Composting is an environmentally friendly way to create healthy soil. But how do you start one and why should you? Melanie Burns, Waste Management Specialist with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says composting is a diversion of food waste from landfills and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“The overall benefit of a compost pile is that it is a soil amendment because it improves the soil health which in turn can lead to healthier plants,” says Burns. “Other benefits include saving money, reducing the need to be buying fertilizer, and saving water as composting actually holds in that moisture in the soil.”
There are four main methods of composting:
- Indoor Composting – Vermicomposting: Where red wiggler worms are used to feed on food, scraps, yard trimmings, and any kind of organic matter that may be used to feed those worms.
- Aerated Turned Pile: Often seen as large scale, municipal sites. You induce airflow through the mix of materials using an electric blower – but do not turn the pile during the active phase (first 30 days) of composting.
- Static Pile: Slower way to produce a compost product. Air in the bottom of the pile is pushed up into it.
- In-vessel: These are often seen at farms and are sometimes concrete lined silos or drums. This method confines the composting materials where air flow and temperature can be controlled.
“Starting a compost pile is really easy,” explains Burns, “You can get started with some kitchen scraps and yard materials, and you’re on your way.”
You want to make sure you’re monitoring your compost pile by putting in greens and browns. The greens are what are referred to as materials that are high in nitrogen. Examples include food scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds. The browns are materials that are high in carbon. These would be your leaves that are dry, woodchips, branches, or hay. This ratio should be two to one, browns to green.
Another thing to consider is your moisture content. Additionally, oxygen flow and aeration really helps that decomposition process. The last thing to monitor is temperature. Microorganisms need a certain temperature to break down those organic materials and also the temperature is important to destroy pathogens and weed seeds. But it’s also just as important not to get the pile too hot as if it’s too hot, it actually does start to kill those those good bugs that are really doing the work for you to get that compost.
Burns adds, “We have three publications on our website that are great for people who are just getting started or people who have been composting for a while. I highly encourage those interested to take a look.”
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