Watkins Products - Composting

	HOME COMPOSTING Three Step Method to Quick and Easy Composting
	Efficient composting is dependent on creating the proper conditions for the organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that do the work of decomposition. First, these organisms need a mixture of materials high in carbon and nitrogen. Your yard and food wastes contain a lot of both. Materials rich in carbon are usually brown and dried, like dead leaves. Materials rich in nitrogen are usually green and moist, like fresh-cut grass. In addition to controlling the mix of materials going into your bin, proper amounts of air and water are also necessary for healthy composting. Step 1- Gather Your Materials Find carbon-rich materials throughout your yard or garden, such as dried leaves or prunings. Next, gather your nitrogen-rich materials, such as freshly cut grass. If possible, gather enough to completely fill your compost bin, which should measure 3'x3'x3' (holding one cubic yard of material). If you don't have enough material to fill your bin, add more later as you collect it. Step 2- Build your compost system Select a compost bin location that gets filtered sunlight with plenty of shade. Start your compost system on loosened soil. Begin by applying one six-inch layer of carbon-rich material. Add a generous amount of water. Next add a two-inch layer of nitrogen-rich materials. Scatter a thin layer of soil or finished compost on top to act as a compost "starter". Add a generous amount of water. Repeat this carbon-nitrogen-starter-water layer building process until your compost bin is full. Your last layer should be of carbon-rich materials. Step 3 - Maintain your Compost system Maintaining your system will require ten minutes every 7 to 10 days. Turn and mix the materials in your system using a pitchfork or compost turning tool. This adds air to your system, important to healthy composting. Add enough water while turning to moisten the contents, like a moist sponge. If your pile becomes warm or hot, that means faster composting is taking place. Your pile will shrink in volume as time goes on, allowing you to add more yard and kitchen waste materials. After three or four months, the contents of your bin will have turned into dark, crumbly earth called humus. This completes the compost process.
	Frequently Asked Questions About Home Composting I understand bacteria and fungi are involved in the composting process. Is this dangerous to my health? Absolutely not! The microorganisms found in your compost system are natural to the outdoor environment and pose no threat to you, your family, or your pets. What materials should not be added to my compost bin? The mistake many people make is to add food items that can spoil, such as meat and dairy products. Other items to avoid include large pieces of wood and diseased plants. Contrary to popular belief, the compost process will not kill most diseases. Do not compost dog or cat droppings. They may contain pathogens that are dangerous to your health. Chicken, horse, cow or rabbit manure are fine. Finally, be careful when composting weeds. Make sure that weeds and their seeds have been exposed to the hot core of your system and have completely decomposed. My compost system won't heat up - what is wrong? Don't panic. Follow these simple steps to reinvigorate the process: Aerate the material - give the material a good turn and mix to get new air for use by the air-breathing bacteria and other decomposers. Check water content - if your system is too dry, add water to make it moist, not wet! Too wet? - Add dry yard waste and mix to dry things out. Add some fresh yard waste - Adding fresh yard waste, like grass clippings, will add new nitrogen that will heat things up! My compost system is attracting flies and mice. How can I prevent this in the future? The flies and other animals are attracted by the fruit and vegetable waste you are placing in the system. In the future, make sure to bury food waste in the yard waste so that it is not easily detected. During the summer, my compost system dries out. Should this happen? No, but it does. Try to place your compost system in a location that is primarily shaded. If you can't, then you will have to check your compost system at least once each week and add water to maintain proper moisture content. My lawn produces a lot of grass clippings. How can I compost all of it? You can be easily overwhelmed by grass clippings during the warm months, especially if you water and fertilize liberally. Fortunately, grass is high in nitrogen and is great for composting. Make sure that grass clippings are mixed with leaves or pine needles when starting a new compost cycle or well mixed with existing materials in your composter. Grass clippings also make a wonderful mulching material. Place the clippings in a 3-4" layer in areas where you want to mulch. As an alternative, try Grasscycling.* How fast should composting take? My pile is taking forever! The speed of composting is determined by the amount of effort you make to manage the process. If you chip your material, carefully balance your carbon/nitrogen mix and turn at least once per week, you should produce finished compost in 1-3 months. Do nothing to manage the process and it will take one year or more. Follow the "Three Step Method" described above and you will produce compost in 3-6 months. I find "turning" the materials with a pitchfork to be backbreaking. Is there an easier way to aerate the system? Yes. Many nurseries and home supply retailers who sell composting accessories carry compost "turning tools". Turning tools are specially designed to mix and aerate composting material without having to move the material or the bin. They make aerating and mixing much easier and faster! Turning tools normally cost $12.00-$16.00. *Grasscycling is the simple practice of leaving grass clippings on the lawn when mowing. Once cut, grass clippings first dehydrate, then decompose, quickly disappearing from view.
	Composting Bins Simple Heaps Yard trimmings can easily be composted in open heaps. Bins are not required. When food wastes are added, however, the compost may have to be confined in bins that keep out animals such as raccoons, skunks, etc. City ordinances against backyard composting were passed in many areas of the United States decades ago because these pests and flies were not controlled. Food wastes and manures can easily cause fly problems unless great care is taken to cover all such materials with a foot-thick layer of cured compost, wood, or other yard trimmings. Always bury food scraps deep in the compost pile. Woven Wire Bin One easy to make, economical container requires only a length of woven wire fencing. Multiply the diameter you want for the compost heap by 3.2 for the length of fencing to purchase. Fasten the ends with wire or three or four small chain snaps (available at any hardware store) to make a circle. Block Bin Compost bins can be made with cement blocks or rocks. Just lay the blocks without mortar; leave spaces between each block to permit aeration. Pile them up to form three sides of a square container or a three-bin unit. This bin is sturdy, durable, and easily accessible. Keep the bin at least 3 inches away from the walls of your house to prevent deterioration of siding. Wooden Pallet Bin Covered bins allow convenient protection from pests and heavy rains. Construct bins with removable fronts or sides so that materials can be easily turned. Old wooden pallets can be used for construction. Wire mesh can be substituted for wooden sides to increase air flow. Turning Bins This is a series of three or more bins that allows you to make compost in a short time by turning the materials on a regular schedule. Turning bins are most appropriate for gardeners with a large volume of yard trimmings and the desire to make a high-quality compost. You can also turn your compost with only one bin by removing the bin from around the heap, setting up the empty bin nearby, and forking the material into the now empty bin. Rotating Drum Bins Rotating drum bins, which turn using a hand crank, are also commercially available. If your own kitchen, yard, and garden do not generate enough material to fill your bin, ask your neighbors for their clippings and leaves, or start a neighborhood composting project. Other options Prefabricated plastic compost bins can also be purchased at hardware stores and gardening stores, and from catalogs. These are sometimes available from your town or city at below market cost. Every year I buy several bags of compost, mulch, top soil, and other soil amendments to improve the soil in my garden and flower beds so I decided to start a compost pile in my backyard. I added grass clippings, dry leaves, and some fruit and vegetable peelings and trimmings. I started my compost pile in the back corner of my yard next to my garden and away from the house. Since I'm just beginning and would like to save money, I decided to use the heap method. I piled the grass clippings and dry leaves in layers and added fruit and vegetable waste. I watered the layers and turn and mix the materials weekly with a pitch fork. I can hardly wait until my leaves and grass clippings turn into compost! Home l Email l Watkins Products l Watkins Home Business Opportunity l Watkins Newsletter P. S. I Love You Greeting Cards Eleisia Whitney Watkins Independent Associate (925) 838-0186 Copyright 2003 - All rights reserved