Composting For the Home Gardener

First off, I do not generally recommend composting because of the equipment, time,
space, and effort required, and because few people have the time, education, or
inclination to really do it right. In addition, even the best compost is a great unknown, so
far as what actual nutrition it provides. And no one can tell you either, because every
batch is different!

Rather than composting, I recommend putting clippings, clean and disease-free plant
parts, and etc. into the ground immediately, so that mixed with the soil they can compost
naturally, and there will be no flies, rodents, smells, etc. To read about my experience in
composting, see the Zoo-Doo Man article, which I will discuss later in this article.

If you still want to compost, we will now describe what it takes to compost correctly.

There are two types of composting, aerobic and anaerobic, meaning with oxygen and
without.

Anaerobic composting is a cold process, it can take as long as two years to produce
usable compost, and DOES NOT remove soil pathogens, bugs, and weed seeds. This
method is NOT recommended for the family garden for the reasons stated above, plus the
fact that it creates an unsightly, smelly mess in your yard that attracts rodents, etc. and
often occupies usable space that could otherwise be growing plants.

Regrettably, anaerobic composting is what 99% of family gardeners usually end up with,
because of lack of education and/or consistent effort.

Compost includes 4 basic elements including air, water, carbon, and nitrogen.

For Aerobic composting, A carbon-to-nitrogen ratio close to 30 is ideal. Moisture

content is generally best between 50 and 60%. The material must not become soggy or
compacted, but must be moist. A thermometer measuring 100 to 200 degrees, with a
long probe, is essential.

Aerobic composting must sustain temperatures of at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit (150 is
better) for three weeks minimum, which kills most soil pathogens, bugs, and weed seeds.
It requires a constant supply of air throughout the pile, in order to provide oxygen to the
microbes that digest and thus decompose the raw materials into usable compost.

Foul odors are from anaerobic activity and indicate a lack of oxygen. Increase turning
frequency and/or fibrous content of the mix to reduce the moisture content and increase
oxygen

The pile should be thoroughly turned daily, and if all other elements are present in the
right proportions good compost can be created in as little as one month.
Water, as mentioned above, is also necessary, but not too much at one time. The pile
should be moist - like a wrung-out sponge - but not wet.

Carbon is used as the energy source, and most of the pile should consist of carbon.
Common high-carbon ingredients include dry leaves, straw, and corn stalks. High-carbon
ingredients will contain more than 30 times as much carbon as nitrogen - sometimes
MUCH more - and are often called "browns".

Nitrogen is needed for the proteins that build the microbes' bodies. Ingredients with the
most nitrogen are usually green, moist plant matter such as leaves, or an animal by-
product like manure. Nitrogen-rich materials - often called "greens" - usually will
contain carbon and nitrogen in a ratio close to 20:1.

NEVER use manure from carnivores, and even cow manure sometimes contains e-coli,
which can cause sickness and even death. Therefore, any manure should be used with
caution.

For efficient decomposition you need a carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio of no more than 30:1.
If you have too much nitrogen your pile will smell because the excess nitrogen converts
into an ammonia gas. If there's too little nitrogen you will not sustain the necessary heat,
plus the pile will break down very slowly.

Green, fresh materials have a much higher nitrogen content than dry materials. Fresh
grass clippings are ideal for composting, having a c/n ratio of 19:1. Food scraps vary, but
can be as low as 15:1, so mixing grass clippings and old leaves, in the ratio of one part
clippings and two parts old leaves, will generally give you a good C/N ratio.

Experiment with the materials that are available to you, and remember that success can
be fleeting - with constant adjustments being necessary to maintain the ideal conditions.
If temperatures are below the target range and the mix is loose and friable, add high-
nitrogen materials or water, or both, until the temperature rises. Remember, too dry is as
bad as too wet.

For an excellent in-depth tutorial on composting, go to

http://www.urbangardencenter.com/links/index.html

Some additional common materials with their carbon/nitrogen ratios, which I have copied
from the above source, follow:

Leaves - 35:1 - - 85:1, Peat moss - 58:1, Corn stalks - 60:1, Straw - 80:1, Pine needles
60:1 - - 110:1, Farm manure - 90:1, Sawdust - 130:1 - - 490:1, Newspaper - 170:1.

Unless it's contained in a Compost Tumbler or other container in which it can be turned
easily while retaining the heat, you should start with a compost pile of at least 1 cubic
yard, in order to have sufficient material to retain the necessary 140 degree heat for 3+
weeks.
Do it right, and you can have material that will improve your soil tilth, and even provide
some (unknown) amount of nutrition for your plants.

Read how I learned how to make “the best compost in the world” by using the materials
from the zoo animals at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. I did it for 2 years, and even sold the compost
as “Zoo-Doo” quite successfully. I tell about it in the article titled The Zoo-Doo Man”,
which can be found in the FAQ section of the Foundation’s website, or in the Files
section of the MittleiderMethodGardening@yahoogroups.com.

On the other hand, consider saving yourself the time and effort of composting altogether,
and accurately feed your plants a balanced diet of natural mineral nutrients, as contained
in the Mittleider Pre-Plant and Weekly Feed mixes. Learn about them in the Learn
section of the website at www.growfood.com. You can mix them yourself from materials
purchased at your nursery or farm supply store, or if you live in the Mountain West you
can buy them pre-mixed from farm supply stores.

The Pre-Plant Mix is simple. Just combine calcium from either lime or gypsum (lime if
you receive more than 20” of annual rainfall) with magnesium and boron (20 mule team
borax) in a ratio of 80-4-1. Apply and mix with the soil before planting at the rate of 1
ounce per running foot of 18”-wide soil-bed.

You can also mix your own Weekly Feed Mix quite easily by getting the Micro-Nutrients
from the Foundation website www.foodforeveryone.org – look under Materials – and
then mixing each small packet of Micro’s with 25# of 16-16-16 (or similar) and 4# of
magnesium (Epsom Salt works). The Weekly Feed is applied ½ ounce per running foot
of soil-bed and mixing with the soil before planting, and after the plants have emerged
apply that same amount each week down the center of the soil-bed – until 3 weeks before
plant maturity for single-crop varieties, and until 8 weeks before frost for ever-bearing
crops.