Composting : A Comprehensive Guide

LIST OF COMPOSTABLES

• Cardboard, newspaper and clean paper
• Coffee grounds
• Crumbs, eggshells and nutshells
• Cotton and wool rags
• Dryer and vacuum lint
• Flowers, leaves, plants and pine needles
• Fruits and vegetables
• Hair and fur
• Sawdust and wood chips
• Tea bags
• Grass and trimmings
• Hay and straw

WHAT IS COMPOST?

Compost is organic matter that’s broken down into material used as plant fertiliser. It’s also called Gardener’s Gold or Black Gold. When you put a whole lot of organic matter together it attracts bacteria that create carbon dioxide and heat. This transforms waste into nutrient rich soil. Creepies and crawlies like worms, slugs and insects also digest the decomposing matter, turning it into compost as they eat and poop it out. Secretions from the worms and insects bind the small particles into bigger bits. This improves the texture of the compost.

HOW TO COMPOST:

1.You can compost on the open ground or you can compost in a big plastic, wooden or metal bin or container. If you’re doing it on the open ground, find an empty piece of ground in your garden. This will give access to the organisms so they can start their job.

2.Start throwing all your organic waste onto the pile. Make sure you have a good mixture of old food and leaves. If you shred your leaves you will get a much faster result. This will aerate the pile and allow for quicker decomposition.

3.Add some nitrogen. Hay and kitchen scraps are good sources of nitrogen and manure is the best. If you layer your nitrogen source with your leaves and garden waste you will get a great result.

4.Turn your compost every three days to give it more air.