Greens + Browns + Air + Water = Microbe Heaven

 

My Compost Bin Should Be A Luxury Resort?

Compost is formed when microorganisms completely break down organic matter.  “Break down” sounds scientific, but what it really means is “chow down and digest.”  Microorganisms live to eat and reproduce, and if your compost bin contains what they need to eat, drink, and multiply in comfort, they will flock to your bin and never want to leave.  What do you get in return for providing a luxury resort for these microbes?  Beautiful compost in a reasonable amount of time.

What Microorganisms Want

Microorganisms need nitrogen, carbon, air, and water to be happy.

When they digest nitrogen, it converts into proteins needed for growth and reproduction.  Carbon provides energy.  (For a more information on carbon (Brown) and nitrogen (Green) sources, see More About Greens & Browns).

Moisture allows bacteria to secrete enzymes which break down the carbon into sugars. Bacteria then take in these sugars and use oxygen to convert them into energy. This process, called oxidation, generates heat which is what causes most of the decomposition.
Air provides the oxygen and invites aerobic, or air-loving, bacteria to move in and break down matter efficiently and with little odor.

What Microorganisms Don’t Want

Too little carbon causes bacteria to become sluggish.  Too little protein prevents them from growing and multiplying.

Too little water prevents bacteria from taking in carbon. Too much water prevents oxygen from reaching the aerobic bacteria and instead invites anaerobic bacteria to move in. Anaerobic bacteria can still decompose matter, but they do so differently and more slowly, producing methane gas (aka smelly odors) in the process.  Most people (and their neighbors) don’t desire this.

Providing your microbe buddies the right amounts of these four ingredients, then, is the key to a successful compost bin.

The Right Ratios

The easiest way to provide the right balance in your bin is to add roughly one part Greens (nitrogen) to 1-2 parts Browns (carbon), spray enough water on the pile to give it the consistency of a wet, wrung-out sponge, and fluff or turn over the pile every so often to get air to all the contents.  This environment will create an ultimate microbe luxury resort that you should be proud of.

 

 

Recipe for Compost

What Exactly Is Compost?

Compost is organic matter that has decomposed into a dark, crumbly substance called humus. Humus smells sweet and earthy, and contains no identifiable pieces of matter.

A good example of this is the rich soil that covers a forest floor. Plant and animal matter that settles in layers will break down over time down into smaller pieces. Worms and insects feed on this material, creating even smaller particles. Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi then break down these particles on a molecular level until the original matter has been transformed into humus.  And the whole time, rain and warm weather provide seasons for these organisms to survive and thrive.

Humus seen on the Tiger Mt forest floor.

When we create an environment that mimics the forest floor and provides the ideal conditions for these organisms, we can speed up this natural process.

Recipe for Successful Compost

Successful compost needs just four ingredients:

o   1 Part Greens (Organic matter high in nitrogen.  Examples include vegetable and fruit scraps, flowers, green plants, and grass clippings). 

o   1-2 Parts Browns (Organic matter high in carbon.  Examples include dried leaves, paper products, wood shavings, and straw).

o   Air

o   Water
 

 

Basic Instructions:

1. Combine greens and browns in a prepared bin or pile.
2. Add water until the contents have the consistency of a wrung-out sponge.
3. Ensure that air can circulate through the materials.

Most of the problems associated with home made compost can be prevented or alleviated by ensuring the ratio of these four ingredients is on track.

A Variety of Methods

There are many, many ways to prepare, mix, contain, and introduce air and water into your compost pile.  Some methods produce compost faster than others.  Some methods are better suited to those who live in small spaces or have no yard.  Some bins are better at helping to maintain good air flow or moisture levels than others.  Larger piles require more space but generate more heat, which breaks things down even faster.  Starting with smaller-sized materials means they will break down faster.  Finished compost can be obtained in 3 -18 months, depending on the conditions provided and how much time you are able to spend maintaining them.

This YouTube video by OklahomaGardener provides a great introduction to starting a compost pile and maintaining the ideal ratio:

 

If you want to get an idea of the types of bins out there, see A Bevy of Bins from PlanetNatural.com.

Whatever method, bin, or time you are able to devote to your pile, following this basic recipe will ensure that common problems are minimized, and that microbes and other wanted organisms will flock to your bin and stay there to produce lovely compost.

Compost: More than Just Garden Fertilizer

If there was just one change you could make in your life that did all of the following, would you be interested?

·         Decrease the amount of garbage sent to landfills

·         Decrease the amount of greenhouse gases produced

·         Conserve water

·         Save money on fertilizer, pesticides

·         Grow bigger, healthier plants

·         Increase the nutritional content of food

Would you believe a simple home compost bin can help accomplish all of these?


My First Taste

I got turned on to compost after my first few years as a novice vegetable gardener. Adding it to my raised 4x8’ community garden bed every year kept yielding bigger and better results.  At first, I bought bags of it, but began to notice that there were several compost bins at the community garden that my fellow gardeners and I piled things into each fall, but that no one knew what to do with beyond that (including how to harvest it).  “We should be using that compost instead of buying it,” I thought.  Especially since the stuff at the bottom of those bins looked more black and rich than the stuff that came in the bags.

So I did some research on composting just to learn some basics, and was astounded to learn all the different ways a simple compost bin contributes to a greener environment (pun intended).

Down and Dirty Facts
Statistically, 25% of the garbage taken to landfills is organic matter. This includes food waste, paper products, etc.  When this matter decomposes without air in a landfill, it converts to methane and other greenhouse gases (think swamp).  Adding this matter to a compost bin not only reduces your garbage, it allows it to decompose aerobically (with air), and without producing greenhouse gas. 

But compost does more than that.  When added to soil, it retains moisture and slowly releases nutrients to plants as they are needed.  Plants that receive a steady supply of food and water need watering less and are better able to withstand pests and disease.  Compost also inoculates soil with billions of beneficial organisms which increase the diversity of the soil and keep it healthy.  A balanced soil ecosystem helps ensure that no one organism will be able to erupt unchecked in the form of a pest or disease.  All of this from organic waste that I used to throw away or send down the garbage disposal.

Homemade compost retains the beneficial organisms which are killed in the 'hot composting' methods necessary for commercial production.  It is also free of harmful substances found in some commercial compost, such as prescription drugs, pesticides, and other chemicals. And, no plastic bags to toss!

Adventures in Composting

After being blown away by all the benefits of compost, and learning how easy it can be, I am now a die-hard home composting fan.  I’ve had to change a few habits to make it part of my routine, but it really doesn’t take up that much more of my time or money.  I LOVE seeing the stuff I add to my compost bin transform into beautiful "black gold."  It is a rewarding process, and I hope that you will join me! 

For information on composting or how to get started, check out these great online resources:

PlowHearth.com - Composting for Beginners (good starter guide)

GardeningKnowHow.com - Ultimate Beginners Guide to Composting (lots of specific topics)

Dummies.com - Composting for Dummies Cheat Sheet (quick and dirty)