Gardening Basics

Compost Bins: Building Instructions and Suggestions

By Darren Sherriff

Cont.

6. Filling the compost bin is easy. Start with those layers of newspaper I mentioned, even if you did remove the grass, they would add bulk to your pile. Then just start tossing stuff in, leaves, twigs, eggshells, kitchen scraps, and lawn clippings, anything that will decompose. Coffee grounds, citrus peels and if you happen to find a stray worm in your yard, toss him in there too! The burrowing of the worms will actually help turn your pile as well as leaving worm castings, which is another good source of plant nutrients. If you have any barnyard animals or friends with them, use the manure, it is really good stuff, especially if it is mixed with sawdust or hay.

Note:

Cat and dog wastes should not be added because they can spread certain diseases. Other items that you do not want to ever add to a compost bin are dairy products, bones, meat, and grease. These will attract unwelcome visitors to the bin and they will make a mess. You also do not want to use any diseased plants, the disease may harbor in the compost and you will take the chance of reintroducing it, or spreading it further in your yard.

Caring For Your Compost Bin

Make sure to water it and keep it moist, this is why you want it close to a water source, if it is a laborious job; you will not want to drag the hose out there when it needs some moisture. You will also want to turn it at least once every week with a shovel or pitchfork, get an extra one of either of these too, to keep close to the bin. The job of turning it is even easier if you have two bins. I am sure you can visualize adding a second bin and attaching it to the first. Leave one of them empty, then when it is time to turn the pile, just start at the top and shovel it into the empty one. Alternating bins every week. If you miss a week or two in turning the pile, it is not the end of the world. It might just slow down the decomposition slightly. Try to remember to keep it moist, not wet.

Ready to use Compost

How will you know when it is ready to use? Finished compost looks like dirt–dark brown, crumbly and smells like a forest floor. I mentioned earlier some of the benefits of this “Black Gold”, a few others include, using compost on a regular basis amends both sandy and clay soils. It can also be used to teach children about the cycle of life. So now you have no excuse not to be composting. It is good for the plants, good for the environment and good for you!

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