Transcript Composting - DRSS 6th Grade

Composting:
the rotten truth
Composting
Composting is the transformation of
organic material (plant matter) through
decomposition into a soil-like material
called compost or Humus.
Invertebrates (insects and earthworms),
and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi)
help in this transformation.
Why do it
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Environmentally responsible
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Keeps biodegradable waste out of
landfills and sewage plants
Alternative to burning
Gives you a vibrant garden
without chemical fertilizers
Saves money
Learning tool
What it involves
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Adding ingredients
Maintaining proper temperature
Turning
Maintaining moisture
Harvesting
Bin composting
“backyard composting”
Compost bin types
• There is a great deal of variety in
composting structures
• Compost bins vary in their cost,
required labor, volume, and time
required for finished compost
Ready made – Holding or Tumbler
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Expensive
Limited capacity
Good if space is an
issue
Holding units
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Helps keep decomposing materials organized
Reduces pest problems
Requires no turning
Relatively slow rate of decomposition (6
months to 2 years)
Turning Bins
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Three bins are best
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One to fill
One that’s “cooking”
One to turn others into or to draw from
Turning units
• Allow for easier mixing of materials
• Result in a hotter pile and reduced composting time (as
soon as 2-3 weeks)
• Usually more expensive and more labor intensive
Threechambered
bin
Barrel or
drum
composter
Bin-less pile
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Just a pile with no partitions
Hard to maintain sufficient depth to
achieve high enough temperatures
Easy and nothing to build
Moveable
Open piles
• Slowest rate of decomposition
• Least expensive method
• Minimal pest control and containment
Vermicomposting
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Environment friendly. Bare in mind that
using earthworms for composting is very
beneficial, as they only feed on organic
materials that are ecological.
this process also helps in minimizing
garbage disposals.
Worm composting does not have a need for
imported inputs, since red worms and
various worm feeds (like grasses, used
papers, farm wastes such as animal manure,
etc.) are now made available in several
markets today.
worm composting process can eventually
lead you to a money-making venture. You
can sell both the worms and its castings,
and you’ll definitely have a ready market
available.
Vermicomposting
• Method of composting kitchen scraps and
other organic material
• Materials are placed in an aerated container
with redworms
– Redworms are able to digest 2/3 their body weight
in a day
• Worm bins can be made out of any material
that holes can be drilled into
What you can compost
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Yard waste
Kitchen scraps
Newspaper
Cardboard
Browns (Carbon)
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Leaves, twigs, woody plant parts
Straw, hay
Sawdust, wood chips (clean wood)
Shredded paper, newspaper,
cardboard
Non-recyclable paper goods
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Paper towels, napkins
Paper plates & cups not coated with
plastic
Soiled cardboard (pizza boxes, ice cream
cardboard tubs)
Old mulch & potting soil
100% cotton, linen & wool fabrics
(cut in small pieces)
Greens (Nitrogen)
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Grass clippings, garden plants
Indoor plants, cut flowers
Weeds (without seeds)
Food Scraps
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Fruit & vegetable trimmings & peels
Coffee grounds & filters, tea bags
Breads & other bakery goods
Rice & other grains
Pasta & cereals
Egg shells
Farm animal manure
Vegetarian pet cage waste
(hamster, guinea pig, rabbit)
Best not to compost at home:
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Diseased plants or plants infested by insects
Weeds that spread by root or runner or weeds with seeds
Painted or treated wood
Dairy products (cheese, yogurt, etc.)
Meats
Bones and shells
Cooking oils, fat or grease
Dog and cat pet waste
Compostable plastics
Vacuum cleaner bags
C:N ratio
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Should be 30 parts carbon to 1 part
nitrogen by weight
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Grass Clippings 19:1
Leaves 40:1
Equal weight of each would give you
approximately 30:1 ratio for pile
Compost bin size
• For fast efficient composting your bin needs to be
– Large enough to hold heat and moisture
– Small enough to admit air through the center
• Rule of thumb
– A compost pile need to be
at least 3ft. by 3ft. by
3ft.
– Upper limits are about 5ft.
by 5ft. by any length
Building your Compost pile:
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Brown material
Green material
Brown material
Green material
Bottom layer (brown material)
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Start with bottom layer
of brown material.
Alternate green and
brown materials.
Finish with cover layer
of brown material.
Add water until pile is
as wet as a wrung out
sponge
Care of compost
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Passive
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Let sit
Takes months and months
Active
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Turn often
Keep moist (H2O 40-60% of weight)
Have proper ratio of C:N (30:1)
2-6 weeks (depending on ingredients)
Let’s get real
Concerns
I don’t have room
Solutions
Use commercial bin
It takes too long
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It smells
Not if you maintain C:N ratio
Temps too low to kill
diseases, fungi, weed seeds
Use local community composting
facility for problem pieces,
compost the rest
Attracts animals
Bury food waste in center
Maintain proper conditions
 Cut up large pieces
Uses
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Early stages as mulch
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Later stages for soil amending
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Keeps weeds from growing
Helps retain moisture
Beneficial minerals go into soil
Enriches soil
Helps with moisture retention
Removes/reduces need for chemical
fertilizers that leach into our ground water
What method is right for me???
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How much space do I have?
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What do I want to compost?
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Is it indoor or outdoor or both?
How much waste do I have a week?
How and where do I want to use the compost?
How much time can I spend on it a week?
What’s my ewww! factor?
How committed am I to composting?
Finished Compost
• Avoid using unfinished compost, organic
acids may harm plant roots
• If compost is still hot, smells like ammonia,
or
you can still identify much of the
original organic material it is not
ready to use yet
Finished Compost
• Composting is complete when the pile stays at or
near the ambient temperature
• Finished compost is dark, crumbly, and has an
earthy smell
• The volume of finished compost will
have been reduced by 30 to 50 percent
Backyard composters
Resources
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Purdue Extension office
Library
Internet
Bin
Anaerobic
Tumbler
Just do it!
composting
Vermi
Pail
Sheet