Why Compost?

An Analysis of CompostingAs an Environmental

Remediation Technology – US EPA – 1998EPA530-R-98-008

What can you compost?

• food scraps• yard clippings• weeds (think about

seeds)• paper• woody organic

material (best chopped up)

• coffee grounds

The greens and browns of compost…

Greens!• Urine (diluted with water 20:1) • Comfrey leaves • Nettles • Grass cuttings • Other green materials• Raw vegetable peelings from your

kitchen • Tea bags and leaves, coffee

grounds • Young green weed growth – avoid

weeds with seeds • Animal manure from herbivores

eg cows and horses • Poultry manure and bedding

Browns!• Cardboard eg. cereal packets and

egg boxes • Waste paper and junk mail,

including shredded confidential waste

• Cardboard tubes • Newspaper –• Bedding from vegetarian pets eg

rabbits, guinea pigs – hay, straw, shredded paper, wood shavings

• Tough hedge clippings • Old bedding plants • Bracken • Sawdust • Wood shavings • Fallen leaves

http://www.gardenorganic.org

The C’s and N’s of compost….

Rynk, R., M et al. 1992. On-Farm Composting Handbook. R. Rynk (Ed.). NRAES-54. Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service. Ithaca, NY.

Aim for a compost that has a C:N ratio of 30:1…

a note about moisture

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wester/34207376/

Build it big – for the bacteria…!