Kitchen waste adds nitrogen to compost piles.
Composting is a natural recycling process common to home and commercial gardeners. When brown and green organic materials are combined, they release carbon and nitrogen, which spurs a heated decomposition resulting in a rich, organic fertilizer. Since many household waste products are compostable, a backyard compost bin can reduce landfill waste while contributing to a healthy garden. In Arizona, many cities encourage composting and provide materials and literature to help you get started; these cities include Phoenix, Gilbert, Tempe, Tucson, Flagstaff and Chandler. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Get a compost container. Most Arizona cities' public works departments recycle damaged garbage containers into compost bins. These bins are available to the public for free or at minimal cost depending on the municipality. Contact your public works department to schedule pickup.
2. Place the bin in an area where you plan to eventually plant a garden. Nutrients that seep from the bin will fortify this area.
3. Line the bottom of the compost bin with "brown" material, such as shredded newspaper, dead leaves, sawdust or wood chips. Brown materials provide carbon, which is integral to compost's decomposition process. This layer should be about 4 inches deep.
4. Dampen the compost pile with water. Moisture is necessary for decomposition. The materials should be consistently damp, but not sopping wet. Aim for the moisture content of a wrung-out sponge.
5. Add a 1-inch layer of "green" material, such as grass clippings, fruit or vegetable peels or steer manure. Green materials release nitrogen. Wet the pile after each layer is added.
6. Continue layering brown and green materials and dampening layers until the bin is nearly full. The top layer should be a brown material.
7. Cover the container with its lid or a tarp to trap heat. The decomposition process will produce heat, which further breaks down materials and creates compost.
8. Turn the compost pile weekly. Use a pitchfork to flip materials from the bottom to the top of the pile. This aeration is necessary for decomposition. Dampen the pile before replacing the lid.
9. Add additional brown or green materials as they are accumulated, turning the pile after each addition. For best results, maintain a 4-to-1 ratio of brown to green matter.
10. Harvest compost after 3 to 4 months, when the contents have decomposed to a dark brown, soil-like material with a rich, earthy smell. Use a wire screen to sift away large pieces of material that are not decomposed.
11. Use compost in the garden. Since Arizona's soil is high in clay and difficult for gardeners to work with, compost may be mixed with native soil or used on its own as a fertile and well-drained growing medium.
Tags: brown green, after each, brown green materials, brown material, compost pile, decomposition process
