Transcript Lynn Malley Compostingx - Oklahoma Cooperative Extension

Composting Organics in Your Backyard –
That Stuff’s Not Trash!
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Solid Waste Management (SWM)
Prepared by Lynn Malley, Assistant State Extension Specialist, SWM
[email protected]
Town and Country Gardening Workshop
1.29.2016
What Is the Purpose of the Solid
Waste Management Grant?

Provide assistance to communities that are
◦
◦
◦
◦

Small
Rural
Native American
Other
What does that mean?
◦ Partnering with these communities to improve
SWM
◦ Building bridges among those interested in SWM

Funded by USDA Rural Development
OK’s First Organics Conferences and
Farm Tour
Featured in 2015-2016
ODEQ - Environmental Law and
Regulation Enforcement





This is a regular
program
Michael Freeman is the
trainer
8 CLEET credit hours
3 times each spring
Recently, we expanded
from straight law
enforcement to
regulatory enforcement
Featured for 2015-2016
Organics Waste Diversion from
Landfills
Hot topic nationally
 20-40% of landfill materials are food
waste and yard waste
 These produce higher amounts of
methane gas
 Large parts of Oklahoma are food deserts
 We can use the food scraps
 We can compost the waste
 www.facebook.com/compostok

What is Composting?
Natural decomposition of organic materials by
microorganisms
•Insects
•Worms
•Bacteria
•Fungi, etc.
Requires organic materials and some water
May or may not require air
Compost Happens
Or not contained…
Whether contained….
Methods of Composting
Bin, Tumbler, Chamber, or home made System
Commercial
Scale
Windrows at
CommonWealth Gardens OKC
Static Compost Pile at the OKC Zoo
4 Bin System with Pallets
Pallet Bins from Growing a Greener
World

http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/e
pisode225/
Compost Inputs and Tools
Inputs
Tools
Fruits and vegetables
Straw
Grass Clippings
Leaves
Rake
Shovel
? Bin
? worms
Compost Steps
High Carbon - Brown
Dead Leaves
Straw
Paper
High Nitrogen - Green
Produce Scraps
Grass Clippings
Coffee Grounds
Manure
Organic Matter
Great stuff!!
•Promotes microbial growth
•Improves soil tilth (workability)
•Promotes root development
•Improves soil aeration & drainage
•Improves water retention in
sandy soils
•Lessens soil compaction
•Etc. Etc. Etc.
Organic Matter
•Matter that comes from a onceliving organism
•Is capable of decay
•Is made up of organic
compounds
Finished Compost
•The
decomposed remnants
of organic matter
•Soil Amendment
•Stable
•Dark Brown or Black
•Earthy Smell
Use of Compost
Soil amendment
50-100 lbs/100 sq. ft.
At planting in garden
In planting hole or trench
Component of potting mix
30-50% of mix
Mulching
2-3” thick
Lawn
•Soil amendment before
planting
•Top dress use up to ¼”
per year
Reasons to Compost:
Food Waste = Food for People, Animals,
and Plants

Ugly veggies
 Overripe crops
 Compost

Advantages
◦ Good, local food for
people in smaller,
underserved areas
◦ Extra unusable food
for animals
◦ Easily, locally made
compost
◦ Less need for
infrastructure
◦ More independence
◦ Interested?
Master Composters

The program
◦ Training coming for
trainers in small towns
around the state
◦ Based on the Master
Gardener program
◦ Trainers will donate 20
hours of training to
others in their area

The benefits
◦ Use of real food waste
◦ Production of a great
growing medium for
local gardens
 Schools
 Senior Centers
 Small Communities
◦ Production of richer
soil for absorbing and
holding water
Questions?
Lynn Malley
Assistant State Extension Specialist
Solid Waste Management
[email protected]
405.744.9827 W