmings Theoptionsavailableforresidentstomanagetheiryardtrimmingswillvarywiththeirlocation.AccordingtoWisconsin’srecyclinglaw,recyclingprogramsoperatedbytowns,villages,citiesandcountiesmustinformresidentsoftheiroptionsforhandlingyard

trimmings,buttheyarenotobligatedtoprovideacommunitymanagementprogram. Oneoptionison-sitemanagementorbackyardcomposting,whichisthefocusofthishomestudycourseandtheMasterComposterTrainingProgram.Municipalitiescan

encourageuseofthisoptionbypublicizingitsbenefits,providing



residentswitheducationalmaterialsandprograms,aswellasbyofferingbindistributionprograms.MasterComposterscanhelppromoteon-sitemanagementtoavarietyofaudiencessuchasresidentsandyouththroughoutreachactivities. Anotheroptionforsomeresidentsisacommunitymanagementprogram.AnumberofWisconsincommunitiesandcountiesoffersuchaprogram.Withthisoption,thecommunityoverseescollection,transportation,andprocessingofyardtrimmings.Variationsforcommunitymanagementprogramsinclude:

• Contractingforservices.Themunicipalitycontractswithhaulers,nurseries,landscapefirms,orfarmerstocollectand/orprocessyardtrimmings.Yardtrimmingsarecompostedinacentralizedfacilityorlandspreadonagriculturalfields.

• Operatingacompostingfacility.Municipalitieshandletheprocessingofyardtrimmingsandmarketingoffinishedcompost.Collectionandtransportationmaybetheresponsibilityofthegenerator,theresponsibleunit,oritmaybeacontractedservice.

Anumberoflocalgovernmentssuccessfullyutilizebothoptionsofon-sitemanagementandacommunitymanagementprogram.Theydevelopeducationalprogramsforhomecompostingandotheron-sitemanagementmethodsandpromotethemasthepreferredoptionforhandlingyardtrimmings.Thecommunitymanagement

optionisutilizedforyardtrimmingsthataredifficulttomanageon-siteduetospaceconstraints,physicaldisabilities,and/orstorms.Byencouragingalargenumberofgeneratorstomanageyardtrimmingson-site,localgovernmentscansaveoncollection,transportationandprocessingcosts.Residentsalsosavemoney–eitherdirectlyorthroughdecreasedtaxes.

Athird,butlesspreferable,optionfor

residentsistoburnbrushandotheryardtrimmingsintheirownbackyards.ThebaninWisconsin’srecyclinglawdoesnotprohibitbackyardburning,butitishighlydiscouragedbytheWIDept.ofNaturalResources.Burningmay,however,beprohibitedinsomemunicipalitiesbylocalordinances.Burningisalsorestrictedbystatefirecontrolandairqualityrules.

Leafburningcancauseserioushealthproblems,especiallyinurbanizedareas.Theopenburningofleavesproducesparticulatematter,carbondioxideandhydrocarbons.Particulatematteriscomprisedofmicroscopicparticlesthatcanreachintothedeepestregionsofthelungandstaythereformonthsoryears.Inhalingparticulatemattercanincreasethechanceofrespiratoryinfectionandtriggerasthmaattacks.Highlevelsofhydrocarbonsareproducedwhenmoistleavesareburnedwithoutproperaircirculation.Someofthesehydrocarbons,suchasaldehydesandketones,causeirritationoftheeyes,nose,throatandlungs.Asubstantialportionofthehydrocarbonsinleafsmokeconsistofaromatichydrocarbons,someofwhich


areknowncarcinogens.Carbonmonoxideisaninvisiblegasthatresultsfromincompletecombustion.Burningleafpilesareidealforcreatingcarbonmonoxideemissions.Carbonmonoxideisabsorbedintothebloodstreamthroughthelungsandcombineswithredbloodcells.Thisreducestheamountofoxygentheredbloodcellscanabsorbandsupplytobodytissues.Unbornchildren,infants,smokers,elderly,andpersonswithheartandlungdiseaseareespeciallyvulnerabletoproblemswithcarbonmonoxide. Comparedwithbackyardburning,compostingandmulchingaremuchbetterwaystomanageyardtrimmingsbecausetheyreturnnutrientstothesoil,theykeepairclean,andtheyposesignificantlylesshealthrisk.WisconsinDNRAdministrativeCodeChapter502–largescalecompostfacilities Inadditiontothedisposalbanonyardwaste,WisconsinhasregulationsgoverningcompostingfacilitydesignandoperationunderDNRChapterNR502. Facilitiesforcompostingsolidwastefromasinglefamilyorhouseholdareexemptfromtheregulationsandlicensingrequirementsprovidedthefacilityisoperatedinanuisance-freeandenvironmentallysoundmanner.Inaddition,ChapterNR502providesanexemptionforyardandvegetablefoodwastecompostingfacilitieswithacapacityof50cubicyardsorlesson-siteatanytime.Facilitiescanalsocompostcleanchippedwoodwasteandmanure.Thesesitesmustalsobeoperatedinanuisance-freeandenvironmentallysoundmanner.

Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowofisinterestedindevelopingandoperatingalargercompostingsite,youcanobtainacopyofChapterNR502fromyourDNRdistrictoffice.Localordinancesaffectingcompostingactivities SomecommunitiesinWisconsinhavepassedordinancesregulatinghouseholdcompostingactivities.Ordinancesvary,butmayincludespecificsetbacksfromlotlines,requirebinenclosuresortheremayberestrictionsonincorporatingfoodwastesintoapile.BeforebuildingyourowncompostpileorconductingMasterComposteroutreachactivitiesinyourcommunity,itwouldbewisetocheckwithofficialsinyourcommunitytoseeifthereapplicablelocalordinances.Summary Inthislesson,you’velearnedaboutreasonsformanagingorganicmaterialsathomeandhowmuchyoucanpotentiallycompostormulch.You’vealsobecomefamiliarwithstateregulationsthatrelatetoyardtrimmingsanddifferentoptionsforhandlingthem.Nowtrytoanswerthestudyquestions.Theywillhelpyourememberwhatyou’velearned.Thestudyactivitieswillassistyouinfurtherexpandingyourknowledge.Inthenextlesson,Lesson2,you’lllearnaboutthehistoryofcompostingandhowthecompostingprocessworks.StudyquestionsLesson1

1. Namethreereasonsformanagingorganicmaterialsathome.



2. Describetheconceptsofbackyardcompostingandmulchingusingrecyclingandwastereductionterminology.

3. Whatisthenumberofpoundsofyardmaterialsandfoodscrapsthatanaveragehouseholdcomposts?

4. ListthreeitemsthatarenotincludedintheWisconsinlegaldefinitionofyardwaste.

5. Namethreebyproductsfromtheopenburningofleaves.

Answerscanbefoundinthebackofthestudyguide.StudyactivitiesLesson1Localordinancesaffectingcompostingactivities Contacttheclerkforyourcity,villageortown.Inquirewhetherthereareanyordinancesregulatinghouseholdcompostingactivities.Ifthereisanordinance,trytoobtainacopyofit.Studytheordinancetoseeiftherearelotlinesetbacks,policiesonincorporatingfoodscrapsorotherrestrictions.Passthisinformationontoothersyouknowthatareinvolvedincompostingactivities.Localoptionsformanagingyardtrimmings Researchtheoptionsavailableinyourcommunityorcountyformanagingyardtrimmings.Whatlevelofgovernmentisresponsibleforrecyclingwhereyoulive?Dotheysponsoracommunitycollectionormanagementprogram?Ifso,dotheyprovidehouse-to-housecollectionofgrass,leavesorbrush?Howoftenareyardtrimmingscollectede.g.weekly,

seasonally?Isadrop-offsiteavailableforresidentstobringyardtrimmings?Wheredotheyardtrimmingsgo?Aretheycompostedorlandspreadsonagriculturalfields?Whopaysfortheseservices? Youmaywanttofindoutifyourcommunitysponsorsabackyardcompostingeducationprogram.Whattypesofeducationalactivitiesarebeingdonee.g.workshops,fairexhibits,etc.?Dotheyunitsendoutmailingsorothereducationalmaterialsabouthomeyardtrimmingsmanagementoptions? Ifyourcommunityhastheinformationreadilyavailable,askthemhowmoneyisspentonyardtrimmingsmanagement−forcommunitymanagementprogramsandbackyardcompostingeducationprograms.Notethatsomecommunitiesmaynotspendanymoneyonyardtrimmingsmanagement.


Master Composter

THE COMPOSTING PROCESS

Lesson Two

What’saheadInlesson2ofthehomestudycourse,you’lllearn:§ whatcompostingis;§ thehistoryofcomposting;§ howmicroorganismsdecompose

organicmatter;§ theroleofmacroorganismsin

decomposition;and§ keyfactorsthataffectthecomposting

process.Introduction Compostingisthebiologicaldecompositionoforganicmaterialinthepresenceofoxygenintoahumus-likesubstancecalledcompost.Theprocessoccursnaturally,butcanbeacceleratedandimprovedbycontrollingenvironmentalfactors.Peoplemaywonder,“whybothercompostingifeverythingorganicdecomposeseventuallyanyway?”Ifrawwastesareputdirectlyintothesoil,thedecompositionprocesswillrobthesoilofnitrogen,animportantnutrientforplants.(Soilincorporationisonemethodofcomposting,butrequiresleavingtheareafallow−seeChapterThree.)Finishedcompostfromapileistypicallyamoreuniformproductwithabetterbalanceofnutrients.Itcanbeusedthroughoutthegrowingseasoninmanydifferenttypesofapplications.Withapile,compostershavemorecontrolover

addingandmixingtheamountofcarbonandnitrogenrichmaterialsusedtomaketheendproduct.Inaddition,aproperlycontrolledcompostingenvironmentcanensureproductionofhightemperaturesneededforkillingweedseeds,diseasedplanttissueandpathogenicorganisms.Historyofcomposting Occasionally,curiousindividualswanttoknowtheoriginsofcomposting.Itisdifficulttoattributethebirthofcompostingtoaspecificindividualorevenonesociety.TheancientAkkadianEmpireintheMesopotamianValleyreferredtotheuseofmanureinagricultureonclaytabletsover4300yearsago.ThereisevidencethatRomans,GreeksandtheTribesofIsraelknewaboutcompost.TheBibleandTalmud

bothcontainnumerousreferencestotheuseofrottedmanure,strawandorganicmaterialsonagriculturalfields.OtherreferencestocompostarecontainedintenthandtwelfthcenturyArabwritings,inmedievalChurchtexts,andinRenaissanceliterature.NotablewriterssuchasWilliamShakespeare,SirFrancisBacon,SirWalterRaleighallmentionedtheuseofcompost.

Lesson2TheCompostingProcess


OntheNorthAmericancontinent,bothNativeAmericansandearlyEuropeanfoundersofAmericaenjoyedthebenefitsofcompost.ManyNewEnglandfarmersmadecompostusingarecipeof10partsmuckto1partfish,periodicallyturningtheircompostheapsuntilthefishdisintegrated(exceptthebones).OneConnecticutfarm,StephenHoytandSons,used220,000fishinoneseasonofcompostproduction.OtherfamousindividualsthatproducedandpromotedtheusesofcompostincludeGeorgeWashington,ThomasJefferson,JamesMadisonandDr.GeorgeWashingtonCarver. Theearly20thcenturysawthedevelopmentofanew“scientific”methodoffarming.Workdonein1840byawell-knownGermanscientist,JustusvonLiebig,provedthatplantsobtainednourishmentfromcertainchemicalsinsolution.Liebigdismissedthesignificanceofhumus,becauseitwasinsolubleinwater.Afterthatdiscovery,agriculturalpracticesbecameincreasinglychemicalinnature.Combinationsofmanureanddeadfishdidnotlookveryeffectivebesideabagoffertilizer.Forfarmersinmanyareasoftheworld,chemicalfertilizersreplacedcompost. SirAlbertHoward,aBritishagronomist,wenttoIndiain1905andspentalmostthirtyyearsexperimentingwithorganicgardeningandfarming.Hefoundthatthebestcompostconsistedofthreetimesasmuchplantmatterasmanure,withmaterialsinitiallylayeredinsandwichfashion,andthenturnedduringdecomposition(knownastheIndoremethod).In1943,SirHowardpublishedabook,AnAgricultureTestament,basedonhiswork.Thebookrenewedinterestinorganicmethodsofagricultureand

earnedhimrecognitionasthemoderndayfatheroftheorganicfarmingandgardening. J.I.RodalecarriedSirHoward’sworkfurtherandintroducedAmericangardenerstothevalueofcompostingforimprovingsoilquality.HeestablishedafarmingresearchcenterinPennsylvaniaandthemonthlyOrganicGardeningmagazine.Now,organicmethodsingardeningandfarmingarebecomingincreasinglypopular.Agrowingnumberoffarmersandgardenersarerealizingthevalueofcompostforplantgrowthandrestoringdepletedsoil.Thescienceofcomposting Whileourancestorsrealizedthatcompostwashelpfulforgrowingplantsandimprovingsoilhealth,theydidnotknowhoworwhyitworked.Ourknowledgeaboutthescienceofcompostingcomesfromresearchconductedduringthepast50years−relativelyrecentcomparedtothe2000plusyearsthathumanshavebeencomposting. Backyardcompostingspeedsupthenaturalprocessofdecomposition−providingoptimumconditionssothatorganicmattercanbreakdownmorequickly.Asyoudig,turn,layerandwateryourcompostpile,youmayfeelasifyouaredoingthecomposting,butthebulkoftheworkisactuallydonebynumeroustypesofdecomposerorganisms.


Microorganismsinacompostpile Microorganismssuchasbacteria,fungiandactinomycetesaccountformostofthedecompositionthattakesplaceinapile.Theyareconsideredchemicaldecomposersbecausetheychangethechemistryoforganicwastes.Thelargerdecomposers,ormacroorganisms,inacompostpileincludemites,centipedes,sowbugs,snails,millipedes,springtails,spiders,slugs,beetles,ants,flies,nematodes,flatworms,rotifers,andearthworms.Theyareconsideredtobephysicaldecomposersbecausetheygrind,bite,suck,tear,andchewmaterialsintosmallerpieces. Ofalltheseorganisms,aerobicbacteriaarethemostimportantdecomposers.Theyareveryabundant−theremaybemillionsinagramofsoilordecayingorganicmatter. Youwouldneed25,000ofthemlaidendtoendonarulertomakeaninch.Theyarethemostnutritionallydiverseofallorganismsandcaneatnearlyanything.Bacteriautilizecarbonasasourceofenergy(tokeeponeating)andnitrogentobuildproteinintheirbodies(sotheycangrowandreproduce).Theyobtainenergybyoxidizingorganicmaterial,especiallythecarbonfraction.Thisoxidationprocessheatsupthecompostpilefromambientairtemperature.Ifproperconditionsarepresent,thepilewillheatupfairlyrapidly(withindays)duetobacteriaconsumingreadilydecomposablematerials. Whilebacteriacaneatawidevarietyoforganiccompounds,theyhavedifficultyescapingunfavorableenvironmentsduetotheirsizeandlackofcomplexity.Changesinoxygen,moisture,temperature,andaciditycancause

bacteriatodieorbecomeinactive.Aerobicbacterianeedoxygenlevelsgreaterthanfivepercent.Theyarethepreferredorganismsbecausetheyprovidethemostrapidandeffectivecomposting.Theyalsoliberateplantnutrientssuchasnitrogen,phosphorusandmagnesium.Whenoxygenlevelsfallbelowfivepercent,theaerobesdieanddecompositionslowsbyasmuchas90percent.Anaerobicmicroorganismstakeoverandintheprocess,produceorganicacidsandamines(ammonia-likesubstances),whicharesmelly,containunavailablenitrogenandinsomecases,aretoxictoplants.Inaddition,anaerobesproducehydrogensulfide(smellslikerotteneggs),cadaverine,andputrescine(othersourcesofoffensiveodors.). Therearedifferenttypesofaerobicbacteria(fig.1),thatworkincompostingpiles.Theirpopulationswillvaryaccordingtothepiletemperature.Psychrophilicbacteriaworkinthelowesttemperaturerange.Theyaremost

activeat55°Fandwillworkinthepileiftheinitialpiletemperatureislessthan70°F.Theygiveoffasmallamountofheatincomparisontoothertypesofbacteria.Theheattheyproduceisenoughhowever,tohelpbuildthepiletemperaturetothe

Figure1



pointwhereanothersetofbacteria−mesophilicbacteria−starttotakeover. Mesophilicbacteriarapidlydecomposeorganicmatter,producingacids,carbondioxideandheat.Theirworkingtemperaturerangeisgenerallybetween70and100°F.Whenthepiletemperaturerisesabove100°F,themesophilicbacteriabegintodieofformovetotheouterpartoftheheap.Theyarereplacedbyheat-lovingthermophilicbacteria. Thermophilicbacteriathriveattemperaturesrangingfrom113°Fto160°F.Thermophilicbacteriacontinuethedecompositionprocess,raisingthepiletemperatureto130-160°F,whereitusuallystabilizes.Unlessapileisconstantlyfednewmaterialsandturnedatstrategictimes,thehighrangetemperaturestypicallylastnomorethanthreetofivedays.Thermophilicbacteriauseuptoomuchofthedegradablematerialstosustaintheirpopulationforanylengthoftime.Asthethermophilicbacteriadeclineandthepileofthetemperaturegraduallycoolsoff,themesophilicbacteriaagainbecomedominant.Themesophilicbacteriaconsumeremainingorganicmaterialwiththehelpofotherorganisms. Thedropincompostpiletemperatureisnotasignthatcompostingiscomplete,butratheranindicationthatthecompostpileisenteringanotherphaseofthecompostingprocess.Whilehightemperatures(above140°F)havetheadvantageofkillingpathogenicorganismsandweedseeds,itisunnecessarytoachievethosetemperaturesunlessthereisaspecificconcernaboutkillingdiseaseorganismsandseeds.(Youcangreatly

reducethepossibilityofpathogensinapilebyexcludingpetwaste,diseasedplantsandmanurefromplanteatinganimals.)However,manuresaregoodcompostmaterialsbutmustbecompostedwiththermophilictemperaturestokillvirulentstainsofsalmonellaandE.coli.Manydecomposersarekilledorbecomeinactivewhenpiletemperaturesriseabove140°F.Ifthepiletemperatureexceeds160°F,compostersmaywanttotakeactionandcooltheirpilebuyturningit.Anumberofresearchprojectshaveshownthatcompostamendedsoilcanhelpfightfungalinfestations.Ifthecompostpiletemperaturegoesabove160°F,thecompostingmaterialsmaybecomesterileandloseitsdiseasefightingproperties.

Whilethevarioustypesofbacteriaareatwork,othermicroorganismsarealsocontributingtothedegradationprocess.Actinomycetes(Fig.2),ahigher-formbacteriasimilartofungiandmolds,areresponsibleforthepleasantearthysmellofcompost.Grayishinappearance,actinomycetesworkinthemoderateheatzonesofacompostpile.Theydecomposesomeofthemoreresistantmaterialsinthepilesuchaslignin,cellulose,starches

Figure2


andproteins.Astheyreducematerials,theyliberatecarbon,nitrogenandammonia,makingnutrientsavailableforhigherplants.Actinomycetesoccurinlargeclustersandbecomemostevidentduringthelaterstagesofdecomposition. Likebacteriaandactinomycetes,fungiarealsoresponsiblefororganicmatterdecayinacompostpile.Fungiareprimitiveplantsthatcanbeeithersinglecelledormanycelledandfilamentous.Theylackaphotosyntheticpigment.Theirmaincontributiontoacompostpileistobreakdowncelluloseandlignin,afterfasteractingbacteriamakeinroadsonthem.Theyprefercoolertemperatures(70to75°F)andeasilydigestedfoodsources.Asaresult,theyalsotendtotakeoverduringthefinalstagesofcomposting.Macroorganisms Asmentionedearlier,largerorganismsareinvolvedinphysicallytransformingorganicmaterialintocompost.Theyareactiveduringthelaterstagesofcomposting−digging,chewing,sucking,digestingandmixingcompostablematerials.Inadditiontomixingmaterials,theybreakitintosmallerpieces,andtransformitintomoredigestibleformsformicroorganisms.Theirexcrementisalsodigestedbybacteria,causingmorenutrientstobereleased. Micro-andmacroorganismsarepartofacomplexfoodchain.Thisfoodchainconsistsoforganismsclassifiedasfirst-,second-,orthird-levelconsumers.Thecategoriesarebasedonwhattheyeatandwhotheyareeatenby.Firstlevelconsumersbecomethefoodforsecondlevelconsumers,whichinturn,areeatenbythirdlevelconsumers.SoilecologistDr.

DanielL.DindalgivesanexampleofhowthefoodchainworksEcologyofCompost: “Mitesandspringtailseatfungi.Tinyfeather-wingedbeetlesfeedonfungalspores.Nematodesingestbacteria.Protozoaandrotiferspresentinwaterfilmsfeedonbacteriaandplantparticles.Predaceousmitesandpseudoscorpionspreyuponnematodesflylarvae,othermitesandcollembolans.Free-livingflatwormsingestgastropods,earthworms,nematodesandrotifers.Third-levelconsumerssuchascentipedes,rovebeetles,groundbeetles,andantspreyonsecond-levelconsumers.” Thefollowingisanoverviewofsomeofthelargermacroorganismsyouarelikelytofindainacompostpile.

Ants–Antsfeedonavarietyofmaterialsincludingfungi,seeds,sweetsandotherinsects.Theyhelpthe

compostingprocessbybringingfungiandotherorganismsintotheirnests.Antscanmakecompostricherinphosphorusandpotassiumbymovingmineralsaroundastheywork.

Millipedes–Millipedeshaveworm-likesegmentedbodies,witheachsegmenthavingtwopairsofwalkinglegs(exceptthefrontfewsegments).Millipedeshelpbreakdownplantmaterialbyeatingsoftdecayingvegetation.Theywillrollupinaballwhenindanger.

Centipedes–Centipedesareflat,segmentedwormswithonepairof

legsineach



segment.Theyarethird-levelconsumersthatfeedonsoilinvertebrates,especiallyinsectsandspiders.

Sowbugs–Sowbugshaveaflatandovalbodywithdistinctsegmentsandtenpairsoflegs.Theyarefirst-levelconsumersthatfeedonrottingwoodymaterialsandotherdecayingvegetation.Pillbugslooksimilartosowbugs,butrollupinaballwhendisturbed.

Springtails–Springtailsaresmallinsectsdistinguishedbytheirabilitytojumpwhendisturbed.Theyrarelyexceed¼inchinlengthandvaryincolorfromwhitetobluetoblack.Springtailsareprincipallyfungifeeders,althoughtheyalsoeatmoldsandchewondecomposingplants.

Flies–Fliesaretwowingedinsectsthatfeedonalmostandkindoforganicmaterial.Theyalsoactasairbornecarriersofbacteria,depositingitwherevertheyland.Althoughfliesarenotoftenaproblemwithcompostpiles,youcancontroltheirnumbersbykeepingalayerofdryleavesordrygrassclippingsontopofthepile.Also,buryfoodscrapsatleasteighttotwelveinchesdeepintothepile.Thermophilictemperatureskillflylarvaeandmiteshelptokeepflylarvaereducedinnumbers.

Beetles–Beetlesareinsectswithtwopairsofwings.Typescommonlyfoundincompostpilesinclude

therovebeetle,groundbeetle,andfeather-wingedbeetle.Thefeather-wingedbeetlefeedsonfungalspores.Immaturegrubsfeedondecayingvegetables.Adultroveandgroundbeetlespreyonsnails,slugs,andothersmallanimals.

Snailsandslugs–Snailsandslugsaremollusksthattravelinacreeping

movement.Snailshaveaspiralshellwithadistinctheadandretractablefoot.Slugsdonothaveashellandaresomewhatbulletshapedwithantennaeontheirfrontsection.Theyfeedprimarilyonlivingplantmaterial,buttheywillalsoattackplantdebris.Lookfortheminfinishedcompostbeforeusingitastheycoulddodamagetoyourgardeniftheymovein.

Spiders–Spidersareeight-leggedcreaturesandthird-levelconsumersthatfeedoninsectsandsmallinvertebrates.Theycanbeveryhelpfulfor

controllinggardenpests.

Earthworms–Earthwormsarethemostimportantofthelargephysicaldecomposersincompostpile.Earthwormsingestorganicmatteranddigestitwiththehelpoftinystonesintheirgizzards.Theirintestinaljuicesarerichinhormones,enzymesandotherfermentingsubstancesthatcontinuethebreakdownprocess.Thewormsleavedark,fertilecastingsbehind.Awormcanproduceitsweightincastingseachday.Thesecastingsarerichinplantnutrientssuchasnitrogen,calcium,magnesiumandphosphorusthatmightotherwisebeunavailabletoplants.


Earthwormsthriveoncompostandcontributegreatlytoitsquality.Thepresenceofearthwormsineithercompostorsoilisevidenceofgoodmicrobialactivity.Keyfactorsaffectingthecompostingprocess Therearecertainkeyenvironmentalfactorswhichaffectthespeedofcomposting.Theorganismsthatmakecompostneedfood(carbonandnitrogen),airandwater.Whenprovidedwithafavorablebalance,theywillproducecompostquickly.Otherfactorsaffectingthespeedofcompostingincludesurfacearea/particlesize,volumeandtemperature.Food Organicmaterialprovidesfoodfororganismsintheformofcarbonandnitrogen.Asdescribedearlier,bacteriausecarbonforenergyandproteintogrowandreproduce.Carbonandnitrogenlevelsvarywitheachorganicmaterial.Carbon-richmaterialstendtobedryandbrownsuchasleaves,strawandwoodchips.Nitrogenmaterialstendtobewetandgreensuchasfreshgrassclippingsandfoodwaste.Atipforestimatinganorganicmaterial’scarbon/nitrogencontentistorememberthatfresh,juicymaterialsareusuallyhigherinnitrogenandwilldecomposemorequicklythanolder,drier,andwoodiertissuesthatarehighincarbon. ACarbon:Nitrogen(C:N)ratiorangingbetween25:1and35:1istheoptimumcombinationforrapiddecomposition.Ifthereismorethan35:1carbon,heat

productiondropsanddecompositionslows.Youmayhavenoticedthatapileofleavesorwoodchipswillsitforayearormorewithoutmuchapparentdecay.Whenthereistoomuchnitrogen,yourpilewilllikelyreleasetheexcessnitrogenassmellyammoniagas.ToomuchnitrogencanalsocauseariseinthepHlevel,whichistoxictosomemicroorganisms. TheC:Nratiodoesnotneedtobeexact.ValuesinTable1arecalculatedonadry-weightbasis.ItisdifficulttodetermineanexactC:Nratiowithoutknowingthemoisturecontentofthematerialsbeingused.Homecompostersseldomhavetheequipmentorinclinationtomeasuremoisturecontentorworryaboutnumbers.BlendingmaterialstoachieveasatisfactoryC:Nrationispartoftheartofcomposting.Asimpleruleofthumbistodevelopavolumebasedrecipeusing3partscarbonrichmaterials(Browns)to1partNitrogenmaterials(Greens).Asamplerecipewouldbethree30galbagsofleaveswithone30galbagofgreenweedsandgrassclippings.



TABLE1 Carbon/Nitrogenratios

forselectedcompostingmaterialsMATERIALC:NRATIOCornstalks.......................................................................................50-100:1Fruitwaste.......................................................................................35:1Grassclippings...............................................................................12-25:1Hay,green........................................................................................25:1Leaves,ash,blackelderandelm............................................21-28:1Leaves,oak.......................................................................................47-50:1Leaves,pine.....................................................................................60-100:1Leaves,other...................................................................................30-80:1Manure,horseandcow..............................................................20-25:1Paper..................................................................................................170-200:1Sawdust.............................................................................................200-500:1Seaweed............................................................................................19:1Straw..................................................................................................40-100:1Vegetablewaste.............................................................................12-25:1Weeds................................................................................................25:1Woodchips......................................................................................500-700:1

MaterialswithaC:Nratiogreater than30:1canbeconsidered“Browns”whilematerialswithaC:Nratiobelow25:1areconsidered“Greens.”AirProperaerationisakeyenvironmentalfactor.Manymicroorganisms,includingaerobicbacteria,needoxygen.Theyneedoxygentoproduceenergy,growquickly,andconsumemorematerials.Aerationinvolvesthereplacementofoxygendeficientairinacompostpilewithfreshair.Naturalaerationoccurswhenairwarmedbythecompostingprocessrisesthroughthepile,bringinginfreshairfromthesurroundings.Aerationcanalsobeaffectedbywind,moisturecontent,andporosity(spacesbetweenparticlesinthecompostpile).Compactingthepilereducesthepile’sporosityanddecreasesaircirculation.Porositycanbenegativelyaffectediflargequantitiesoffinelysizedmaterialssuchas

pineneedles,grassclippings,orsawdustareused.Inaddition,aircirculationcanbeimpededifmaterialsbecomewatersaturated.

Airmovementinthepilecanbeimprovedwithafewsimpletechniques.Theeasiestwaytoaerateapileistoregularlyturnitwithapitchforkorshovel.Turningwillfluffupthepileandincreaseitsporosity.Anotheroptionistoaddcoarsematerialssuchasleaves,straworcornstalks.Otheroptionsincludeusingacompostaerationtool(Fig.3availablefromgardensupplycompanies),oraventilatorstack(Fig.

4).Stackscanbemadeoutofperforatedplasticpipes,chickenwirewrappedinacircleorbundlesoftwigs.Ventilatorstacksmaybeusefulforlargepilesandshouldstickoutoftoporsides.

Figure3


Moisture Decomposerorganismsneedwatertolive.Microbialactivityoccursmostrapidlyinthinwaterfilmsonthesurfaceoforganicmaterials.Microorganismscanonlyutilizeorganicmoleculesthataredissolvedinwater.Theoptimummoisturecontentforacompostpileshouldrangefrom40to60percent.Ifthereislessthan40percentmoisture,bacteriaslowdownandmaybecomedormant.Ifthereismorethan60percent,thewaterwillblockporespacesstoppingthemovementofoxygenintothepileandsuffocatingtheaerobicbacteria.Anaerobicbacteriawilltakeover,resultingunpleasantodors. Theidealpercentageofmoisturewilldependontheorganicmaterial’sstructure.Strawandcornstalkswillneedmoremoisturethanleaves,whilefoodwasteorgrassclippingsarenotlikelytoneedadditionalmoisture.Sincemosthomeownersdonothaveaccesstolaboratoryequipmentusedtomeasuremoisture,ageneralruleofthumbistoaddwatertoandmixmaterialssotheyareaboutasmoistasawrung-outsponge.Materialshouldfeeldamptothetouch,withjustadroportwoofliquidexpelledwhensqueezedinyourhand. Ifacompostpileistoodry,itshouldbewateredasthepileisbeingturnedorwithatricklinghose.Certainmaterialssuchasdeadleaves,hay,straw,andsawdustshouldbegraduallymoisteneduntiltheyglisten.Thesetypesofmaterialshaveatendencytoshedwateroradsorbitonlyonthesurface.Ifapileissaturatedwithwater,turnitsothatmaterialsarerestacked.Itmayalsohelptoadddry,carbonrichmaterial.

TemperatureTemperatureisanotherimportantfactorinthecompostingprocessandisrelatedtoproperairandmoisturelevels.Asthemicroorganismsworktodecomposethecompost,theygiveoffheat,whichinturnincreasespiletemperatures.Temperaturesbetween90°and140°Findicaterapiddecomposition.Lowertemperaturessignalaslowinginthecompostingprocess.Hightemperaturesgreaterthan140°Freducetheactivityofmostorganisms. Outsideairtemperaturescanimpactthedecompositionprocess.Warmeroutsidetemperaturesinlatespring,summerandearlyfallstimulatebacteriaandspeedupdecomposition.Lowwintertemperatureswillslowortemporarilystopthecompostingprocess.Asairtemperatureswarmupinthespring,microbialactivitywillresume.Duringwintermonths,compostpilescanbecoveredwithatarptohelpretainheatlonger,butitisnotnecessary.

Novicecompostersandpeopleinterestedinmakingafastcompostmaywanttotracktemperatures.Themostaccuratereadingswillcomefromacompostthermometerortemperatureprobe.Compostthermometersare

Figure4



availablefrommanygardensupplycompanies.Anothermethodformonitoringtemperatureistostickyourfistintothepile.Youcanalsoplaceametalpipeorironbarinthemiddleofthepile,periodicallypullingitoutandfeelingit.Ifthebarortheinteriorofthepilefeelsuncomfortablywarmorhotduringthefirstfewweeksofcompositing,you’llknoweverythingisfine.Ifthetemperatureinsidethepileisthesameasoutside,itisanindicationthatthecompostingprocessisslow.Youcanincreaseactivitybyaddingnitrogenrichmaterialsandturningthepile.Particlesize Particlesizeaffectstherateoforganicmatterbreakdown.Themore“surfacearea”available,theeasieritisformicroorganismstoworkbecauseactivityoccursattheinterfaceofparticlesurfacesandair.Microorganismsareabletodigestmore,generatemoreheatandmultiplyfasterwithsmallerpiecesofmaterials.Althoughitisnotrequired,reducingmaterialsintosmallerpieceswilldefinitelyspeeddecomposition.Organicmaterialscanbechopped,shredded,splitbruisedorpuncturedtoincreasetheirsurfacearea.Don’t“powder”materialsbecausetheywillcompactandimpedeairmovementinthepile. Formanyyardtrimmings,cuttingmaterialswithaknife,pruningshear,ormacheteisadequate.Aneasywaytoshredleavesistomowthembeforeraking.Youcancollectthematthesametimeifyourmowerhasabagattachment.Anotheroptionistousealawntrimmertoshredleavesinagarbagecan.Severaldifferentmodelsofshredders(Fig.5),andchippersareavailableforsaleorrentaltouseinshreddingwoodymaterialsandleaves.Itisagoodideatowearsafety

goggleswhendoinganytypeofshreddingorchoppingactivity.

Figure5

Kitchenscrapscanbechoppedupwithaknife.Someambitiouspeopleusemeatgrindersandblenderstomake“garbagesoup”fromtheirfoodscrapsandwater.Theypourthemixtureintotheirheaps.Volume Volumeisafactorinretainingcompostpileheat.Inordertobecomeself-insulatingandretainheat,pilesmadeinWisconsinshouldideallybeaboutonecubicyard.Theonecubicyardsizeretainsheatandmoisture,butisnottoolargethatthematerialwillbecomeunwieldyforturning.Homeslocatedonlakesorinwindyareasmaywanttoconsiderslightlylargerpilese.g.4’x4’x4’.Smallercompostpileswillstilldecomposematerial,buttheymaynotheatupaswell,anddecompositionislikelytotakelonger.


Summary Inthislesson,you’velearnedaboutthehistoryofcompostingandthescienceofhowitworks.Nowtrytoanswerthestudyquestions.Theywillhelpyourememberwhatyou’velearned.Thestudyactivitieswillaidyouinapplyingyourknowledge.Inthenextlesson,Lesson3,youwilllearnwhatmaterialscanbecompostedanddifferentmethodsthatcanbeused.StudyquestionsLesson2

1. Definewhatcompostingis.2. Nameatleastthreefamous

individualslivingduringthepastfivehundredyearsthatrecognizedthevalueofcompostasasoilamendment.

3. Whatmicroorganismisconsideredthemostimportantofalldecomposersandwhy?

4. Whatmacroorganismisnotedasthemostbeneficialoneforyourcompostpileandwhy?

5. Listsixkeyfactorsthataffectthecompostingprocess.

Answerscanbefoundinthebackofthestudyguide.StudyactivitiesLesson2Decomposerhunt Ifyouhaveanexistingcompostpile,turnitwithashovelorpitchfork.Siftthroughthepiletolookformacroorganisms.Seehowmanyyoucanfindandidentifybasedonthedescriptionsanddrawingsinthislesson.Ifyoudonothaveapile,youcantrythisexerciseinafriend’scompostpile,oryoucanlookinyouryardandgardenunder

largerocksoritemssuchasbirdbaths,trashcans,etc.Compostpiletemperaturemonitoring Considerstartingaseasonalprojecttomonitortemperaturesinyourcompostpile.Ifyoudothis,youmaybeabletoseethecorrespondingtemperatureandphysicalappearancechangesthatoccurasyoumodifyenvironmentalfactorssuchasfood,airandwater.Youwillneedtopurchaseorborrowacompostthermometer.Usethechartprovidedonthenextpagetodevelopyourown.Youcanstartwithanexistingpileorbuildanewone.Ifthepilewasconstructedprevioustowinter,youcanrecordchangesinpiletemperatureastheweatherwarmsupandyouaddnewmaterial.Ifyoustartthisprojectwithanewpile,youmaywanttoinitiallyrecordthepiletemperaturetwoorthreetimesperweekforfirstthreeweeks.



Lesson2CompostpiletemperaturemonitoringRecordtemperaturesandotherinformationaboutyourpileonaweeklybasistoseefirsthand,howyouractionsaffectthecompostingphase.Makemultiplecopiesofthissheetifnecessary.Week Date Temper

aturePileheight

Compostactivity(Notematerialsused,turn,watering)

Notesonappearance

Week1(sample)

May1 65° 3’ Builtnewpileofleaves,gardendebris,foodscraps,straw,addedwater

Leavesandgardendebrismushyfromoverwintering

Week

Week

Week

Week

Week

Week

Week

Week

Week

Week


Master Composter

MATERIALS AND METHODS FOR COMPOSTING

Lesson Three

What’saheadinlesson3ofthehomestudycourse,you’lllearn:§ aboutmaterialsthatcanbeaddedto

compostpiles;§ whysomematerialsdonotbelongin

yourbinorheap;§ whatcompostadditivescanand

cannotdoforcompostpiles;and§ differentmethodsthatcanbeusedfor

homecomposting.Whattocompost Thematerialsyouputintoyourcompostpilehaveamajorimpactonhowwellthecompostingprocessworksandthequalityofthefinalcompost.Thekeytogoodcompostingistohaveavarietyofmaterialsandabalancedcarbontonitrogenratio.Varietyincreasesthetypesofmicroorganismsatworkinyourpileandyourchancesofobtainingnutrientrichcompost.Somepeoplethinktheydon’thaveenoughorganicmaterialtobuildandmaintainacompostpile,butinadditiontotheleavesandgrassclippingsthatweusuallythinkofcomposting,therearenumerousothersuitableorganicmaterials.Mostofthesematerialsareeasytofindathomeandasyoureadthischapteryouwilllearnaboutthemanymaterialsthatcanbesafelycompostedinyourbackyard.Manypeoplewhohavehadsuccessmakingcompostwillseekoutfreeorcheaplocalsourcesofmaterialsto

addtotheirpiletoproducemorecompost. Incontrasttothosewhoworryabouthavingenoughmaterials,somefolkswanttoputalmostanytypeoforganicmaterialintotheirpile.Whileanythingorganicwilleventuallydecompose,itmaynotbelonginabackyardcompostingpile.Itisimportanttobeawareofthesematerialsandthereasonstheyshouldbeavoided.Newandpotentialcompostersoftenhavequestionsaboutwhatmaterialscanbecomposted.AlistofsomecommonlyavailablematerialsisincludedinTable2.CompostablematerialsthatneedspecialhandlingarementionedinTable3.MaterialsthatshouldbeavoidedarenamedinTable4.(Note:Theterm“organic”asitisusedhereandthroughoutthismanualreferstomaterialsderivedfromlivingorganisms.)Commonlyusedcompostablematerials Asyouarecollectingmaterialsaroundyouryardandhome,itmaynotbeeasytodetermineifmaterialsarehigherincarbonorinnitrogen.Tablesshowingcarbontonitrogenratiosforparticularmaterialsarehelpfulbuttheyusuallyonlyshowalimitednumberofmaterials.Asimplemethod(alsodescribedearlierinLesson2)fordifferentiatingbetweenmaterialsistorememberthatfresh,juicymaterialsareusuallyhigherinnitrogen.

Lesson3MaterialsandMethodsforComposting


Inaddition,materialsofanimalorigin(suchasfeathers,manure,bloodmeal)aretypicallyhigherinnitrogen.Drier,older,orwoodyvegetableandplanttissuesareusuallyhigherincarbon.Thefollowingtablehelpstoillustratethispoint.ThepresenceofaC,N,orOintheC/Ncolumnindicateswhetheramaterial’seffectoncompostwouldbecarbonaceous(C),nitrogenous(N),orother(O).Materialsdesignatedasother(O)donotaffecttheC/Nratio. Beforeaddingfoodscrapsandlakeweedstoourcompostingpile,checkwithyourmunicipalitytomakesurethattherearenorestrictionsontheiruse.

TABLE2PartiallistingofcompostablematerialsMATERIALC/NMATERIALC/NBedding,herbivorousPets(exceptbirds)BloodmealBonemealCoffeegroundsCrushedeggshellsFeathersFruitFruitpeelsandrindsGardendebris,freshGardendebris,driedGrassclippings,freshGrassclippings,dried

C&NNNN

O,alkalizerNNN

C&NCNC

HairHayLakeweedsLeavesLintManurePaper(non-recyclable)PeanutshellsPumpkinsStrawTeagroundsandleavesVegetablescraps

NCNCNNCCNCNN

Compostablematerialsthatrequirespecialhandling Therearenumberofcompostablematerialsthatrequirealittlespecialhandlingbeforetheyareputintoabackyardpile.Someofthematerialslistedbelowmayrequireextrapreparationortheymayneedtobeaddedinlayersorsmallquantities.OthermaterialslistedinTable3maycausedifficultieswiththecompostingprocessornegativelyaffectthefinalproduct.Thecommentsareintendedtohelpyoudecidewhethertoincludetheseparticularmaterialsinyourownpile.


TABLE3CompostablematerialsrequiringspecialhandlingMATERIALC/NCommentApplepomace N Highmoisturecontent–spreadonpileinthinlayers

Cardboard(non-recyclable)

C Slowtodecompose–shredintosmallpieces.

Corncobsandstalks

C Slowtodecompose–runthroughshredderorchopintoverysmallpieces,mixwithnitrogenrichmaterial

Citrusrinds N Slowtodecompose–chopintosmallpieces

Diseasedplants CorN Diseasesmaybehardtoeliminate.Sunbakeplantsinblackplasticbaguntilthoroughlycooked,orleaveinhotpile(131-140°F)for2to4weeksoromitfrompile

Grassclippingswithchemicals

N Mostpesticidesdegradein3-12months.Leaveclippingsonlawnfor2-3weeks(best)oradddirecttopileifmaterialscompostsforatleast12months.DonotusegrassorweedstreatedwithClopyralidorPicloram,suchasConfront,Stinger,Hornet,Tordonorotherswiththesechemicals.Verylowlevelsremainincompostthatdamagescertainplants.(Donotuseclippingsasgardenmulchfor2-3weeksaftertreatment.)

Hedgetrimmings CorN Slowtodecompose–thinlayersofhedgetrimmingscanbeusedoccasionallytoincreaseporespace;choptwigsandbranchesintosmallpieces

Lime O,alkalize

r

Changespilechemistry,causesnitrogenlossintheformofammonia,toomuchlimehurtsbacteriaandothermicroorganisms–omitfrompileoruseverysparinglyinthinlayersifpileisgoinganaerobic(donotmixwithmanure)

Nutshells–walnut,pecan

C Slowtodecompose–pulverizewithshredder

Paper,glossycolored

C Itisbettertoputglossymagazinesandinsertsintoyourpaperrecyclingbin.Butifaddedtothecompostbinrememberglossypaperistypicallycoatedwithclayandmaybeslowtodecompose

Peatmoss C,lowin

nutrients

Highlymoistureabsorbent,slowtodecompose–mixthoroughlywithothermaterials,addinsmallquantities.Ifpossible,soakpeatmossinwarmwaterbeforeaddingtopile

Pinecones C Slowtodecompose–shredorchopintoverysmallpiecesPineneedles C Slowtodecompose–mixthoroughlywithothermaterials,add

insmallquantities:5-10%ofmaterialsQuackgrass N OmitfrompileunlessQuackissunbakedinblackplasticbag

untilthoroughlycookedRhubarbleaves N Containsoxalicacidbutsincecompostpilesaretypicallywell

bufferedminimalimpactoccurs–addinsmallquantities,mixthoroughlywithothermaterials



TABLE3Compostablematerialsrequiringspecialhandling(continued)MATERIALC/NCommentSawdust C Slowtodecompose,cannegativelyaffectaeration–workinto

pileinthinsprinklings;mixwithnitrogenrichmaterials;omitanytreatedlumbersawdust

Soil O,activatorsource

Canmakefinishedcompostheavy–addsmallquantitiesinthinlayersassoilactivatororomitfrompile(finishedcompostproducesthesameresultsandtypicallyweighsless)

Sod N Slowtodecompose–breakintosmallclumps,mixthoroughlywithothermaterialsorcovertopofthepilewithrootsup,grassdown(betterinfall)orcompostseparatelywithrootssideup,waterthoroughly,coverwithadarktarp

Walnutleaves C Containjuglonewhichcanbetoxictoplants–mixthoroughlywithothermaterials,toxinwillbiodegradeintwotofourweeksaccordingtoanOhioStateUniversitystudy

Weeds,pernicious

C Rhizomatousrootsystemhardtokill–sunbakeinplasticbaguntilthoroughlydriedoromitfrompile

Weeds,other N Weedseedshardtokill–besttousewhengreenandnoseeheadspresentorleaveinhotpile(131-140°F)atleast1week

Woodchips C Slowtodecomposecanimproveaeration,shredorchopintosmallerpiecesifpossible;mixwithnitrogenrichmaterials;omitanytreatedlumberchips–landfillinstead

Organicmaterialstoavoid Somedaywhenyourcompostpilehasshrunkandlooksdisappointedlysmall,youmayscouryouryardandhomefororganicstoaddtoit.Someofthosematerialsdonotbelonginyourbackyardcompostpile.Table4listsmaterialstoavoidalongwiththereasonsforomittingthem.TABLE4MaterialstoavoidputtinginahomecompostpileMATERIALCommentBones Veryslowtodecompose,canattractpestsCatLitter MaycontainpathogensharmfultohumansToxoplasmagandior

Toxocaracati,mayalsocontainchemicalstoperfumelitterCharcoalandbriquettes Contain sulfur oxides and other chemicals (to assist ignition)

thataretoxictosoilandplantsCookedfoodwaste MaycontainfatswhichcanattractanimalsDairyproducts May smell, and attract pests (butter, cheesemayonnaise, salad

dressing,milk,yogurt,sourcream)Dishwater May contain grease, perfume and sodium from dish soap and

foodresidueFatty,oily,greasyfoods Mayputrefyandsmellbad,attractpestsFishscraps Canattractpests,smellsbadduringdecompositionMeat Canattractpests,smellsbadduringdecompositionPeanutbutter Canattractpests,slowtodecompose


TABLE4Materialstoavoidputtinginahomecompostpile(continued)MATERIALCommentPetwastes,humanexcrement

May contain pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites thatrequireprolongedhightemperaturestobedestroyed

Treatedwoodchips&sawdust

Landfill,donotcompostoruseasmulch

Woodashes Changes pile chemistry, can cause nutrient imbalance - omitfrompile

Compostadditives Thereisawidearrayofcompostinoculants,startersandactivatorssoldinstoresandmailordercatalogs.Sometypesofactivatorscanalsobefoundathome.Sortingouttheclaimsandbenefitsofcompostadditivescanbealittleoverwhelmingforfirst-timecomposters.Fortunately,compostadditivesarenotrequiredforsuccessfulcomposting.Insomesituations,certainadditivescanbehelpful. Inoculantsgenerallycontainspecialculturesofdormantbacteriaandfungi.Thetheorybehindusingthemisthattheyaresupposedtointroducemicroorganisms,hastenthebreakdownofmaterialsinacompostpileandproduceabetterproduct.Theyarerarelyneededbecauseleaves,kitchenscraps,finishedcompostandotherorganicmaterialsalreadycontainamplebacteriathatworkreadilyontheirown. Commercial“starters”oracceleratorsaresupposedtohelpthedecompositionprocessbyaddingnitrogen,enzymes,andbacteriatoapile.Somepeoplefeelbetterputtingtheseproductsintheirpiles,butindependenttestsconductedtodatehavenotshownsignificantbenefits.TestsconductedatUniversityofWisconsin-StevensPointandRodaleResearchCentershowedthatthebestcompostadditivesarefinishedcompostortopsoilfromyour

yard.(Storeboughtsoilissometimessterilizedsoitdoesnotalwaysaddmicroorganisms.) Activatorscontainanitrogensource.Activatorsincludeorganictypes(manure,bloodmeal,finishedcompost,soil)andartificialtypes(chemicallysynthesizedcompoundssuchascommercialnitrogenfertilizers).Whileactivatorsarenotnecessaryforsuccessfulcomposting,theycansometimeshelpifapileismadefrommaterialslowinnitrogen.Nitrogenisusuallythelimitingnutrientinapilethatdoesn’theatupordecayquicklyenough.Somepuristsdonotrecommendusingcommercialnitrogenfertilizersasanactivator,butifyouhavesomereadilyavailable,itmaybehelpful.Avoidusingammoniumsulfateasitmaybetoxictoearthworms.Keepinmindthatchemicalfertilizersarenotaseffectiveasorganicsourcesbecausetheycontainnoprotein(whichmicro-organismsuse).Organicsourcesarebettersourcesofnitrogenifyouneedtoaddanactivator. Ifadditionalnitrogenisneeded,applyapproximately0.15poundsactualnitrogenper3bushels(33/4cubicfeet)ofcarbonrichmaterialssuchasleaves.Table5listsestimatedamountsofvariousnitrogensourcestoadd.Forexample,7ounces(about1cup)ofammoniumnitrateisequivalentto0.15pounds.AuthorsofTheRodaleBookof



Compostingrecommendadding2to3poundsoforganicnitrogensupplement(bloodmeal,manure,bonemeal,alfalfameal)per100poundsoflownitrogenmaterials(e.g.straw,sawdust).TABLE5Amounts of various nitrogen sourcesneededtoapply0.15pounds(2.4oz)Nitrogen

Source:Dickson,et.al.1991Compostingmethods

Thesecrettosuccessfulcompostingistoselectanapproachandtechniquethatsuitsyourneedsandlifestyle.Yourchoicewilldependonanumberoffactorssuchashowmuchspaceyouhaveavailable,whatmaterialsyouhave,whatyouwantthecompostfor,howmuchtimeyouwanttospend,andhowneatyouwantyourcompostpiletolook.Forexample,ifyouonlyneedalittlecompost,wanttoexpendminimaleffort,andhaveasmallareatodoitin;yourbestchoicemightbeacommerciallyavailablebin.Ifyouhaveplentyofspace,andwantlargequantities

ofcompostquickly,youmaywanttobuildadeluxethree-binunit.Ifyouwanttocompostfoodwasteseparately,youmayfinditeasiesttodirectlyincorporatethemintothesoil.Thislessonwillcoverfivemethodsofcomposting:holdingunits,turningunits,heaps,sheetcomposting,andsoilincorporation.Othercompostingalternativessuchasleavinggrassclippingsonthelawn,mulching,andvermicomposting(wormcomposting)arediscussedinalaterlesson.Holdingunits Holdingunitsarebinsusedtoholdyardandkitchenmaterialsuntilcompostingiscomplete.Theyneedrelativelylittlemaintenanceandsomemodelscanbeusedbyapartmentdwellersforcompostingonbalconies.Non-woodymaterialscanbeaddedtoaholdingunitastheyaregenerated.(Manyofthecommercialone-binsystemssoldinstoresandmail-order/internetcatalogsareholdingunits.)Usingaholdingunitisoneoftheeasiestwaystocompost,butisgenerallyslower.Thistypeofenclosuremakesitdifficulttoturntheheapasawayofgettingoxygenin.Noturningisrequired,butthelackofaerationcausesthecompostingprocesstotakeuptotwoyears.

NITROGENSOURCE

%NITROGEN

OUNCESTOAPPLY

AmmoniumnitrateCalciumnitrateUreaDriedbloodFishmeal

3315461210

7.016.05.220.024.0

Answeringthequestion,“HowshouldImakecompost?”isratherlikeansweringthequestion,“HowcanIbakeacake?”Itdependsonwhatyourobjectivesare,whatmaterialsandequipmentyouhavetoworkwith,andhowmucheffortyouarewillingtoputin.Source:StuartB.Hill,EcologicalAgriculturalProjects

Youcanmakecompostabovethegroundinbins,boxes,garbagecan,bags,barrelsorpiles.Youcanmakecompostonthegroundinrows.Youcanmakecompostbelowthegroundinpits,trenches,orholes.Youcanmakecompostinside,outside,onabalcony,adeckorinagarage.Source:MarkCullenandLorraineJohnson,Urban/SuburbanComposter:TheCompleteGuidetoBackyard,Balcony,andApartmentComposting


Theprocesscanbehastenedbyusingportablebins.Somelightweightunitsaredesignedtobetakenapartandeasilymoved.Theseunitscanberemovedfromanexistingheapandtransferredtoanadjacentlocation.Theheapisthenturnedbackoverintotheunit,mixingandaeratingmaterials.Portableunitscanbepurchased(usuallyplastic)orconstructedfromcirclesofwirefencingorhardwarecloth,snowfencing,orwireframedinwood. Otherfolksattempttoimproveaerationinholdingunitsbyaddingoneormoreventilatingstacks,bypokingholesintothepileorbymovingthebintothesideandtransferringmaterialstotheemptymovedbin.Ventilatingstacksneedtobeplacedintothecenterofthebinpriortomakingapile.Stackscanbemadeofperforatedpipe,acylinderofwiremeshorevenabunchoftwigslooselytiedtogether.PVCpipesshouldbeatleast1inchindiameterwithholesdrilledrandomlyalongthelength.Theycanbeinsertedverticallyorhorizontally.Anotheralternativetoimproveaerationistoplacetheholdingunitonawoodpalletorabedofsmallbranches. Inholdingunits,stagesofdecompositionwillvaryfromthetopto

thebottomoftheheapsinceyardtrimmingsandotherorganicsareadded

continuously.Typically,themorefinishedcompostwillbefoundnearthebottomofapile.Finishedcompostatthebottomcanberemovedandused.How

easilyonegetstothefinishedcompostdependsonthetypeofbinused.Someholdingunitsaredesignedwitharemovablefrontorsmalldoorsatthebottomofthebin.Withportablebins,finishedandunfinishedcompostcanbeseparatedusingasimilarmethodtotheonedescribedabove.Theportablebinshouldberemovedandsetnearby.Lessdecomposedmaterialsfromthetopofthepilecanbeputintotheemptyunituntilfinishedcompostisuncovered.Moreeffortisrequiredforheavyorpermanentholdingunitswithoutremovabledoors.Unfinishedcompostmustberemovedandplacedinanadjoiningunitortemporarystoragecontainer.Ifyouhaveroom,itishelpfultohavetwoorthreestationaryunits.Onebincanbeusedforfreshorganics,anotherformaturingmaterials,andpossibly,athirdforfinishedcompost. Inadditiontotheportablebinsmentionedearlier,therearenumerousothertypesofcommercialandhome-builtunits.Storesandmailordercatalogstypicallysellunitsmadefromplasticandoccasionally,wood.Home-builtunitscanbeconstructedfrompallets,lumber,hardwarecloth,tiresandplasticormetalbarrels,amongothermaterials.Somepeopleliketheappearanceofpermanent



structures,whichcanbemadefromlandscapetimbers,concreteblocks,rocksorbricks.Descriptionsofcommerciallyavailablebinsanddetailedplansforbuildingcompostingunitsareavailableinaseriesoffactsheetsavailableperthelistingattheendofthislesson. Ifyouplantobuildawoodcompostingunit,avoidusinglumbertreatedwithchromatedcopperarsenate(CCA),alkalinecopperquant(ACQ),creosoteandotherrotinhibitingtreatments.(Youshouldalsoavoidusingtreatedlumberaroundvegetablegardens.)Toxiccompoundsfromthewoodpreservativescouldleachintoyourcompost.Thecompoundsareharmfultohumansandpets.Theyhavebeenshowntocausecancerandskinandeyeirritations.Usewoodthatisnaturallyresistanttodecaysuchascedaroruntreatedpine.Structuresbuiltfrompinewillprobablyhavetobereplacedwithinafewyears.Bythen,youmaybereadyforamultiplebinunitoranewdesign.Turningunits Turningunitsaresystemsdesignedtoturnoraerate.Theseunitsmakecompostfasterthanunturnedholdingunitsbecausetheaerobicbacteriamultiplywithmoreoxygenandcanbreakdownmoreorganicmaterials.Onetypeofturningunitisabinthatcanbetakenapart,movedempty,sothatthecompostingmaterialcanbetransferredbacktotheemptybin.Othertypesareaseriesofbins,arotatingdrumorrollingball.Compostcanbemadein3months(includingagingtime)whenorganicmaterialshaveagoodC:Nratio,propermoistureandareturnedonaregularbasis(every5-7days).Frequentturningnotonlymakescompostfaster,butitalsoyieldhighertemperatures(130-140°F)

thatkillmajordiseaseorganisms,flylarvaeandweedseeds.Thesehighertemperaturesalsoprovideagoodenvironmentforthemosteffectivedecomposerorganisms.

Turningsystemstypicallycostmorethanholdingunits.Homebuiltunitsmayalsotakemoreefforttobuild.Turningunitsmaybedifficultforpeoplewithbackandlimitedstrengthissues.However,somebarrelunitsaredesignedforeasierturningandmaintenance.Thesesystemsmayactuallybeeasiertousethanholdingunitsforolderorphysicallychallengedcomposters.Barrelunitstendtohavesmallercapacitiesthanmostotherbins,whichmakethembettersuitedforpeoplewithsmallamountsofyardtrimmingsandfoodscraps. Materialsneedtobecarefullypreparedandaddedtoturningunitsinstockpiledbatches.Materialsshouldbesaveduntilthereisenoughtofillonebinofamultipleunit,ortofillabarrelunittotheprescribedlevel.Foodwastescanbeaccumulatedinapest-proofcontainersuchasaplastic,five-gallonbucket.Ifnecessary,sawdustcanbeaddedtothetopofeachday’sscrapstoreduceodor.Heaps Heapcompostingissimilartocompostingwithholdingandturningunitsexceptthatitdoesnotrequireastructure.Recommendeddimensionsfor


aheapare5feetwideby3feethigh.Lengthcanvarydependingontheamountofmaterialsused.Heapstakemorespaceduetogravity.Thewiderwidthwillhelpthepileretainheatbetter.Materialscanbeaddedastheyaregeneratedortheycanbesorteduntilenoughareavailabletomakeagoodsizedheap.Duringfallmonths,makingagoodsizedheapwillhelpthecompostingprocessworklongerintothewinterseason.Ideally,twoheapsarebetterthanone.Whenthefirstheapislargeenough,itshouldbeallowedtocompostundisturbed.Asecondheapcanbestartedwithnewmaterials. Turningaheapisoptional.Thecompostingprocesswillobviouslytakelongerifthepileisnotturned.Foodscrapsshouldnotbethrownonanunturnedpilebecausepestsarelikelytobeattracted.Woodymaterialsmayalsoposeaproblem.Ifwoodymaterialsarenotcutupintosmallpieces,thepilemaytendtobecomemoreofabrushpilethanacompostingpile.Awoodypiledecomposesextremelyslowly,usuallyoveraperiodofseveralyears,andcanbecomehugequickly.Sheetcomposting Sheetcompostingisawaytoobtainthebenefitsofdecayedorganicsmaterialwithoutbuildingacompostingpile.Sheetcompostinginvolvesspreadingathinlayeroforganicmaterials,suchasleaves,overagardenarea.Thematerialsarethentilledinwithahoe,spade,gardenfork,orrotarytiller.Leaves,gardendebris,weeds,grassclippings,andvegetativefoodscrapsareexamplesofmaterialsthatcanbeeasilytilledintothesoil.Toaiddecomposition,materialsshouldbeshreddedorchoppedpriortolayering.

Thedangerofsheetcompostingasacompost-makingmethodisthatcarboncontainingresidueswillcalluponthenitrogenreservesofthesoilfortheirdecomposition.Ontheotherhand,high-nitrogenmaterialsmayreleasetheirnitrogentooquicklyinthewrongform.Whatmaytakeamatterofweeksinacompostpile,givenconfinedandthermophilicconditions,maytakeafullseasoninthesoil. Toensureadequatedecompositionoforganicmaterialsbeforeplanting,itisbesttodosheetcompostinginthefall.Spreada2-to4-inchlayeroforganicmaterialsonthesoilsurfaceandtillin.Arotarytillerwilldothemostthoroughjobofworkingmaterialsintoavegetablegarden.Inaflowerbedcontainingperennialsandbulbs,itmaybenecessarytocarefullyworktheorganicmaterialinwithgardenforkorhoe.

Soilincorporation Soilincorporationisalsoknownaspitortrenchcomposting.Organicmaterialsareburiedintothesoilwellbelowgroundsurface.Withtime,materialsbreakdowntofertilizefutureplantinginyourgarden.Thismethodissimpleandwellsuitedforcompostingnon-fattyfoodwastes.Thedecompositionprocessusesanaerobicbacteria,soitisgenerallyslowerthanothermethods.Decompositioncantakeuptoayear,dependingonthesoil



temperature,thenumberoforganismsinthesoil,andthecarboncontentofthematerials.Soilincorporationworksbestforpeoplewithlargegardenareas.Itisadvisabletowaitayearbeforeplantingoverareaswherefoodscrapsorothermaterialshavebeendugintoavoidthepossibilityofnitrogenborrowingfromplantsandensurecompletedecomposition. Therearedifferentwaystodosoilincorporation.Withalltechniques,theholeshouldbedugatleast8inchesdown,preferably12-to15-inchesdeep.Buryingtothisdepthdiscouragesanimalsfromdigginguptheorganicmaterialsshouldbemixedwithsoilfromthehole.Afterplacingtheminthegroundtheholeshouldbecoveredwiththesoildugfromit. Somefolksliketouseapostholediggertoquicklydigaspotforincorporation.Otherpeopleliketosetuparotationaltrenchsystem.Avegetablegardencanbeorganizedaroundathree-row,three-yearrotation.Asshowninthediagram,initially,youusethefirstrowforplanting,thesecondrowisapath,andthethirdrowisforcomposting.Duringthesecondyearwiththissystem,thefirstrowbecomesthepathandthesecondrowbecomesthenewtrenchforcomposting,andthethirdrowbecomestheplantingarea.Inthethirdyear,thefirstrowisusedforcomposting,thesecondforplanting,andthethirdforapath.Ifthiscycleiscontinued,you’llalwaysbeplantinginfertilebeds.Summary Inthislesson,you’velearnedaboutorganicmaterialsthatcanbeusedforcomposting,includingsomethatneed

specialattention.Youhavealsolearnedwhycertainmaterialsshouldnotbeaddedtoapile,andaboutcompostadditives.Thefinalpartofthelessoncoveredfivemethodsthatcanbeusedforhomecomposting.Nowanswerthestudyquestionsanddooneormoreofthestudyactivitiestoapplyyournewknowledge.Inthenextlesson,Lesson4,youwilllearnaboutbuildingandmaintainingcompostpiles.

StudyquestionsLesson3

1. Whyisitgoodtouseavarietyoforganicmaterialsinacompostpile?

2. Describeasimplemethodfordeterminingwhetheramaterialishigherincarbonornitrogen.

3. Listfourcompostablematerialsthatsomefolksmayprefertoleaveoutofahomecompostpilebecauseofpotentialproblemstheycouldcause.

4. Describewhycatlitterandotherpetwastesshouldnotbeputintoacompostpile.

5. Listthefivemethodsofcompostingcoveredinthelesson.


6. Whichcompostingmethodislikelytoproducefinishedcompostthemostquickly.

Answerscanbefoundinthebackofthestudyguide.StudyactivitiesLesson3Compostpilecandidates Developalistofcompostablematerialsthatyougenerateinyouryardandhome.Ifyoucurrentlyhaveacompostpile,startthelistwiththosematerials.Seeifyoucanfindatleast10differentitemstoputinyourpile.Noteifthematerialsareavailableseasonally,whethertheymightbehigherinnitrogenorcarbon,andestimatepotentialquantities.Keepthislisthandyforquickreferencethroughouttheyear.Findingsupplementalmaterialslocally Asmentionedinthelesson,occasionallycompostersmaylookforfreeorinexpensivesourcesofcompostablestoincreasethevarietyofmaterialsintheirpile.Considerusingthechartprovidedonthenextpagetomakealistofmaterialsreadilyavailableinyourcommunity.Includesources,quantitiesandcosts,ifapplicable.ThisinformationcanbesharedwithothersasyouperformMasterComposteroutreachduties.Compostbinresearchandfieldtrip Oneofthebiggesthurdlesforpeoplethatarethinkingaboutcompostingisacquisitionofacompostbin.Peoplewanttoknowwhatkindsofbinsareavailablelocallyand/orthroughwebbasedorders.Theymayprefercommerciallybuiltbinsortheymayhopetoconstructoracquireahome-builtbin.Youcanhelpmaketheir

taskeasierbydoingsomeresearchonbinsavailableinyourcommunity. First,ifyouhavenotalreadydoneso,checktoseeifyourmunicipalitysponsorsanytypeofcompostbindistributionprogram.AgrowingnumberofWisconsinlocalgovernmentsaresubsidizingthecostofcompostbinsfortheirresidents. Next,makealistofstoresinyourcommunitythatarelikelytosellcompostbins.Manystoressellbinsonaseasonalbasisduringthespringandsummermonths.Tosavetime,youmaywanttofirstcontactthestoresbyphonetoinquirewhethertheyselloneormoretypesofbins.Visitthestoresthatsellcompostingbins,andrecordinformationsuchasthebrand,typeofbin,sizeandcost.Usethisinformationasahandyreferencewhendoingoutreachactivities.Youmaywanttotypeuptheinformationtouseasahandout.OtherResourcesFactSheetsareavailableat: http://learningstore.uwex.edu

• Compostbinplansfor:o Barrelcompostero Cancompostero Concrete-blockcompost

bins(s)o Wiremeshcompostbino Wood3-bincompostunito Woodandwirecompost

bin• Makingandusingcompostinthe

garden



Lesson3FindingsupplementalmaterialslocallyResearchdifferentsourcesofcompostablematerialsavailableinyourcommunity.Considerstores,ridingstables,farms,orchards,beautysalons,andsawmills,amongnumerousotherpossibilities.Compostablematerial Source(s) Quantity

availableCost Availability

e.g.always,fallC/Ncontent


Master Composter

MAKING AND MAINTAINING A COMPOST PILE Lesson Four

What’saheadInlesson4ofthehomestudycourse,you’lllearn:§ howdifferentseasonsaffectcompost

pileconstructionandactivity;§ whatfactorstoconsiderwhen

selectingacompostingsite;§ fastandslowmethodsformaking

compost;§ commoncompostingproblemsand

possiblesolutions;§ whycompostpHchangesduring

decomposition;and§ aboutsomehealthconsiderations

associatedwithhomecomposting.Whentostartacompostpile InWisconsin,compostpilescanbebuiltinspring,summerorfall.Springandsummeraregoodtimestostartmakingcompostinearnestbecauseofthewideavailabilityofnitrogen-richmaterialssuchasweeds,prunings,andgrassclippings.Theycanbecombinedwithshreddedleavesstoredfromthefallandotherorganicmaterialsfromspringyardclean-up.Compostingactivitywillbeatitsheightduringsummermonths,especiallyifcareistakentokeepthepileaeratedandmoist.Dependingonthecompostingmethodused,pilesstartedinthespringandearlysummercanyieldcompostbyfall.Fallisanidealtimeforusinglargeamountsofcompost.

Compostpilescanalsobesuccessfullystartedinthefall.Thecompostingprocesswilltakelongerduetocooltemperaturesandfinishedcompostisnotlikelytobereadyuntilthefollowingspringorsummer.Iflargequantitiesofleavesareusedinconstructingthepile,nitrogen-richmaterialsmustbeaddedto“jumpstart”orbalancetheC:Nratio.Additionaloptionstomanagelargevolumesofleavesincludeusingthemasmulcharoundtreesandshrubsorsheetcompostingthemingardenareas.Savefallleavestocoverkitchenscrapsinwintereachtimetheyareaddedtothepileandtohaveasacarbonsourceinsummer.It’shardtofindbrownleavesinJuly.

Peopleoftenwonderwhathappenstocompostpilesinthewinter.Decompositionslowsdownandinmanypiles,itactuallystopsduringverycoldtemperatures.Somecompostpiles,particularlysmallerones,willfreeze.The

freeze/thawcyclehelpstobreakdownthecellularstructureofmaterials.Whenspringcomes,bacteriawillhavemoresurfaceareatoworkon,andthepilewillheatupagain,evenifithasbeen

Lesson4MakingandMaintainingaCompostPile


completelyfrozenduringthewinter.Ifdesired,youcanprolongcompostingactivityduringcoolmonthsbyaddingnitrogen-richmaterialssuchasmanureandbyplacinginsulatingmaterialsaroundthepile.Balesofstrawandhayorlayersofleavescanbeusedaroundthesidesofabin.Thetopcanbecoveredwithadditionalstraw,leavesoraplastictarp.Don’taerateyourpileinthewinterbecauseturningorpokingairholesinthepilewillallowheattoescape. Addingfoodtoacompostpileduringthewintercanbetricky.Asmentionedearlier,decompositionoccursatamuchslowerrate,andthepilemayenduppartiallyortotallyfrozen.Ifvolumesoffoodscrapsarecontinuallyaddedthroughoutthewinter,thepilecanturnintoasoupymessbyspringtime.Toavoidproblemssuchasodorsandpests,foodscrapsshouldonlybeaddedtoacompostpileduringthewinterifthepilemeetsthefollowingguidelines:

• Isatleastonecubicyardinsize• Containsplentyofcarbon-rich

materialstobalancethefoodscrapsandtocoverthescrapsaftertheyareadded(maintainC:N)

• Materialswillbeturnedandmixedwhenwarmerweatherarrives

Iffoodisadded,itshouldbeburiedintothepileatleast8inchesdeep.Itmayhelptohavecontainersofshreddedleavesnearbytouseforcoveringfoodwaste

additionsduringthewinter.Vermicomposting(wormcomposting)providesanalternativemethodforhandlingfoodscrapsinsideyourhomeduringthewinteroryearround.Vermicompostingiscoveredinmoredetailinalaterlesson.Wheretocompost Awell-chosencompostingsitecanhelpspeedupthecompostingprocess,makeiteasiertocareforthepile,andperhapsevenmotivateneighborstostartcomposting.Thereareseveralfactorstoconsiderwhenselectingacompostingsiteincludingaccesstomaterialsandwater,sunlight,drainage,convenience,andneighbors,amongothers. Thefirststepinselectingasiteistofindoutiftherearelocalregulationspertainingtocomposting.Yourmunicipalitymayhaveasetbackordinancerequiringcompostingbinstobelocatedacertaindistancefromlotlines.Next,youshouldconsiderthefollowingphysicalfactors:

• Gooddrainageinthesoilbelowthepile

• Fairlylevelground–avoiddepressions

• Protectionfromstrongwinds• Convenientaccesstoawater

sourcee.g.reachablewithagardenhose

• Spacefortemporarystorageoforganicmaterials

• Adequateroominfrontofthepileforeasyaccess–roomontwoormoresidesisevenbetter

Compostpilescanbeputinsunnyorshadyareas.Directsunlightinthesummertendstodrypilesout,especiallyinbinsmadeofwireand/orwood.Duringwintermonths,however,pilesinsunnylocationswillbenefitfromthe


sun’sheat.Althoughpilesintheshadedonotbenefitfromthesun’srays,theywillheatupjustfinewithawell-balancedmixofmaterials.Ifpossible,locatecompostpilesindirectcontactwithbaregroundtogivemicroorganismsandearthwormsmaximumopportunitytofindtheirwayintothecompost.Somepeopleliketoputapalletthatactsasanaerationmatatthebottomoftheirpiletoprovidepassiveairflowfromunderneaththepile.Forbetterresults,placethepalletormatonbareground.Ifcompostingisdoneonapartmentbalconiesorpatiose.g.intumblers,itmaybewisetoputplasticsheetingunderneathtopreventcompostfromstainingwoodorstone.Finishedcompostorafewhandfulsofsoilcanbeusedtoincreasethenumberofmicroorganismsinthecompost. Avoidputtingcompostpilesagainstwoodenbuildingortrees–woodincontactwithcompostmaydecay.Otherthingstoavoidincludedrippingeavesordownspoutswhichcandumpuncontrollableamountsofwater.Trytokeepyourbinawayfromyourneighbor’soutdoorentertainingareas.Ifyourunintoaproblem(hopefullytemporary)withodororflies,yourcompostpilewillbelessoffensivewhileyou’recorrectingtheproblem.

Peoplehavedifferentviewsaboutthevisibilityofcompostpiles.Somefolksbelievethatpilesshouldbe“hidden’inout-of-the-wayplaces,whileothersdon’tmindhavingthebininfullview.Givesomethoughttotheaestheticsofthecompostingsystemyouselectandhowyourneighborsmightviewit.Hopefully,youwillsetagoodexamplesothatyoucaneducateothersaboutthebenefitsofcomposting.

Makingacompostpile Compostpilescanbeconstructedasmaterialsbecomeavailableorbyaddingstockpiledmaterialinbatches.Manytimesaspiringcomposterswillaskforarecipe.Thereareavarietyofrecipesthatwillproduceexcellentcompost.Twobasiccompostingrecipesaredescribedonthenexttwopages.Themajordifferencebetweentherecipesistheamountoftimeandattentionrequired.



HotandfastcompostThiscompostshouldbereadyinapproximatelysixtotwelveweeks.Tools:

• Pitchforkorshovel• Rake• Equipmentforchoppingandshreddinge.g.handpruners,machete,loppers,rotarylawnmower,

chipper/shredder• Waterhosewithsprayhead• Tarpformixing(optional)• Compostbinunitthatallowseasypileturning,ideally3’x3’x3’• Scrapofblackplasticorcompostbinlidtohelpretainmoisture• Compostpilethermometer(optional)

Ingredients:Assembleenoughofthefollowingingredientstofillyourbin.

• 2-3partsofnitrogen-richmaterial(“greens”)• 3-4partsofcarbon-richmaterial(“browns”)• Water• Compostactivator–nitrogensource,preferablyorganic,ifneeded

Instructions:

1. Choporshredcoarsematerialslargerthan1/2”indiameteror2inchesinsizetoincreasesurfaceareaandspeedupdecomposition.Leaveswillbreakdownmorequicklyifshredwitharotarylawnmowerorshredder.

2. Ifdesired,placeapalletoraerationmatonthebottomofthecompostingbintohelpaeratethepilefromunderneath.Hardwareclothcanbenailedtothepallettokeepmaterialfromfallingthroughgapsbetweenthepalletboards.

3. Laya4to6inchlayerofcarbon-richmaterialinthebinoronatarp.4. Adda4to6inchlayerofnitrogen-richmaterial.5. Mixlayerswithagardenforkorshovel.Considertheporosityandmoisturecontentofthepile.Ifdense

materialsareusedsuchasmanureorwetleaves,adddry,bulkyitemssuchasstraworchoppedcornstalks.Addmorewaterifthepileisnotasdampasawrungoutsponge.Squeezingahandfulofthematerialshouldyieldoneortwodropsofwater.Ifyouareusingatarpformixinglayers,emptythematerialsintoyourbinaftermixing.

6. Repeatsteps3-5untilthepileis3-4feethigh.Pileslargerthan5feettallandwidetendtocompactandneedtobeturnedtokeeptheircentersfromgoinganaerobic.Foodscrapsshouldbeaddedtothethirdorfourthlayers,andshouldbeburiedatleast8-12inchesdownfromthetopofthepile.Sawdust,leaves,straw,orcompostcanbeplacedontopofthefoodsscrapstohelpadsorbodors.

7. Ifdesired,addasmallamount(upto1/2shovelful)offinishedcompostorsoiltothecompostpiletohelpintroducemicroorganismstothepile.

8. Withinafewdaysthepileshouldbegintoheatup.Monitorthetemperaturecarefully.Afterthepilehasheatedandstartstocool(aboutoneweek),turnit.Movematerialsfromtheedgeandtopofthepileintothemiddle.Addwaterifneeded.Turnthepilesoonerifthetemperaturegoesabove140°Forifsomeoftheinnermateriallookswhitish.

9. Duringthefirstfewweeksofcomposting,thepiletemperatureshouldcontinuetobehot.Turnthepilewhenthetemperaturesurpasses140°Finordertocoolitoff.Ifthepilegoesabovethattemperature,manybeneficialmicroorganismswilldie.Morenitrogenorwatermaybeneededifthepiledoesnotreachatleast120°Fbythesecondweek.Atthesecondturning(aboutoneweekafterthefirst),thematerialshouldstartturningcoffee-brownincolorandbeuniformlymoist.

10. Activityinthepilewillslowdownaftermicroorganismsutilizetheeasilydecomposablematerial.Lessheatwillbegeneratedandthepilewillbegincoolingoff.Turnthepileperiodicallytoensureadequateaeration(nomorethanonceaweek).Asthecompostingprocesscontinues,thepilewilleventuallyreducetoabout1/3ofitsoriginalheight.Thefinishedcompostshouldlooklikedark,crumblysoilmixedwithsmallunrecognizablepiecesoforganicmaterial.Itshouldhaveasweet,earthysmell.Thepiletemperatureshouldbewithin10°Fofambientairtemperature.

11. Lettheunfinishedcompostcureforatleastthreeweeksbeforeusing,longerforseedlingsandtransplants.Ifcompostisnotcuredlongenough,itcanbetoxictoplants,especiallyyoungones.Unfinishedcompostwillalsotemporarilyrobsoilofitsnitrogenwhichcanharmplants


Coolandeasycompost

Thiscompostwillbereadyin6monthsto2years.

Tools:• Pitchforkorshovel• Equipmentforchoppingandshredding• Waterhosewithsprayhead• Compostbin(optional)• Scrapofblackplasticorcompostbinlidforcoveringpile(optional)

Ingredients:• Mixedyardtrimmingsasavailable:leaves,gardendebris,weedswithoutseedsorspreadingroots,

grassclippings,smallpruning• Vegetablescraps• Otherhandycompostablematerialsthatareunlikelytoattractpests• Nitrogensource,preferablyorganics,ifneeded

Instructions:1. Locatecompostbinorheapinanareawhereitwillgetrainedon,preferablyoutofdirectsummer

sunlight.2. Placeyardtrimmingsinthebinorpileascollectedinyardclean-upormowing.Moistendrymaterials

astheyareadded.Mixgrassclippings,pineneedles(upto10percent)andothersimilarmaterialswithleavesorcompostingmaterialsalreadyinthepile.

3. Choporshredanyyardtrimmingsover1/2inchindiameteror2inches,insize,especiallyifaddinglargeamounts.

4. Buryvegetablescrapsunder8to12inchesofyardtrimmingsorfinishedcompost.5. Ifthepilehastendencytodryout,coverthetopwithblackplasticoracompostbinlid.Addwateras

neededtokeeppileaboutasdampasawrungoutsponge.Waterwillinfiltratethepilebetterifitisaddedincombinationwithturning.

6. Periodicallycheckthecompostpiletomonitorthedecompositionprocess.Ifpossible,turnthepileatleasttwoorthreetimesperseason.Materialatthebottomofthecompostpilewilllooklikedark,richsoilinapproximatelysixmonthstotwoyears.Timetofinishedcompostdependsonthematerialcompostedandtheamountofpilemaintenancedone.Removaloffinishedcompostwillvarydependingonthetypeofcompostunitused,ifany.Undecomposedmaterialsshouldbeaddedtoanexistingornewcompostpile.



Troubleshooting:ProblemsandsolutionsMostcompostingproblemsarefairlyeasytofix.Theytendtofallintothreebroadcategories:slowdecompositionproblems,odorproblemsandpestproblems.Thetrickislearninghowtoreadthesymptomsandexperimentingwithsolutions.Allproblemsarerelatedtocompostprocessfactorssuchasthesizeandtypesofmaterialsyouputinyourpile,moisturelevelandaeration.Ifyouarehavingaproblem,itmeansthatoneormoreofthesefactorsareoutofbalanceandneedstobeadjusted.Thefollowingtablesshowsymptoms,possiblecausesandpossiblesolutionoralternatives.TABLE6Problem:SlowcompostingSymptomPossiblecausePossiblesolution/alternativeCompostpileisdampandwarminthemiddle,butnowhereelse

Thepilemaybetoosmall Gatherenoughmaterialtoformapile3x3x3andcoverthetop

Compostpileisnotheatingup.

Ifthepileseemsdampenough,itmaybealackofnitrogen.

Mixinfreshgrassclippings,manure,bloodmealorothermaterialhighinnitrogen.Ifitisdifficulttoturnthepilecreateholesinthepileandaddthenitrogen-richmaterial.

Notenoughoxygen Turnorfluffthepile. Coolweather Increasepilesizeand/orinsulate

itwithstraworatarp. Compostneedsmore

microorganismsMixinfinishedcompost(best)oruptoahalfshovelfulofgardensoil.

Compostmaybefinished Ifitlooksdarkandcrumbly,smellsearthy(notmoldyorrotten),andfeelsfinished—itmaybedone.Useit?

Compostpileisdrythroughout

Maybelackofwater Turnthecompostandaddwater.Moistennewmaterialsbeforeaddingtothepile.Ifthepileisoutintheopen,consideringcoveringitwithatarporplasticcover.Thepileshouldbedampasawrungoutsponge.

Matted,undecomposedlayersofleavesorgrassclippings

Compaction,pooraeration Breakuplayerswithapitchfork,orshredthemandrebuildthepile.Avoidaddingheavylayersofleaves,grassclippings,hayorpaperunlessfirstshredded.

Large,undecomposeditems Sizeandcompositionofmaterials

Screenoutundecomposeditems,reducesizeifnecessary,anduseasstarterfornextpile.


TABLE7Problem:OdorsSymptomPossiblecausePossiblesolution/alternativeCompostpilehasabadodorlikeamixtureofrancidbutter,vinegarandrotteneggs.

Notenoughoxygen—toowet Turnthepileandaddcoarsedrymaterialssuchasleaves,straw,orchoppedcornstalkstosoakupexcessmoisture.Protectthepilefromrain.

Compostpilehasabadodorlikeammonia.

Pilemaycontaintoomuchnitrogen.

Addmaterialshighincarbonsuchasshreddedleaves,woodchips,sawdust,orshreddednewspaperandaerate.

TABLE8Problem:PestsSymptomPossiblecausesPossiblesolution/alternativeCompostpileisattractingrats,raccoons,dogs,orotherpests.

Inappropriatefoodscrapsmayhavebeenadded—meat,fat,bones,orotheranimalwastes

Avoidaddinginappropriatematerials.Burynon-fattyfoodscraps8–12inchesdeepinthepile.Coverwithsawdust,leaves,orcomposttohelpabsorbodors.Ifproblemspersistwithanimals,usearodent-resistantbinwithatop,bottom,andsides.Binsbuiltwithsideandcoveropeningslessthan2incheswilldiscourageraccoons,skunksandotherlargeanimals.Whereratsareaproblem,usehardwareclothwithopenings1/2inchorlesstoenclosethebin.

Compostpilecontainsfliesearwig,slug,and/orotherinsects.

Pileiscompostingcorrectly.Insectsareagoodsignofaproductivecompostpile

Ifthereisanoverabundanceofflies,addathinlayerofsoiloverfoodscraps.Flieslovedamphayorstraw;turnandmixhayorstrawwithothermaterialsinthepile.Slugsandearwigsarehappyincompostpiles.Ifthepileisnexttoagarden,barrierscanbeplacedbetweenthepilewithtraps,metalflashing,etc.



CompostpilepH Occasionally,composterswillbecomeconcernedaboutthepHoftheircompostpile,particularlyduringtheinitialstagesofdecomposition.ThetermpH”describesthealkalinityoracidityofsoil,compost,andothersubstancesandisusuallyexpressedasanumber.ThepHscalerunsfrom1,indicatingpureacidity,to14,whichispurelyalkaline.AneutralsubstancehasapHof7,halfwaybetween1and14.Theneutralzoneisdesirableformostplants,exceptcertainacid-lovingonessuchasazaleasandblueberries. ThepHofdecayingcompostchangesduringdifferentstagesofcomposting.Duringtheearlystages,organicacidsareproducedandthepHmaydropaslowas4or5.Asdecompositioncontinues,thepilewillneutralizeonitsown,aslongasitisgettingenoughoxygen.DonotaddlimeorlimesubstitutestoadjustthepHunlessyouhaveperformedapHtest.AddingtoomuchlimecanraisethepHtolevelswherenitrogenwillbelostfromthepileintheformofammoniagas,thuscreatinganodorproblem. IfyouwanttotestthepilepH,itisbettertodosowhenthecompostisfinished.YoumayalsowanttotestthepHofthesoilwhereyouplantousethecompost.ComparethepHfindingswiththeneedsoftheparticularplantsyouintendtouse-andthenmakeadjustmentstothesoilwithlimeorpeatmoss,ifneeded.MostcomposterscanprobablyignorecompostpilepHaslongastheyuseagoodvarietyoforganicmaterialwhenbuildingit.Healthconsiderations Healthconsiderationsrelatedtocompostingaredependentonthematerialsbeingcompostedandindividual

sensitivitytoorganismsincompost.Asmentionedearlier,dog,cat,andtropicalbirdwastescancontainharmfulpathogensandshouldbeavoided.Formostindividuals,contactwithcompostingmaterialshouldnotcauseproblemsifnormalsanitarymeasuresareobserved(e.g.washinghandsafterworkingwiththecompostpile).Glovesarerecommendedforpilebuildingandmaintenance,especiallyifyouhaveanycutsorblisters.Asensiblehealthprecautionistomakesureyourtetanusboosterisup-to-date(recommendedforbothcompostingandgardening).

Afewindividualsmaybesensitivetosomeoftheorganismsincompostpiles.Thehighpopulationsofmoldandfungicancauseallergicreactionsinsomepeople.Oneofthesefungalspecies,Aspergillusfumigatus,caninfecttherespiratorysystemofasensitivepersonwhoisheavilyexposed.Aspergilluscommonlyoccursinnatureandisfoundinbasementsandmanyotherlocations.HomecompostingpilesmaycontainsomeAspergillusorganisms,butarenotresponsibleforsignificantelevationsof


backgroundlevels.Inotherwords,Aspergillusorganismsinyourhomecompostspilewillnotaffectyourneighbors.Peoplewhohaveconditionsthatpredisposethemtoinfectionorallergicreactionsshouldavoidturningcompostpilesortakeprecautionstominimizeexposure.Commondustmaskscanbewornunderdryanddustyconditions.

HomecompostingpilesaresometimesblamedasasourceofBlastomycosis.Blastomycosisisafungallungdiseasethathassymptomssimilartopneumonia.ExpertsonBlastomycosisdonotbelievethatmyceliosporesarelikelytoforminacompostingpilebecauseofthehightemperaturesgeneratedbybacteria.(ThishasnotbeenprovenconclusivelybecausetheBlastomycosisfungusisverydifficulttoisolate.Conditionshavetobejustrightforittoform.)Themyciliophase(problemphase)occursattemperatureslessthanhumantemperature(98°F).Blastomycosisistypicallyfoundaroundriverbanks,lakes,andstreamsandismoreassociatedwithwaterdrawdown.

Asaprecaution,peoplelivinginareaswheretheincidenceofblastomycosisishighcouldforegocompostingorganicmaterialsuchasrottingwoodtakenfrombanksofrivers,streams,andlakes.Summary Inthislesson,you’velearnedhowweatheraffectscompostingactivity,wherecompostpilesshouldbesited,andtworecipesforproducingcompost.Youhavealsolearnedaboutsomecommoncompostingproblemsandhowtosolvethem.ThelastsectionofthelessoncoveredcompostpilepHandhealthconsiderations.Nowseehowwellyoucananswerthestudyquestions.Tryatleastoneofthestudyactivitiestoexpandyourcompostingknowledge.Inthenextlesson,Lesson5,youwilllearnaboutthemanybenefitsoffinishedcompostandhowitcanbeused.StudyquestionsLesson4

1. Listtheguidelinesforcompostingfoodwasteduringwintermonths.

2. Namefivephysicalfactorstoconsiderwhenlocatingacompostpile.

3. Whatarethekeydifferencesbetweenthe“HotandFast”and“CoolandEasy”compostrecipes?

4. Whatarepossiblecausesofodorsinacompostpileandhowcantheyberemedied?

5. Trueorfalse,andwhy?CompostersshouldaddlimetotheircompostpileifthepHfallsbelow6.0duringtheinitialstagesofcomposting.

6. Describetwohealthconsiderationsrelatedtobackyardcomposting.



Answerscanbefoundinthebackofthestudyguide.StudyactivitiesLesson4Surveyoffriendsandneighbors Trytogetasenseofhowpeoplearebackyardcompostinginyourcommunityandsomeofthecommonproblemstheyexperience.Developashortsurveythatyoucanuseinformallywithfriendsandneighbors.Consideraskingyourfriendswhatrecipetheyusetocompostincludingmaterials,tools,typeofbin(ifany),andlengthoftimetofinishedcompost.Findoutwhatproblemstheyhaveexperiencedwhilecompostingandhowtheysolvedthem.Iftheyhavenotyetsolvedtheircompostingproblems,youcouldoffersomepossiblesolutions.Youmayalsowanttoaskyouracquaintanceshowtheyusetheirfinishedcompost.Compostingproblemlab Ifyouareadventurous,youcantrysimulatingcommoncompostingproblemssuchasodorsandslowdecompositioninplasticbagsorothersmall,inexpensivecontainers.Thecompostproblemsamplescouldbemadeuppriortoaworkshopandbroughtforattendeestoexperiencefirsthand.Givethecontainerstoworkshopattendeesandhavethemdiscusspossibleproblemsandsolutions.Ifpossible,bringsomeextramaterialsthattheycouldusetoaddtothecontainersto“solve”theproblems.Youmaywanttofirstexperimentathomeonreproducingcompostproblemsinsmallcontainers. Forexample,toproduceabadodorlikerancidbutter,vinegar,androtteneggs,youcouldmixfresh,juicyfruitandvegetablescraps,grassclippings,and

coffeegroundstogetherandplacetheminanairtightbagorcontainer.Leaveforseveraldaysbeforeopening.Toproduceabadodorlikeammonia,youcouldmixtogetherfreshgrassclippingsandboneorbloodmeal.Afteracoupleofdays,addasmallamountoflime,thenleaveforanotherdayortwobeforeopening.Slowdecompositioncouldbesimulatedbymixingtogethertwoormorehighcarbonmaterialssuchasleaves,sawdust,andshreddedcardboard.Useyourimagination.Otherresources Factsheetavailableat: http://learningstore.uwex.edu

§ MakingandUsingCompostintheGarden(LearningStoreitemA4021).


Master Composter

USING COMPOST

Lesson Five

What’saheadinlesson5ofthehomestudycourse,you’lllearn:§ howcompostbenefitssoilsandplants;§ characteristicsoffinishedcompost;§ howtoapplycomposttoplantsin

youryard,gardenandhome.Benefitsofcompost Inexpensivetoproduceandeasytouse,homemadecompostisanexcellentsourceoforganicmatterforyoursoil.Usingcompostimprovesthesoil’sstructureandtexture,enablingittobetterretainnutrients,moistureandairforthesupportofcrops.Thejoyofworkinginrich,crumblysoilandtendinghealthy,robustplantsshouldmorethancompensatefortheeffortexpendedinmakingthecompostanddistributingit. Whenorganicmatterisworkedintosoil,bypeopleorbyearthworms,itdramaticallyimprovessoilstructure.Soilstructurereferstohowinorganicparticles(sand,siltandclay)combinewithdecayedorganicmaterial(alsocalledhumus).Soilwithagoodstructurehasacrumblytexture,drainswell,retainssomemoisture,andiseasyto

turnover.Composthelpsimproveallsoiltypes,especiallysandyorheavyclaysoils. Sandysoilfeelsloose,andhascoarse,lightparticlesthatwon’tholdtheirshapewhensqueezedinyourhand.Theloosenessoftheparticlescreatessomuchairspacethatwaterandnutrientsdrainthroughquickly. Whencompostismixedwithsandysoil,ithelpstoretainmoistureandmicronutrients.Theadditionofcompostalsoincreasesthesoil’sporositysothatplantrootscanmoreeasilypenetrateit.

Claysoillooksheavyanddense.Itcontainsfinesoilparticleswithverylimitedporespaceforairorwater.Itgetsverystickywhenwetandwillformalumpwhensqueezedinyourhand.Whencompostismixedwithclaysoils,itbindswiththeclayparticlestoform

largerparticles,allowingbettersurfacewaterdrainage.Thecompostportionholdsmoistureinsidetheparticlesforplantuptake.Theadditionofcompost

Lesson5UsingCompost


alsohelpsclaysoilsresistsurfacecrustinganderosion. Compostistypicallyconsideredasoilamendmentorconditioner,ratherthanafertilizer.Itcontainssmallamountsofnutrientsandtraceelementsthatareverybeneficialforplants.Oneofthereasonsthatcompostissovaluableisbecauseitisacompositeofdifferentingredients,someofwhichrotmorerapidlythanothers.Asaresult,nutrientsareslowlyreleasedoveraperiodoftime.Thenutrientcontentofeachbatchofcompostisimpossibletopredict,becauseitdependsonvariablessuchastherawmaterials,thecarbontonitrogenratioofthepile,andwhetheranyamendmentsareadded.Thegreaterthevarietyofmaterialsusedinmakingit,thegreaterwillbethevarietyofnutrientsintheendproduct–includingminorelementssuchasiron,cobalt,manganese,boron,zinc,andcopper.Afterithasbeenstoredforseveralmonths,compostwilllosesomenitrogenandpotassium,althoughitwillstillretainmostoftheothernutrients.Todiscouragenutrientleaching,youcancoverthecompostwithplasticorsometypeoftarp.Incontrasttocompost,somechemicalfertilizersreleaseelementssoquicklythatrainleachesthemawaybeforeplantscanutilizethem. Compostattractsearthwormsandothersoilorganismsasitprovidesthemwithfood.Thesesoilorganismscancreatetunnelsinthesoil,whichaeratesthesoil,improvesdrainage,andbringsupmineralsfromthesubsoil,makingthemavailabletoplants.Addingcomposttothesoilalsoincreasesmicrobialactivity.Microorganismsremainincompost,evenafterdecompositionhassloweddown.Thesemicroorganismscontinuetodecomposeorganicmatterinthesoil,

contributingtochemicalreactionsthatbenefitplants.Theyconvertnitrogen,potassium,phosphorusandothernutrientsinorganicmaterialsintoaformthatplantscanabsorb.Sometypesofmicroorganismsarenitrogen-fixingbacteria,whichtakenitrogenfromtheairandmakeitaccessibletoplants.Othermicrobesproducechemicalsubstancesthathelpprotectplantsfromseveraltypesofdiseases.

Researchbyplantpathologistsindicatesthatsoilamendedwithcomposttendstoproduceplantswithfewerinsectanddiseaseproblems.Certaintypesofcompostwillsuppressseveralsoilbornediseasesinornamentalandvegetablecrops.Whenusedasamulcharoundgardenplants,compostcanhelpcontrolthespreadoffungaldiseasesbykeepingwaterfromsplashingdiseasesporesontoplants.Forthisreasonandbecausestudiesshowthatcompost-richsoildiscouragesmanydiseases,youmaywanttomixcompostintosoilaroundyourplantstohelpprotectthem.Usingeitherleafmold,compostmadeexclusivelyfromdriedleaves,canhelpsuppressnematodes.Addingsomepineneedlesto


theleafmoldorleaf-basedcomposthasbeenfoundtobeparticularlypotentagainstnematodes.Researchontheuseofcomposthasshownthatcomponentsofcompostsimprovetheabilityofplantstoresistdiseasecausedbyrootandfoliarpathogens.Studiescurrentlybeingconductedwilllikelyshowadditionalbenefits. Anothervalueofcompostisthatitimprovessoilchemistry.HumushelpsplantsovercomesoilpHlevelsthatareeithertoolow(acidic)ortoohigh(alkaline).ItactsasabufferinthesoilandhelpskeepextremepHfrommakingnutrientsinsoluble.Organicmatterhasahighcapacitytofixheavymetalsinsoilsandcanneutralizesoiltoxins.AccordingtoDr.SelmanWaksmaninhisbookHumus:Origin,ChemicalComposition,andImportanceinNature,highsaltconcentrationsarelessinjurious;andaluminumsolubilityanditsspecificinjuriousactionaremarkedlydecreased. Theuseofcompostaidsinmoderatingsoiltemperatures.Soilamendedwithcomposttypicallyhasadarkercolorthanunamendedsoilbecausecompostisdarkbrown.Darksoilabsorbsmoreheatandwilltendtoheatupfasterinthespring,stimulatingplantstostartgrowingsooner.Duringhotweather,soilcoveredwith1to2inchesofcompostmulchtendstoremaincoolerthansoilwithoutmulch.Themulchservesasaninsulatingblanket,helpingplantsperformbetterinthesummerheat.Benefitsofcomposttosoil§ Improvessoiltexture§ Improvessoil’swater-retention

capability§ Improvessoil’saeration§ Improvessoil’sresistancetoerosion

§ Addsandstoresnutrientsinthesoil§ Discouragessometypesofplant

diseases§ Improvessoil’sabilitytoabsorbrapid

changesinpH§ Neutralizescertaintoxins§ Helpskeepsoiltemperaturestable

Finishedcompost Somenovicecompostersmaybeunsureastowhentheircompostisactuallyfinished.Finishedcompostwillbedark,looseand“crumbly”.Itshouldsmellsweetandearthy;nevermoldyandrotten.Crumblycompostwillbesortoffluffy–itdoesnotneedtobedecomposedtothepointofbeingpowdery.Youmayseelotsofmacroorganismscrawlingaroundsuchasearthwormsandsowbugs.Mostoftheoriginalmaterialsshouldnotberecognizable,althoughthingsthattakealongtimetodecomposesuchastwigs,nutshells,andstrawfiberswillstillbevisible.Theseitemscanbescreenedoutandputbackintoacompostpile.Thetemperatureofthefinishedcompostshouldbethesameastheoutsideairtemperatureandshouldnotreheat.Ifitisstillwarmerthanthesurroundingair,itneedsmoredecompositiontime.Oncethecompostappearsfinished,cureitforatleastthreeweekstomakesurethatthe

Lesson5UsingCompost


decompositionprocesshasstabilized.Unfinishedcomposthasbeenfoundtoretardgerminationandgrowthofsomeplants.Ifyouplantousecompostaspartofamixforseedlingsortransplants,youmaywanttodoasimpletesttoensurethatthecompostisfullyaged.ThefollowinggerminationtestisrecommendedinTheRodaleBookofComposting.

Soakafewsees,suchaslettuceorradish,inateamadewithyourcompost,andsoakanequalnumberfromthesamepacketindistilledwater.Layeachbatchonapapertowel,andkeepthemwarmandmoistforafewdays,untiltheystarttosprout.Ifthedistilled-watertreatedseedsgerminatebetter,youknowyoumustletyourcompostagelonger.

Compostshouldbescreenedwhenitisusedasatop-dressingforlawnsandasacomponentofcontainermixes.Asimplescreencanbemadebyfastening1/2”meshhardwareclothoverawoodenframe.Somepeopleprefertousea1/4”meshforscreeningcompostthatwillbeusedforstartingseeds.Placethescreenoverawheelbarroworboxandsiftthecompostintothecollector.Largepiecesleftbehindonthescreencouldgointoanothercompostpile. Compostapplication Finishedcompostcanbeappliedinspring,summerandfall.Thebesttimetoincorporatelargeamountsofcompostintoagardenisinthefall.Thiscanbedoneafterthefirstkillingfrostandbeforethesoilbecomesfrozenhard.Compostcanbespreadandleftontopofthegardensoiloritcanbeturnedunderwithaspadeorrototiller.Incorporatingcompostintothesoilhelpskeepitfromdryingoutandretainssomenutrientsthatmightotherwiseescapeintotheatmosphereasgas.Ifusedinthespring,compostshouldbeincorporatedintothe

soilamonthorsobeforeplanting.Duringthesummer,compostcanbeappliedaseitheratop-dressingorside-dressingtoplants. Ifyouwanttostorefinishedcompostforawhile,coveritwithaplasticorcanvastarptodiscouragenutrientleaching.Don’tleaveapileoffinishedcompostunusedformorethansixmonths.Specificrecommendationsforapplyingcompostarediscussedbelow.

Annualflowerandvegetablebeds Inthespringandlatefall,1/2”–1”ofcompostcanbeincorporatedintogardensoiltoimproveandmaintainsoilquality.Ifthegardenareaisnewandhasinferiorsoil,youmayneedtoincorporate2”–3”ofcompostintothetop6”ofearthtobolsteritsorganiccontent.Duringsummermonths,mulchwithscreenedcompostatarateof1/2–1”aroundindividualplants(side-dressing)orovertheentirebed.Side-dressingisbestdoneinthespringandearlysummersoplantscanderivemaximumbenefitfromthecompost.Toside-dressaplant,layacircleofcompostonthesoilaroundtheplant.Startaboutaninchfromthestemandspreaditouttothedripline(imaginarycirclebeneaththeouteredgeofthefoliage).


Fortransplants,putahandfulofcompostintoeachholebeforeplacingtheplantinit.Compostwillprovidenutritionalsupportthroughouttheseasonandimprovesoilstructurearoundtheplants.Perennials Compostcanbeusedforalltypesofperennials.Itisparticularlyvaluableforperennialfoodplants,suchasasparagus,rhubarb,strawberries,andraspberries.Beforeplanting,preparemultipleholesoratrenchapproximately8”wideand18”deep.Fillthemwithcompostbeforeaddingtheperennials.Forperennialsthatarealreadyplanted,mixcompostwithtopsoilandapply1/2”–1”ontopasamulch.Ifyoutrytoworkcompostintothesoil,youmaydamageroots.Treesandshrubs Whenplantingnewtreesorshrubs,donotusecompostintheplantinghole.Compost-richsoilencouragesrootstoremainintheplantinghole,ratherthangrowingoutintothesurroundingsoil.Therootsmaygrowinacircleandwithinafewyears,therootscanliterallystrangletheplants,causingittodie.Mulchingisamuchbetterwaytousecomposttobenefittreesandshrubs.Spreada1/2”–1”layeronbaresoilasfarasthedriplineextends(outeredgeoftheplant’sbranches).Withtrees,thisbandofmulchshouldstartabouttwofeetfromthetrunk.Itmaybenecessarytoremovethegrassmatfromthetreetrunkorshrubbaseoutwardstothedripline.Workcompostintothetop2inchesofsoilorcoverwith2–3inchesofanothertypeofmulche.g.choppedleavesorwoodchips.Thetoplayerofmulchwillhelpkeepthecompostinplaceandkeepitfromdryingout.

Lawns Fornewlawns,spread2”ofscreenedcompostontothesoil.Incorporatethecompostintothetop6”–8”inchesofsoil.Forestablishedlawns,compostcanbeusedasatop-dressing.Useanaeratortopunchholesinthesod.Thengrindorscreencompostuntilitisfineinordertoavoidsmotheringthelawn.Ifascreenisused,itshouldhave1/2”orsmallermesh.Spreadorbroadcasta1/4”–1/2”coveringoffinecompostovertheentirelawn.Lightlyrakethecompostsothatitfallsintotheholes.Torenovatepatchylawns,workcompostintobarespotsabout2”deep,soakwithwaterandplantgrassseed.

Containerizedplants Finelyscreenedcompostcanbeusedinpottingmixes.Nomorethan1/4–1/3,byvolume,ofthepottingmixshouldconsistofcompost—higherlevelscanresultinexcessnutrients.Useonlywellagedcompostasfreshcompostmaycontainphytotoxinsthatcaninjuretheplant.Onesuggestedmix:2partssoillessmix(e.g.partmoss,perlite,andvermiculite)and1partscreenedcompost.

Lesson5UsingCompost


Forestablishedplants,useupto1”offinecompostandapplyitasamulch.Asmentionedearlier,anotherexcellentwaytoprovidenutrientstocontainerizedplantsistowaterthemwithcomposttea.Composttea Anotherwaytoapplycompostduringgrowingmonthsisbybrewingandusingcomposttea.Compostteaworksespeciallywellforprovidingnutrientstonewtransplantsandyoungseedlings,whicharesensitivetochemicals.Italsoisaconvenientwaytosupplynutrientstosoilinplanters,whichsometimeslackspacefortheadditionofasolidsoilamendment.Tomakecomposttea,placeaburlaporclothbagfilledwithfinishedcompostinawateringcan,tub,orbarrelofwater.Agitateitforacoupleofminutesorletitsitforafewdays.Waterwillleachnutrientsfromcompostanddilutethemintoamildtonicthesamecolorastea.Sprayorpourcompostteaonandaroundplantsatwateringtime.Thesamebagofcompostcanbeusedtoproduceseveralbatchesoftea.Afterwards,theremainingcompostcanbedugintothesoilorusedasamulch.Soilbacteriaandplantsrootswillcontinuetoextractvaluablenutrientsfromthecompost.Summary Inthislesson,youlearnedaboutthenumerousbenefitsofcompost,howtotellwhenit’sfinished,andnumerousapplicationsforusingit.Nowtrytoanswerthestudyquestionsanddooneormorestudyactivities.Inthenextlesson,Lesson6,you’lllearnaboutothermethodsformanagingyardtrimmingsandfoodscraps.

StudyquestionsLesson5

1. Listatleastfivebenefitsoffinishedcompost.

2. Whatarethecharacteristicsoffinishedcompost?

3. Describeasimpletestfordeterminingifcompostisadequatelyaged.

4. Whatiscomposttea?5. Namethetypesofcompost

applicationsthatfinelyscreenedcompostisrecommendedfor.

Answerscanbefoundinthebackofthestudyguide.StudyactivitiesLesson5Soiltesting Ifyouhavenotalreadydoneso,considerhavingyoursoiltestedbyaUniversityofWisconsinsoil-testinglaboratory.Testingsoilcangiveinformationonthesoil’sabilitytosupplynutrientsforplantgrowth,providingascientificbasisfordecidinghowmuchnutrientsandlimeareneeded.AbasicsoiltestwillprovidedataonsoilpH,organicmattercontent,limerequirements,andphosphorusandpotassium.Thesoiltestcostsapproximately$7.00-$15.00.Ifyouwishtohavetheuniversitytestyoursoil,youcanbringasampleintoyourcountyExtensionofficeandpaythefeethere.Thesample(nomorethan11/2cups)shouldbeplacedinacleanplasticbagorawax-linedsoilsamplebagfromyourExtensionoffice.Testlawnandgardenareasseparately.UW-ExtensionFactSheetA2166,“SamplingLawnandGardenSoilsforSoilTesting”explainshowtotakeagoodsoilsample.Homesoiltestkitscanalsobepurchasedatgardenstoresorthroughmailordercatalogs.Testresults


fromthehomekitsmaynotbeasreliableaslaboratorytestingresults.Compostbenefits Experimentwithafewplantsinyourgardenorhometoseehowyourcompostaffectsgrowthoveraperiodoftime.Startwithatleastsixplantsofthesamespecies.Usehalfoftheplantsasacontrolwithnocompostaddition.Usefinishedcompostwiththeotherplants.Ifyoudothisexperimentinthegarden,addahandfulofcomposttotheholeswhiletransplantinghalfofthetestplants.Ifyoudecidetousecontainerizedplantsfortheexperiment,use1/4to1/3byvolumeofcompostintheplantingmixforhalfoftheplants.Avariationoftheexperimentistousecomposttearatherthanfinishedcompost.Monitorthegrowthofthetestplantsnotingdifferencesinheight,color,diseaseresistance,etc.

Brewcomposttea Whenyouhaveaccesstofinishedcompost,trybrewingupabatchofcomposttea.Useitforcontainerplantsinyourhomeandyard.Makenoteofchangesyouseeinyourplantsandifitseemstoaffectsometypesofplantsmorethanothers.


Master Composter

OTHER OPTIONS FOR MANAGING YARD TRIMMINGS & FOOD SCRAPS

Lesson Six

What’saheadinlesson6ofthehomestudycourse,you’lllearn:§ aboutvermicompostingandhowto

setupahomesystem;§ aboutthebenefitsofgrasscyclingand

howitcanbedonetoachieveanattractive,healthylawn;

§ whymulchescanimproveyouryard;§ howtomodifyorcreatealandscape

designforyourlotthatreducestheamountofyardtrimmingsgenerated.

Vermicomposting Wormcompostingprovidesaconvenientmethodforrecyclingkitchenscrapsintovaluableresources.Itistheprocessofusingredwormsandmicroorganisms(bacteria,protozoaandfungi)toconvertorganicwasteintovermicompost–anexcellentsoilamendment. Wormcompostingcanproducecompostforplants,wormsforfishingorboth.Thesamebasicdesignworksforproducingwormsorcompost,butthemanagementstrategiesdifferslightly.Inanycase,kitchenscrapsarerecycledintoanutrientrichproduct.Wormcomposting,properlymanaged,hasverylittlesmell,andcanactuallyreducetheundesirablesmellsassociatedwithkitchenscrapsmixedinwithgarbage.Vermicompostingalsoprovidesaninterestingtopicofconversationfor

dinnerguestsandhasservedasagreatscienceprojectformanyschoolchildren.Thecontainer(wormbox) Wormcompostingcantakeplaceinseveraltypesofcontainers.Oldwashtubs,plasticutilitytubs,dresserdrawersorusedshippingcratescanbeadaptedforwormcomposting.Containerscanalsobepurchasedatlocalstores,throughinternetsourcesorbuiltathome.

Twoimportantfeaturesofthecontaineraresizeandconstruction.Ifyouhavealargehouseholdorgeneratealotoffoodscraps,considerusingmorethanonecontainer.Largercontainerscanbeheavytomoveandhardtocleanwhenthewormcastingsarereadytoharvest. Sizingthecontainer–Therearetwomethodsforselectingwormboxdimensions—calculationorestimation.Eithermethodisusedfordeterminingthelengthandwidthofthecontainer.Since


wormsaresurfacefeeders,an8”–16”depthwillallowadequatespacetoburyscrapsregardlessofhorizontaldimensions.Foroccasionallargevolumesofscraps,considercompostingthesematerialsoutside. Calculation–Spaceneededforeachpoundofscraps–Getoutascaleandweighkitchenscrapseachweekforseveralweeks.Trytoselectatimewhenusageisata“normal”level.Thenusearatiooftenusedinsizingwormboxes:allowonesquarefootofsurfaceforeachpoundofscrapsperweek. Estimation–Ontheaverage,studiessuggesttwosquarefeetofsurfaceareaperperson.For1–2people,abox4squarefeetor2feetoneachsideshoulddo.For3–6people,try2x3feet.Modifydimensionsbaseduponhowoftenthecontributorstothewormboxeatout,dolargeamountsofcanningorfreezing,ordiscardleftoversandrottenflood.Location Containersshouldbeplacedinaconvenientlocationwherethewormswillnotbesubjectedtotemperatureextremes.Wormsdotheirbestworkattemperaturesrangingbetween55–77°F.Manypeoplestoretheirwormcontainersinthebasementtokeepthemoutoftheway.Othercommonlocationsincludekitchensorheatedgaragesandbreezeways. Containerscanbeplacedoutsideduringthesummer.Oncethedailytemperaturefallsbelow50degrees,thewormbinmustbebroughtindoors.(Wormbinsleftoutsideduringwarmmonthsruntheriskofbringingunwantedinsectsintothehouse.)Thedesignofthewormbinshouldmatchitsintended

location.Ifitwillbeinahighlyvisiblesite,putmoreeffortintoconstructionaesthetics.Constructingacontainer Wormboxescanbemadeoutofplasticorwood.Ifrecycledmaterialsareused,becertaintoavoidcontainerswithpossiblechemicalresiduessuchaspesticidesorpreservatives.Newplasticcontainersshouldbescrubbedwithstrongdetergentandrinsedwithhotwater. Ifyouselectaplasticcontainer,drill14–20holes(3/16”–1/4”)inthebottomforaerationanddrainage.Raisethebinonbricksorwoodenblocksforaircirculation.Placeatryunderneathtocatchexcessliquid. Ifyouplanonusingahome-builtcontainer,select5/8”exteriorgradeplywood,withthe“exterior”sideinside.Otherwoodenboardsorscraplumbermaybesubstituted.Useeithernailswithaspiralshape,orscrewstoincreaseholdingpowerunderalternatingwetanddryconditions.Avoidusingwoodtreatedwithpreservativesthatcouldleachunderacidiccompostingconditions.

Lesson6OtherOptionsforManagingYardTrimmings&FoodScraps


DimensionsforwormboxContainersize

Sides Ends Bottomandtop

A2-personbox(2’x2’x10”)-upto4lbs.scraps/week

23-3/8”x10”eachside

23-3/8”x10”eachend

24”x24”

3-6personbox(2’x3’x12”)–upto6lb.scraps/week

35-5/8”x12”eachside

23-3/8”x12”eachend

24”x36”

Additionalmaterialsandtools:• 2”x2”boardsforsupportinthe

cornersandalongthebottomedges(optional).

• Foursmallpiecesofwoodtoputonthebottomtoallowventilationunderthebin.

• 1-1/2–2”nailsorwoodscrews• 4”gatehingesforthetop• Tools–asaw,hammerandadrillwith

a1/4”bitforventilationholes. Assembly–Nailorscrewthesidestogether.Squareandsecuretothebottomwith5-7nailsforscrewsperside.Drill9-12drainageholesspacedevenlythroughoutthebottomsurface.Add2”x2”stothecornersandthebottomedgesforsupport.Nailthewoodenblockstothebottomcorners,orplacetheboxonboardsorcastersforaerationanddrainage.Keepaplasticsheetortrayunderneathtocaptureexcessmoisture,beddingorwormcastings. Youmaybeabletoextendthelifeofyourboxifyoufinishitwithawaterproofsealandallowittodrythoroughlyafterharvestingabatchofwormcomposting–priortoputtinginfreshbedding.Acontinuouslywetuntreatedboxmayonlylast2-3years.

Beddingmaterials Beddingfunctionsasahomeforthewormsandkitchenscraps,andhelpstoretainmoisture.Sincewormswillbelivingtheirentirelivesinthebedding,becertainitisfreefromfireretardants,pesticides,etc.Somesuggestionsformaterials: Machine-shreddednewsprintorcomputerpaperisoneofthemosteffectivebeddingmaterials.Itcanbefoundatrecyclingcentersoravailableatoffices.Avoidglossypapers. Hand-shreddednewsprintispreparedbytearingnewsprintintostrips.Whilemostreadilyavailable,itcanmatdowninlayers,makingitdifficulttoburykitchenscraps,andlargerstripsmaydryoutfasterthanmachine-shreddednewsprint.Avoidglossypapers.

Shreddedcardboard,whereavailable,isverydesirableandhasahighmoisture-holdingcapacity.Itcandryoutonthetopsandsides.Avoidfire-retardantsusedininsulations. Leavesarenaturalhabitatforworms,butmaycontainotheranimalssuchascentipedesthatcaneatworms.Leavescanmattogether,makingitdifficulttoburykitchenscraps.Avoidleavesfromheavy-trafficareasbecauseofthepotentialforheavymetalsfrommotorvehicleemissions.


Additives–Thesematerialscanbemixedinwithotherbedding,butarenotalwaysnecessary:o Peatmosswilllightenotherbeddings,

break up compaction and absorbexcessmoisture.Mixinapproximatelyone-thirdpeatmoss (byvolume) inacontainer.

o Soil or sand will add nutrients, and

additionalgrit,andaidindigestionforworms. Use nomore than handful ortwowheninitiallypreparingbedding.

o Pulverized egg shells or ground

limestone will add grit and calcium.Addsmallamountsperiodically.

Worms Whatkindofworms?–Thereareseveralkindsofearthworms.Thebesttypeforwormcompostingareredworms(EiseniafoetidaorLumbricusrubellus).Alsoknownasredwigglersandmanureworms,theyconsumelargeamountsoforganicmaterialintheirnaturalhabitatsofmanureanddecayingleaves.Nightcrawlersandothergardenwormsaregreatforthegardensoil,butwilldieintheconfinedconditionsnecessaryforwormcomposting. Howmanyworms?–Wormscanreproducerapidly,soregardlessofthestartingnumbers,wormpopulationswilleventuallystabilizebasedontheamountoffoodscrapsadded.Tohaveallgarbageconsumedfromthestartingset-uptime,someestimationof“averagefoodadded”willbenecessary.

Thiscalculationissimilartothatusedinsizingthecontainer,butherethecalculationisbaseduponaveragepoundsofscrapsperday.Wormsupplierstypicallymeasureredwormsbythepoundbecausevermicompostersusuallywant1000-2000wormstostartwith.Thenumberofwormsperpoundvariesdependingonthematurityoftheworms,but1poundconsistsofroughly1000worms.(Imaginecountingoutthatmanywormsatatimeforeachcustomer.) Ingeneral,add2poundsofwormsper1poundofdailyscraps,ora2:1ratio.The2’x3’x1’binisdesignedforapproximately7poundsofkitchenscrapsperweek,orapoundperday–soplanon2poundsofworms.Forthe2’x2’bin,tryabout1poundofworms.Ifyouareunabletostartwiththismanyworms,reducetheamountoffoodwasteputintothebinuntilthepopulationincreases.Redwormsmaturein60-90daysandproducecocoonsthattake21daystohatch.Once

wormsstartbreeding,theycanlaytwotothreecocoonsperweekwitheachcocoonhatchingtwotothreeworms.Wormpopulationsusuallydonotexceedthesizeofthecontainer

becausetheyarelimitedbytheavailabilityoffoodandroomtomoveandbreed. Wheretogetworms?–Ifyou’refortunate,youmaybeabletogetsomewormsfromafriendwhodoesvermicomposting.Adventuresome



composterscanfindtheminanoldleaformanurepile.Wormgrowersarealsoanexcellentsourceandcanbefoundsellingwormsontheinternet.Redwormsarealsoavailablethroughbaitdealers,thoughoftenatamuchhigherpricethanpurchasingfromgrowers.Thecareandfeedingofredwormsfillingthecontainer–Aftersettingupthewormboxandfindingasourceforredworms,it’stimetopreparetheirhome.Planonabout5-8poundsofdrybeddingfora2’x2’x1’box;and9-13poundsofdrybeddingforthe3’x2’x1’box.Mix3poundsofwaterperpoundofdrybedding–a3:1ratio.Remember,onegallonofwaterweights8pounds. Thebeddingthroughoutthecontainershouldbedamp.Add1-2handfulsofsoilorsandandmix.Liftandfluffthebeddinggentlytocreateairspaces.Leavespaceontopforapieceofblackplasticor2-3newspapersasacovertoretainmoistureandkeepoutlight.Ifyouuseaplasticcontainerwithalid,youmaywanttoleavethelidajartokeepthecontainerfromgettingtoowetinside.Sprinkleredwormsoverthesurface,breakingupanyclumps.Placeunderabrightlightandthewormswillburrowintothebedding.

Puttingfoodscrapsintothewormbox–Thereareanumberofalternatives,butthegeneralideaistoburyfoodscrapsunderafewinchesofbedding,thenreplacethecover.Ifdoneonarotationalbasisdiggingintounfinishedmaterialisavoided.Dividethebinintofourormoreimaginarysectionsandburysuccessiveloadsindifferentlocationsinthebin. Itcanbehelpfultohaveatemporarycontainer(e.g.,andicecreambucket)forfoodscraps,toperiodicallyemptyintoapartofthewormbin.Keepingarecordofyourcontributionscanbeafuntaskforacuriousadultoraninterestedchild.Howmuchistoomuch?–Agivenquantityofwormscanonlyeatsomuch.When“overloaded”,thesystemmaygoanaerobicandstarttosmell.Duringcanningorholidaytimes,whenthevolumeofscrapsexceedswormboxcapacity,planonsettingupaninterimbinorfindinganothermethodtohandlethematerial.Howlittleisnotenough?–Whilerelativelyeasytocarefor,wormswillexpireifneglectedtoolong.Skippingoneortwoweeksispossiblewithoutanyproblems,butifyouplantobegoneforamonthormore,youmaywanttofindafriendtofeedandlookafteryourworms.


Guideforaddingkitchenscrapsandothermaterialstoyourwormbin ExamplesandsuggestionsTypesoffoodtoadd Vegetableandfruitscrapsgeneratedduringfoodpreparation;coffee

grounds;spoiledfoodfromfridgee.g.bakedbeans,leftovercasserole;platescrapingse.g.pasta,vegetables,gravy;cheese;deviledeggs;crushedeggshells(donotbreakdownduringcomposting,butprovidecalciumforworms)

Cautionfooditems Largeamountsofbones,fatorothermaterialmayputrefy.Ifsmallamountsoftheseitemsareadded,grindorchopfirstsowormscanrecycleitmoreeasily.Considermixingthistypeoffoodwithsawdusttoreducepotentialforodors.

Donotaddthesematerials

Catlitter;plasticbags;metalcaps;orothernon-organicmaterials.

Keepingredwormshappy–Preventivemeasurescanmostreadilybetakenbycarefulobservationeachtimematerialisaddedtothewormbox.Somethingstowatchfor:

Strongsmell–Iftoomuchmaterialisaddedoverashorttimespan,anaerobicconditionscandevelop.Ifso,recoverthewormboxandallowthewormstoworkonthecontentsuntilfurtherbrokendown.

Wormsclimbingupsidesofcontainer,orthepopulationisdeclining–Mayindicatedyingworms,checkthefollowingandcorrect: Toohot–shadetheboxormovetoacoolerlocation Toowet–addfreshbeddingandventilationholes

Tooacidorsalty–addfreshbeddingandventilationholes.Deadwormsquicklydecomposeandarecleanedupbyotherorganismsinthebox.Youmaynotbeabletorecognizeanydeadworms.

Fruitflies–Tryoneormoreofthefollowingsolutionstocontrolfruitflypopulations:

o Cover:besureyouaremaintaininga2-3inchlayerofbeddingmaterialover

foodscraps§ Removebananapeelsandcitrusmaterialsfromthebin(untilfruitfly

populationsdeclines)o Changebeddingmaterialo Buildatrapusingasmalljar,plasticbag,beerandarubberband.Pourbeer

intothejar.Makeasmallholeinthecorneroftheplasticbagandinsertthebagintothejar.Fastenthebagtothejarwiththerubberband.Fruitflieswillbeattractedtothebeerandwillnotbeabletofindtheirwayout.

o Placeapieceofremayorinterfacingfabriconthetopofthebeddingmaterial



Harvestingwormsandcompost Howoftenyouharvestwormcastingswilldependonyourgoalsforvermicomposting-whetheryouaremoreinterestedinworms,thewormcastings,orhavingacontinuoussystem.Generally,ifyourmaingoalistousewormsforfishing,youmaywanttoharvestthebinevery2-3monthsandtransferthewormstofreshbedding.Theamountoffinishedcompostwillbeless.Ifyourgoalistoproducewormcastingsforplants,buryfoodscrapsfor4months,thenleavetheboxalonefor2-3months.Theresultwillbeaboxofrich,blackhomogeneouscastings.Considerusingasecondboxforvermicompostingduringthistimeperiod.)Ifyouwantcontinuouswormsandcompost,harvestcompostandpreparefreshbeddingevery3-4months.

Harvestingalternatives Wormsmoveawayfromlight,andfromtemperatureandmoistureextremes.Theywillalsomovetowardasourceoffreshfood.Combinethesefactorswithpersonalstyle,time,andproductprioritiesfromabove,toselectapreferredharvestingmethod.Someoptions: Dumpandhandsort–Dumptheentirecontentsoffinishedvermicompostontoalargesheetofplastic.Sortthematerialintocone-shapedmounds.Useabrightlightabovethemoundstodrivethewormstowardtheinteriorandbottomofeachmound.Wait5-10minutesandthengentlyscrapeofflayersofvermicompost

untilallyouhaveleftisamassofworms.Placethewormsintoatemporarystoragecontainerorawormboxwithfreshbedding.Watchoutfortiny,lemon-shapedwormcocoonsthatcontainbabyworms.Youmaywanttothrowtheminwithyourfreshbedding.Toprolongthelifeofawoodenwormbox,rinseitoutandsetitasidetodryduringthesortingprocess. Divideandharvest-Moveallthematerialtoonesideofthebox,addingfreshbeddingtotheotherside.Addfresh

scrapstothenewbeddingforseveralweeks,coveringonlythenewsidetoallowtheothertodryout.Soon,mostallwormswillhavemigratedtothenewside,andtheoldcompostcanbeharvested.Savethefinishedvermicompostfor

gardenandhouseplants.Puttingwormcomposttouse Wormsareveryeffectiveatturningkitchenscrapsintomaterialhighinavailableplantnutrients.Placeitsparinglywhereplantscanusethenutrientsrightaway.

Wheretousewormcompost Seedbeds–Sprinklealayerdownarowwhereseedsaretobeplanted.

Transplants–Whenstartingplantsinthegardenfrompottedplantsorflats,workahandfulormoreofwormcompostintotheholebeforeplanting.


Topdressing–Forhouseorgardenplants,putathinlayerofwormcompostaroundtheplants.Thenutrientswillworkdownfortherootswithnextrainsorwatering.Avoidplacingagainstplantstems. Pottingsoil–Afinemixforpottingsoilwouldbeabout1/4wormcompost,andtheother3/4afavoritepottingmix.Equalamountsofpeatmoss,perliteandsandorgardensoilworkwell. Broadcasting–Simplyscatteritoverthegardenandincorporateitintothesoil.Howmuchtouse? Ingeneral,wormcompostispreferablymixedwithgardenorpottingsoilmixes.100%wormcompostmaycontainsaltconcentrations,whichinhibitplantgrowth.Grasscycling Grasscyclingreferstothenaturalrecyclingofgrassclippingsbyleavingthemonthelawnaftermowing.Whengrassclippingsareallowedtodecomposeonthelawn,theyreleasevaluableplantnutrientssuchasnitrogen,phosphorusandpotassium.Clippingsalsohelpshadethesoilsurfaceandreducemoisturelossduetoevaporation.Residentswhograsscycleenjoygreener,healthierlawns.Inaddition,grasscyclingsavestime,workandmoney.AstudywasconductedinFortWorth,Texaswith147homeownerswhoquitbaggingtheirclippings.Thehomeownersmowedtheirlawns5.4timespermonthversus4.1timesbyhomeownerswhobaggedtheirgrass.However,thegrasscyclersspentanaverageofsevenhourslessduringthegrasscuttingseasononyardworkbecausetheydidnothavetospendtime

bagginggrassfordisposal.1Savingsinmoneycanberealizedfromreducedfertilizationrequirementsreducedneedfortrashbagsandlesswearandtearonmowersbynothavingabagattachmentfullofheavyclippings. Contrarytowhatsomefolksbelieve,grassclippingswillnotdamagelawns.Aslongasthelawnismowedregularlyandthemowerheightissetcorrectly,lawnsareimprovedbygrasscycling.Inthe1960s,itwascommonlybelievedthatgrassclippingswereamajorcomponentofthatchandthatremovingclippingswoulddramaticallyslowthatchdevelopment.Althoughthickamountsofthatch(over1/2”)candamagelawnsbyhamperingairandwaterfromreachinggrassroots,smallamountsofthatchareactuallybeneficialtoalawn.Asmallamountofthatchprovidesinsulationtorootsandservesasamulchtopreventexcessivewaterevaporationandsoilcompaction.An11-yearstudyattheUSDAresearchstationinBeltsville,Maryland,foundthatonanannualbasis,grasscyclingcontributesonly.03inchestothethatchlayer. Grasscyclingdoesnotspreadlawndisease.Diseasesporesarepresentwhetherclippingsaregrasscycledordisposedof.Turfgrassdiseaseoccurswhendisease-causingsporescontactsusceptiblegrassesundercertainenvironmentalconditions.

1Knoop,Bill.“Don’tBagIt:AnUrbanEducationalProgram”,TexasA&MUniversitySystem.



Mowing Mostalllawnmowerscangrasscycle.Nospecialequipmentisnecessarytograsscycle.Ownersofolderrearorsidedischargemowerscanremovethecatchingbagandcoverthedischargechutewithaplate/coverthatcanbepurchasedatalocalhardwarestore.Manymanufacturersalsohaveattachmentsthataresupposedtoimprovethemower’sgrasscyclingperformance.Mostnewmowersaredesignedforimprovedgrasscyclingwithdecksthatareshapedtocutclippingsintosmallerpiecessotheywillfallbelowthetopsofthegrassblades–helpingtopreventclumping.Propermowingwillincreaselawnquality.Forthebestresults,observethefollowingpractices:• Setyourlawnmowertocutatthe

properheight.Raisethemowingheightofthelawnmowerduringthespringandsummer.Thehighermowingheightencouragesdeeperrootgrowthduringthespringandreducesheatstressinthesummer.Seethemowingchartforrecommendedheights.

• Keepyourmowerbladesharp.Adullmowerbladetearsgrass,whichincreasesthechanceofdiseaseinfestations.

• Cutyourlawnwhenthegrassisdry.Wetgrassisdifficulttocutevenly,dullsbladesandtendstoformclumps.

• Mowoftenenoughsothatnomorethan1/3ofthelawnheightor1”iscutatonetime.

• Cleanthemowerdeckperiodically.Wetclippingscanbecomemattedontheundersideofthemowerdeck,resultinginclumpingofclippingsormechanicalfailures.Recommendedmowingheights

Grass Letlawn

growto:Recommendedheightofmowedlawn

Bentgrass 2” 1.5”FescueChewingFineTall

3”3”4”

2”2”3”

Kentuckyblue-grass

3½” 2½”

Ryegrass 3½” 2½”Grasscyclingisnotappropriateineverysituation.Prolongedwetweather,mechanicalbreakdownofmowers,orinfrequentmowingaresituationswhereclippingsshouldbebaggedorcollected.Theclippingscanbeusedinbackyardcompostpile.Theycanalsobeusedasamulchtoprovideweedcontrolandpreventmoisturelossaroundflowerbeds,treesandshrubs.Mulchingwithclippingsshouldbeavoidedifherbicideshavebeenappliedtothelawnwithinthepreviousthreeweeks.


Watering Inadditiontoreceivingnaturalrainfall,establishedlawnsneedirrigations.Inhotweather,lawnsmayneedasmuchasoneinchofwatereveryseventotendays.Avoiddailywatering,aslawnswateredtoofrequentlytendtodevelopshallowrootsystemsthatmakethemmoresusceptibletostressanddisease.Deep,infrequentwateringproducesdeeper,extensiverootsystemsthatenableturftoresistdiseaseandstress.Thebesttimetowaterisearlymorning,aslesswaterislostduetoevaporation.Trytoavoidwateringintheeveningsbecauseitmaypromotethedevelopmentofdisease. Thereareseveraltechniquesyoucanusetoidentifywhetheryourlawnneedswatering:• Footprinting-Walkacrossthelawn

andexaminethelawnbehindyoutoseeifyourstepsleftanyfootprints.Ifthelawnhaslowlevelsofwater,thenfootprintswillappearonthelawn.

• ScrewdriverTest—Pressa

screwdriverintothelawn.Ifitisdifficulttopushthescrewdriverintotheground,thenthesoilisverydryandneedstobewatered.

• Evapotranspiration–Somewater

utilitiesprovidecustomerswithdailyorweeklyestimatesoflawnwateringrequirementsbasedonweatherconditions.

• ConsultCountyExtensionAgentsor

MasterGardenersforadviceonappropriatelawnwateringinyourarea.

Anexceptiontotheruleofheavyandinfrequentwateringappliestonewlyseeded,pluggedorsoddedlawns.Theselawnsneedtobewatereddailyforabouttendays. Todeterminehowmuchwaterisbeingappliedfromyoursprinklerduringagiventimeframe,setastraight-sidedcanoutonyourlawnunderneaththepathofthesprinkler.Afteronehour,measuretheamountofwaterinthecanwitharulerortapemeasure.Forexample,oneinchofwaterinacanmeansthatone-inchofwaterhasfallenonyourlawn.

Fertilizing Properfertilizationshouldbedoneinconjunctionwithgrasscycling.Inordertobecomedenseandgreen,lawnsneedproperlytimedfertilizerapplications.Overfertilizationweakenslawnsandcausesexcessiveandsucculenttopgrowth.Fallisthebesttimetoapplyfertilizerstocool-seasongrassessuchas



KentuckyBluegrass,andtallfescues.Applicationoffertilizerinthefallwillimprovelawnquality,andmaximizerootgrowthandthestorageoffoodreserves.Applyingfertilizertocool-seasongrassesinthespringcan:• Encouragethegrowthofsummer

annualweedsandcrab-grassplants.• Stimulatetopgrowthwhichdepletes

foodreservesandslowsrootgrowthingrass.

• Makeslawnsmoresusceptibletodiseases,insectinfestations,andinjurywhenstressedduringdryersummermonths.

• Increasethefrequencyofmowingforafastgrowinglawn.

Soilsamplesshouldbetakenperiodicallytodeterminetheamountandtypesofnutrientsinthesoil.(CountyExtensionofficeswilltestsoilsforaminimalfee.)Byleavinggrassclippingsonthelawn,nitrogenisaddedtothesoil,reducingtheamountoffertilizerneeded.Formoderateevengrowth,andtoreduceleachingofnitrogenintothegroundwater,avoidtheusesoflargequantitiesof

fastactingfertilizers(ammoniumnitrate,ammoniumsulfate,orurea).Fertilizersshouldincludeslowreleasenitrogensourcessuchassulfur-coatedurea,ureaformaldehyde,IBDUororganicfertilizers.Mulching Usingorganicmulchisasimplewaytorecycleyardtrimmingsandimprovegardensandplantingbeds.Commonorganicmulchesincludematerialssuchaswoodchips,leaves,grassclippingsorcompost.Mulcheshavenumerousbenefitsandareusedforavarietyofreasons.• Mulchreducesevaporationfromthe

soilsurface.

• Mulchkeepsweedseedsfromgerminating.

• Mulchinsulatestherootsofplants

fromtemperatureextremesandhelpsprotectplantcrownsfromwintercold.

• Mulchdecreasessoilerosion,particularlyonslopedareas.

• Mulchhelpseasesoilcompaction

whenamulchedareaishitwithheavyrains.

• Mulchesprovideidealenvironmental

conditionsforearthwormsandothersoilorganismsthatarenecessaryforahealthysoil.

• Asmulchesbreakdownonthesurface,

theyaddvaluablenutrients.• Aproperlymulchedbedaroundthe

baseofatreecanprotectthetrunkfrombeingdamagedbyalawnmower.


Mulchingguidelines Largeleavesandsmalltwigsshouldbeshreddedbeforetheyareusedasamulch.Asimplewaytoaccomplishthisittoplacetheminsmallpiles,sixtoeightincheshighandtwofeetwide,onthelawn.Then,withalawnmowersetforthehighestcuttingheight,runovertherowonceortwice.Agrasscatcherattachedtothemowerishandyforcatchingleaves. Agrinder,shredderorchipperisnecessaryforlargebranchesandlimbs.Afewavidgardenersownthistypeofequipmentandmaybewillingtoprovideassistancetoneighbors.Manyrentalcompanieshavethisequipmentforrentonanhourlyordailybasis. Afewguidelinesformulchingarelistedbelow:• Mulchesshouldbeappliedafter

annualsandperennialsarewellestablished(fourtosixinchestall).

• Annualsandperennials(bothflowersandvegetables)shouldbemulchedwithamaterialthatbreaksdowninarelativelyshorttime,suchasgrassclippingsorpartiallycompostedleaves.Grassclippingscanbespreadinthinlayersovervegetableandflowerbeds,ormixedwithpartiallycompostedleavesandspreadinathickerlayer.Asmentionedintheprevioussection,donotmulchwithgrassclippingsthathavebeentreatedwithanherbicideforatleastthreeweeks.Duringthegrowingseason,itisbettertomulchwithfinishedcompost,grassclippingsormaterialsofalowercarboncontent.

• Spreadhealthyleaves,grassclippings

orshreddedgardentrimmingson

winter-fallowgardenstoprotectthesoil.Heavylayersofmulchonflowerandvegetablegardensshouldberemovedinthespringaboutthreeweeksbeforethelastspringfrostisexpected.Thiswillexposethesoiltothesunsobedswillwarmupproperlyforspringplanting–otherwise,thesoilmaystaycoldlongerinthespring.Lightlayersofmulchcanbeturnedintothesoilonannualbedsinthespring.

• Careneedstobeexercisedwhenusing

wholeleavesforinsulatinghardyplantsduringnorthernwintersbecausetheytendtoformicesheetsandmatdown,butwellshreddedleavescanbeusedformulchingfloweringperennials,raspberriesandgrapes.Leafmulchisbestappliedafterthegroundisfrozen.Ifdoneearlier,rodentsmayburrowinleavesanddamagegrowingplants.

• Certaintypesofleavescontain

substancesthatcanbeharmfultoplants.Thesetypesincluderhubarb,redcedar,walnutandbutternut.Freshwalnutorbutternutleavesshouldnotbeusedasamulchingmaterialingardensorleftonthelawnbecausetheycontainjuglone,achemicaltoxictoseveralplantspecies.Alloftheaboveleavescanbesafetycomposted.Thecompostingprocessbreaksdowntheharmfulchemicals.

• Pineneedleshavetheadvantageof

decayingslowing.Theytendtoacidifythesoil,makingthemidealasamulchforacidlovingplantssuchasazalea,rhododendron,holly,viburnum,blueberry,andstrawberry.Donotusetheminareasoftheyardorgarden



whereneutraloralkalinesoilsaredesired.

• Woodyplantsshouldbemulchedwith

atwotothreeinchlayerofshreddedorchippedwood.Donotmakethelayertoothickasasettledmulchmorethan4inchesthickrestrictstheaccessofoxygentothesoilandtoplantroots.Allowfreshlychippedwoodtodryoutbeforeapplying.Onnewlyplantedornamentaltreesandshrubs,extendthemulchedareaatleastsixinchesbeyondthecanopyspread.Thengraduallyexpandthemulchedareaastheplantgrows.Onceinplace,pullbackthemulchawayfromthemaintrunk(twotothreeinches)toavoidpossiblewooddecayanddeterrodentsfromgnawingonthebark.

• Pathscanalsobecoveredwith

shreddedorchippedwood,makingitasthickaspracticaltowearlongerandtokeepdownweeds.

• Weedtheareatobemulchedpriorto

applyingthemulch.Thesoilshouldbemoistbeforeapplyingmulchsincemulchslowsrainwaterinfiltration.Themulchcanalsobemoistenedafterapplicationtohelpsettleitandpreventitfromflyingaway.

Becreativewhenusingmulches.Inadditiontotheabovesuggestions,considerusingmulchesinanimalpens,

alongfencerowsandonthesurfaceofcontainerizedornamentalplants.Resourcesavinglandscapedesign Thekeytoestablishinganattractive,lowmaintenance,resourcesavingyardisplanning.Homeownerscaneasilyachieve

thistypeofyardiftheyarewillingtoinvestasmallamounttimeindevelopinganoverallplan. Thefirststepistoconductasurveyoftheyardandexistingplanting(ifany).Whileyoucantakementalnotes,itmaybemorehelpfultoprepareasimplediagramoftheyardshowingthelocationofthehouseandexistingplants.Graphpaperisreadilyavailableinstorestationarydepartmentsandcanbeusedtodevelopascaledrawing.Considermakingnotesaboutthefollowingtopics:

• Takeintoconsiderationthesurroundingarea.Planviews,visualizeitandscreenoutwhatmightbeconsideredundesirableviews.Atthesametime,thinkaboutareasofthehomeandyardthatcouldbeemphasizedandenhancedwithplantssuchasentrywaysandbackpatio/deckareas.

• Considertheformationofthelandanditscombinationofshadyareas,sunnyareas,lowareas,dampareas,slopes,etc.Also,checksoilsindifferentlocationoftheyardtodeterminesoiltypeandpresenceofplantnutrients.CountyExtensionofficesoffersoiltestsforaminimalfee.This


informationwillusefulwhenselectingproperplantvarietiesforeacharea.

• Lookforareaswheregrassdoesnot

(orwillnot)growwell.Lowmaintenancegroundcovers,shrubsandtreeswillprobablydobetterintheseareas.Perennials,shrubsandtreesgeneratefewertrimmingsandrequirelessfertilizer,water,laborandotherresourcesthanturf.

• Considerifthereareareasundertrees

thatcouldbeallowedtonaturalize.Thiswouldmeanthatnocultivatedplants,withthepossibleexceptionofspringfloweringbulbsornativeshrubs,wouldbeplantedandtheleafcoverwouldbeallowedtoremain.

• Lookatpossibilitiesforcreatingmulchedbedsaroundexistingtreesandshrubs.Mulchedbedswillsavetimemowinggrassandhelptheplants.Lawnareascompetewithtreesandshrubsforwater.Usingmulchtoseparateplantingareasfromlawnisbetterforbothgrassandornamentalplants.Considerplantingbedsthatconnectexistingtreesorshrubsisolatedinlawns.

• Lookforturfareasthatarewornbyheavyfoottrafficandconsiderwhethertheymightbereplacedbytough,lowmaintenancesurfaces.Examplesofsurfacesincludewoodchippaths,lowwooddecks,gravel,orconcreteorbrickpavers.

ThenextstepistoconsultwithcountyExtensionagents,Extensionmastergardeners,landscapedesignersand/orgardenstoresaboutdesirableplantsforyourlocation.Inaddition,thereareanumberofgardenreferencesandCooperativeExtensionpublicationswithplantlistings.Afteridentifyingpossibleplantsforyouryard,reviewtheirenvironmentalrequirements(e.g.sunorshade,moistordrysoil)andwhattheirmaturesizeis.Youmayalsowanttocheckondiseaseresistanceandothercharacteristicssuchattractivenesstowildlifetypeofflowers,andwinterhardiness.Makeamasterlistofplantsthatappealtoyouandaresuitableforyouryard.Usethismasterlistwhenworkingonadiagramplanforyouryard.Thefollowingisalistofsuggestionstoconsiderwhencreatingormodifyingyourlandscapedesign.• Wheneverpossible,usenativeplants.

Plantsthathaveadaptedtolocalclimatesandsoilswillthrivemuchbetterthansomeoftheimportedspecies.Plantslowergrowingvarietiesratherthanthefastgrowing-hybridsthatwillrequiremuchmorepruning.

• Workwiththedirectionallayoutofthelandscape.Plantsthatdowellinthesunshouldbeplacedinanareathatwillnotbeshadedoverinafewyears.Wind-tenderplantsshouldnotbeplacedinanunprotectedarea



wheretheycouldbedamagedwithcoldwinds.Healthyplantsusuallyrequirelessmaintenancethanunhealthyplants.Theydonotloseasmuchfoliage,twigs,branches,etc.Inaddition,theyrequirelesspruning.

• Naturalizeasmuchofthelandscapeaspossible.Itisn’tnecessarytorakeupallleaves—onlythoseonturfgrass,groundcoversandgardens.Ifthereisonlyathinlayerofleaves,itcanbemulcheddownbelowthetopofthegrasswithamulchinglawnmower.Manyareasdoverywellwiththenaturalleavesleftbytheshrubsandtrees.Naturalizedareashavealessmanicuredlook,butcanbejustasaestheticallypleasing.Moreimportantly,thispracticerequireslessmaintenanceandreducesyardwaste.

• Plantforthefuture.Thinkhowthe

yardwilllookin10to15yearsandspaceplantsaccordingly.Instantlandscapeswillbejunglesinashorttime.

• Ifyouhavelargerlawnareas,youmay

wanttoinvestigatewildflowermixesthatcancreate“attractive”meadowsrequiringlittlewater.Thesemeadowstypicallyonlyneedtobemowedonceortwiceeachsummerafterplanting.

Anotherwaytoreducegenerationofyardtrimmingsistothinkaboutyourcurrentshrubandtreemaintenancepractices.• Doesyourlandscapehavemany

shrubsthatareshearedfortighthedgesorroundedglobes?Ifso,considerationshouldbegiventochangingthislooktoamorenatural

free-formappearanceinordertoreducetheamountofpruning.Sometypesofhedgescanbeleftunshearedtoassumeanattractivenaturalform.Shearinghedgesgenerateslargeamountsofwoodyorevergreentrimmingsthataredifficulttocompostathomeoruseasmulchunlessshredded.Somehedgeplantsproduceattractiveflowersorfruitthatattractbirdsiftheyareleftunsheared.

• Arethetreesandshrubsonanannualfertilizingschedule?Mosttreesandshrubsreceivenutrientsfromthesurroundinglawnarea.Iftreesandshrubsareshowingreasonablegrowthandappearhealthy,fertilizerisnotnecessary.Fertilizingpromotesgrowthandadditionalgrowthwillproducemoreleavesinthefallandmayrequiremorepruning.

• Aretreesandshrubsshowingsignsofstress,disease,insectdamageorpoorgrowth?Asmentionedearlier,havethesoiltestedbythelocalCooperativeExtensionServicetodeterminewhatnutrientsarenecessaryforthehealthoftheplant.

• Aretreesbeingtoppedwhentheyarepruned?Thispracticeinjuresthetreeandleadstoexcessivegrowth.Selectiveremovalofbranchesisbetterforthetreeandproduceslesswaste.


Summary Inthislesson,you’velearnedaboutthreeadditionalmethodsforreducingandrecyclingyardtrimmings.Grasscyclingproducesahealthierlawnwhilesavingtimeandmoney.Mulchingwithorganicmaterialsisawaytoreuseyardtrimmingsandimprovegardensandplantingbeds.Withasmallinvestmentinplanning,resourcesavinglandscapedesignhelpscreateanattractiveyardthatgeneratesfewertrimmings. Youhavealsolearnedhowvermicompostingcanbeusedtomanagefoodscrapsandproducevaluableproductssuchasfertilewormcastingforplantsandwormsforfishing.Nowseehowwellyoucananswerthestudyquestionsandconsidertryingoneormoreofthestudyactivities.StudyquestionsLesson6

1. Listfivebenefitsofgrasscycling.2. Trueorfalse?Leavingclippingson

thelawncontributestothebuild-upofthatch.

3. Explainfivebenefitsofmulchingwithorganicmaterials.

4. Describehowtodeveloparesourcesavinglandscapedesign.

5. Trueorfalse?Anytypeofearthwormcanbeusedforvermicomposting.

6. Describetwowaystoharvestthewormcastings.

Answerscanbefoundinthebackofthestudyguide.

StudyactivitiesLesson6GrasscyclingdemonstrationConductagrasscyclingdemonstrationinyourfrontyardsoyouandyourneighborscanobservefirst-handanydifferencesbetweenareasoflawnwhereclippingsarecollectedandwheretheyareleftonthelawn.Ifpossibledivideyourfrontlawnareainhalfperpendiculartothestreetsothatpedestriansandmotoristspassingbycanalsobenefitfromyourdemonstration.Forbestresults,trythedemonstrationforaminimumof2-3months.Considerplacingoneortwosignsinyourfrontyardtoinformpassersbyofyourexperiment. Thedemonstrationwillbeeasiesttodoifyouownaconvertiblemowerwitharemovablebaggingattachment.Ifyouownamulchingmowerthatdoesnotallowbagging,youmayneedtoraketheclippingsinone-halfofthefrontyard,andthebagthem.Analternativewouldbetotradelawnmowerswithaneighbororfriendforafewmonthsiftheyownamowerwithabaggingattachment. Thegrasscyclingdemonstrationwillbemostsuccessfulifyoufollowtheguidelinesforcutting,wateringandfertilizingyourlawnoutlinedinthislesson.Vermicompostingbin Teachingaboutaparticularsubjectisalwayseasierwhenyouhavefirst-handknowledgeaboutthetopic.Ifyoudonotalreadyhaveavermicompostingbin,considerstartingoneusingtheinformationprovidedinthislesson.A10-gallonRubbermaidtypebinwithholesdrilledinfordrainageisanicesizeifyouthinkyoumightuseitfordemonstrations.Itmaynotbelargeenoughtohandleallof



yourfoodscrapsinwhichcase,youmightwanttoutilizetwo10-gallonbins.

Otherresources

Applehof,Mary,1998.WormsEatMyGarbage,FlowerPress,KalamazooMI49002,www.wormwoman.com


Master Composter

Appendix–StudyQuestionAnswers

StudyquestionanswersLesson1

1. Reasonsformanagingorganicmaterialsathomeincludeproducingavaluablesoilamendment,reducingtheneedforwaterandcommercialfertilizers,savingmoneyoncollectingandmanagingorganicmaterialsoff-site,andsavinglandfillspace(foodscrapsandothernon-recyclableorganics).

2. Youcanreduceyardtrimmingsbyleavinggrassclippingsonthelawn,reducingyourlawnarea,anddevelopinghomelandscapesthatmimicnaturalsystems.Youcanreuseorganicmaterialsbymulchingwithitemssuchasshreddedleaves,grassclippingsandwoodchips.Organicrecyclingcanbeaccomplishedusingbackyardcompostingand/orvermicomposting

3. Approximately24percentoftheresidentialwastestreaminWisconsinismadeupofyardtrimmingsandfoodscraps.Paststudiesofbackyardcompostinghasshowntheaveragecomposterwillcompost550to750poundsofmaterialperyear.

4. Itemsnotincludedinthelegaldefinitionofyardwasteincludestumps,roots,shrubswithintactrootballs,Christmastrees,wreathsorgarlands,andfloralarrangements.

5. Threebyproductsfromtheopenburningofleavesincludeparticulatematter,carbondioxideandhydrocarbons.


1. Compostingisthebiologicaldecompositionoforganicmaterialinthepresenceofoxygenintoahumus-likesubstancecalledcompost.Thenaturaldecompositionprocessisacceleratedandimprovedbycontrollingenvironmentalfactors.

2. FamousindividualthatmadementionoforusedcompostduringthelastfivehundredyearsincludeWilliamShakespeare,SirFrancisBacon,SirWalterRaleigh,StephenHoyt,GeorgeWashington,ThomasJefferson,JamesMadison,Dr.GeorgeWashingtonCarver,SirAlbertHoward,andJ.I.Rodale.

3. Aerobicbacteriaareconsideredthemostimportantdecomposerbecausetheyareveryabundant,andprovidethemostrapidandeffectivecomposting.

4. Earthwormsingestorganicmaterialandleavebehinddarkfertilecastings.Thecastingsarerichinnutrientsthatcanbereadilyusedbyplants.

5. Sixkeyfactorsthataffectthecompostingprocessincludefood(carbonandnitrogensources),air,moisture,temperature,particlesizeandvolume.

StudyQuestionAnswers



1. Varietyincreasesthetypesofmicroorganismsatworkinyourpileandyourchancesofobtainingnutrientrichcompost.

2. Fresh,juicymaterialsandmaterialsofanimalorigin(e.g.feathers,hair,manure,bloodmeal)aretypicallyhigherinnitrogen.Drier,older,orwoodyvegetableandplanttissuesareusuallyhigherincarbon.

3. Diseasedplants,grassclippingstreatedwithpesticides,lime,perniciousweedsandwoodashes.

4. Catlitterandpetwastesmaycontainpathogenicbacteria,virusesandparasitesthatrequireprolongedhightemperaturestobedestroyed.Avoiddroppingsfromtropicalbirdsastheytoomaycontainharmfulpathogens.Beddingfromgerbils,hamsters,rabbitsandotherherbivorouspetsisO.K.toaddtoacompostpilebecausetheirdigestivesystemsdonotcontainenzymeslikelytobeharmfultohumans.

5. Holdingunits,turningunits,heaps,sheetcomposting,andsoilincorporation.6. Turningunits.


1. Foodscrapsshouldbeburiedatleast8inchesdeepinahighcarbonmaterialsuchasleaves.Onlyaddfoodscrapstoacompostpileduringthewinterifitcontainsplentyofcarbon-richmaterialandisatleastonecubicyardinsize.Inaddition,thepileshouldbeturnedinthespringassoonasitthawsout.

2. Physicalfactorstoconsiderwhenchoosingacompostingsiteincludegooddrainage,fairlylevelground,protectionfromstrongwinds,convenientaccesstowater,temporarystoragespaceandadequateroominfrontofthepileforeasyaccess.Avoidputtingacompostpileagainstbuildingsorunderneathdrippingeavesanddownspouts.

3. Thefollowingareuniquetothe“Hotandfast”compostrecipe:useofacompostbinthatfacilitatesturning,collectingmaterialstofillthebinbeforestartingthepile,mixinglayersofcarbon-andnitrogen-richmaterials,closemonitoringoftemperatures,andregularturning.

4. Acompostpileodorthatsmellslikeamixtureofrancidbutter,vinegar,androtteneggsisprobablycausedbythepilebeingtoowetwithnotenoughoxygen.Thisproblemcanberemediedbyturningthepileandaddingdrycoarsematerialssuchasshreddedleaves,straworchoppedcornstalks.Acompostpileodorthatsmellslikeammoniamaybecausedbytoomuchnitrogen.Thesolutiontothisproblemistoaddmaterialshighincarbonsuchasshreddedleaves,woodchips,orshreddednewspaper.Inaddition,thepileshouldbeaerated.

5. False,duringtheinitialstagesofcomposting,thepHofthepileislikelytobeslightlyacidic.Thepilewillneutralizeonitsownaslongasitgetsenoughoxygen.Itisbettertoleavelimeoutofcompostpilesandaddittosoil,ifneeded.

6. Healthconsiderationsrelatedtobackyardcompostingincludedpossiblepathogensgeneratedbypetwastes(avoidputtingdog,cat,andpetbird,wastesintoapile).


IndividualswhoareallergictoAspergillusfumigatusandothermoldsandfungalorganismsshouldtakeprotectivemeasurestominimizeexposure.


1. Compostgreatlyimprovesoiltexturewhilealsoimprovingsoil’swater-retentioncapability,soilaeration,andresistancetoerosion.Otherbenefitsofcompostincludeaddingandstoringnutrientsinthesoil,improvingsoil’sabilitytobufferrapidchangesinpH,andneutralizecertaintoxins.Compostcanalsohelpkeepsoiltemperaturesstable.

2. Finishedcompostisdark,looseandcrumbly.Ithasasweetandearthysmell.Mostoftheoriginalmaterialswillnotberecognizable.Thetemperatureoffinishedcompostwillbeapproximatelythesameastheoutsideairtemperatureanditshouldnotreheat.Youmayalsofindlotsofmacroorganismsinitsuchasearthwormsandsowbugs.

3. Agerminationtestcanbeconductedwithafewlettuceorradishseeds.Theseedsshouldbesoakedinateamadewithcompost.Anequalnumberofthesametypeofseedssoakedindistilledwater.Thebatchesofseedsshouldbelaidonapapertowelandkeptwarmandmoistforafewdays,untiltheygerminate.Ifthedistilled-water-treatedseedsgerminatebetter,thecompostneedstobeagedlonger.

4. Compostteaismadefromabagofcompostsoakedinwater.Nutrientsfromthecompostleachintothewater,producingamildtonicthesamecolorastea.Theteaisanexcellentwaytoprovidenutrientstoplantsandcanbeappliedatwateringtime.

5. Finelyscreenedcompostisrecommendedfortop-dressinglawnsandwhenmakingcontainerplantingmixes.


1. Grassclippingsreleasevaluableplantnutrientssuchasnitrogen,phosphorus,andpotassium.Theyalsohelpreducemoisturelossduetoevaporation.Inaddition,grasscyclingsavestime,workandmoney.

2. False.Grassclippingsarenotamajorcomponentofthatch.Asmallamountofthatch—lessthan1/2inch—providesinsulationtotherootsandservesasmulchtopreventexcessivewaterevaporation.

3. Mulchreducesevaporationfromthesoilsurface,keepsweedsdownbysuppressingthegerminationofseeds,anditinsulatestherootsofplantsfromtemperatureextremes.Otherbenefitsofmulchesincludedecreasingsoilerosion,easingsoilcompaction,andtheadditionofvaluablesoilnutrientsasdecompositionoccurs.Mulchescanalsohelpprotecttreetrunksfrombeingdamagedbylawnmowers.

4. Thefirststepfordevelopingaresourcesavinglandscapedesignistosurveytheyardandexistingplantings.Lookatsurroundingviews,sunlightpatterns,slopes,soils,areasofheavyfoottrafficandhowwellexistingturfandplantsgrow.Next,consultpublicationsand/orexpertssuchasExtensionagents,MasterGardeners,landscapedesigners,andgardenstorepersonneltoresearchlocallyavailableplants

StudyQuestionAnswers


forthedesiredlocation.Considerusingnativeplantsandplacingtheminnaturalizedareasandmulchedbeds.Selectappropriateplantsfordifferentlocationsonthepropertyusinginformationobtainedduringthesitesurvey.

5. False.Thebesttypeofwormstouseforcompostingareredworms(EiseniafoetidaorLumbricusrubellus).Nightcrawlersandothergardenwormswilldieintheconfinedconditionsnecessaryforwormcomposting.

6. Twomethodsforharvestingwormcompostincludethedumpandhandsortmethodandthedivideandharvestmethod.Thefirstmethodinvolvesdumpingthecontentsofawormbinontotoplastic,formingthematerialintomounds,andscrapingoffthevermicompostuntilamassofwormsisleft.Thewormsarethenplacedintothebinwithfreshbeddingandthevermicompostcanbeusedforplants.Withthedivideandharvestmethod,thefinishedvermicompostismovedtoonesideofthewormbin.Freshbeddingisaddedtotheotherside.Foodscrapsshouldbeaddedtothenewbeddingandwithinthreetofourweeks,thewormsshouldmigratetothefreshbedding.

Copyright©2015bytheBoardofRegentsoftheUniversityofWisconsinSystemdoingbusinessasthedivisionofCooperativeExtensionoftheUniversityofWisconsin–Extension.Allrightsreserved.Authors:HollyJohnsonShiralipourisadistrictconservationistwiththeUSDANaturalResourcesConservationService.CooperativeExtensionpublicationsaresubjecttopeerreview.Reviewers:JoeVanRossumisarecyclingspecialistandnaturalresourceseducatorwiththeEnvironmentalResourcesCenter,UniversityofWisconsin–Extension,CooperativeExtension.KathyPowellisaformereducationandprogramspecialistwiththeRecyclingConnectionsCorporation.UniversityofWisconsin–Extension,CooperativeExtension,incooperationwiththeU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureandWisconsincounties,publishesthisinformationtofurtherthepurposeoftheMay8andJune30,1914,ActsofCongress.AnEEO/AAemployer,theUniversityofWisconsin–Extension,CooperativeExtensionprovidesequalopportunitiesinemploymentandprogramming,includingTitleIXandADArequirements.Ifyouhaveadisabilityandrequirethisinformationinanalternativeformat,orifyouwouldliketosubmitacopyrightrequest,pleasecontactCooperativeExtensionPublishingat432N.LakeSt.,Rm.227,Madison,WI53706;[email protected];or(608)263-2770(711forRelay).ThispublicationisavailablefromyourcountyUW-Extensionoffice(counties.uwex.edu)orfromCooperativeExtensionPublishing.Toorder,calltoll-free1-877-947-7827orvisitourwebsiteatlearningstore.uwex.edu.MasterComposterHomeStudyCourse(G4107) I-11-2015

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