Compost is a useful organic material made from organic wastes (e.g., yard trimmings, food wastes, manures). In composting, bulking agents (e.g., wood chips) are added to organic wastes to accelerate the breakdown of material. Then, the finished material is fully stabilized and matured through a curing process.
Worm composting uses red worms to create useful organic material from kitchen wastes.
The Uses and Benefits of Compost:
* Provides mulch for landscaping and gardens
* Replaces fertilizers
* Provides erosion control
* Alleviates soil compaction
* Improves soil structure, porosity, and density, creating a better plant root environment
* Suppresses plant diseases and pests
* Promotes higher yields of crops and plants
* Cost-effectively remediates soil contaminated by hazardous waste
Choosing a Composting Bin
Not all composting bins are equal. For table scraps, consider a worm box/bin instead of a composting bin. The rule of thumb for worm bin size is two square feet of surface area per person, or one square foot of surface area per pound of food waste per week. Red worms work best for composting. If your goal is to “hold” materials such as leaves for a year or so, a large open-air holding bin is most practical. For active, hot composting, smaller enclosed plastic bins are preferred.
Tips for Creating the Best Compost
Add kitchen scraps (see the list of What to Compost above). Kitchen scraps are high in nitrogen, which heats the pile and helps speed up the process.
Aerate your compost whenever you add new material. Oxygen plays an essential role in the breakdown of materials.
Keep your compost moist but not wet. Dried composting material will not break down and wet composting material will stink.
Don’t overload on any one material. Variety is the key.
