Composting Help

Help from Ken Thompson's
book, Compost

Two years ago as part of a graduate course in Environmental Geology, I had to carry out a project that aimed at lowering my footprint. The footprint could include both carbon and water uses. Even though I am an avid recycler I figured I might be able to limit my garbage amounts by setting up a compost pile in my backyard.

Well, let me be clear. I have woods surrounding my yard so I have always composted my leaf litter and garden waste. I just never worked at making compost with the intention of returning it back into my garden. By establishing a composting bin I was going to do just that, work that compost! My husband helped me out by nailing together some wooden pallets from a delivery of paving blocks that we had purchased. Recycle and reuse principles in action. Then I layered newspapers on the ground inside the box and began filling it with kitchen waste (no fats or meats - especially with the animals around here) and weeds. I had read about making sure it had the right amount of moisture and air to support the microbial growth necessary to break down the waste materials.

Updated compost bin

 While perusing the shelves at the library I came across Ken Thompson's Compost: the natural way to make food for your garden. It's a very quick read and I poured through it looking for suggestions. First, I learned that I needed to keep my bin more enclosed. Taking his suggestions I used cardboard boxes which I flattened and weaved in between the open slots. As you can see in my photo I will need a few more boxes to fill in the gaps in the back of my bin. I will also be covering the pile so that the rain doesn't leach away the nutrients into the surrounding soil.

His second piece of advice that I am going to take is to add more recyclable paper to my bin in the form of shredded newspapers, shredded bills, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, and used tissues or paper towels. That should lower my garbage output even more. And it's worth it because just take a look at my wheel barrow full of finished compost which I spread in my vegetable garden.