Compost - Nature's Way of Recycling

by Andrea Rose (printed in American Vegan Spring 2005)

Recycling successfully diverts some of our waste from going to the landfill, but an alarming 30% of household trash consists of yard clippings and food scraps that don't get recycled.* This waste ends up in the landfill where it rots and produces methane gas, a by-product of decomposition without air. Composting is nature's solution to this problem since it turns organic waste into a rich, dark humus that supports life and enriches the soil. Composting also provides a rewarding opportunity to personally contribute to the earth and the environment.

Composting can be done practically anywhere - all that is needed is the desire to do it. The simplest way to compost is to literally bury your kitchen scraps. Make sure you dig a hole at least 12'' deep and drop the scraps in the bottom of the hole. This method works fine if you don't have a need for finished compost or have the space to dig holes.

Another popular method is to maintain a compost pile. Compost piles can be kept in just about anything - palettes from the grocery store with the four corners tied together to form a box, large trash cans that have had the bottoms sawed off and holes drilled in the sides to allow for air flow, a pile in the yard, or in a commercial bin if you prefer to purchase one. Please visit the website http://www.composters.com for a wide variety of options to choose from. You can also get some great ideas for homemade bins.

What can be composted?

Nitrogen (N)- commonly referred to as "Greens"

Fresh (green) grass clippings *spread in thin layers so they don't clump together. Make sure there are no pesticides.
Vegan food scraps (no animal products or high fat products, such as peanut butter)
Coffee grounds
Tea bags
Shredded paper
Hair clippings
Fresh weeds * not recommended
Herbivorous companion animal manure (rabbits, goats, sheep, etc. - no dogs or cats)

Carbon (C) - commonly referred to as "Browns"

Dry leaves
Dryer lint
Dry grass clippings (brown/strawlike grass that has been out in the sun for at least a day)
Straw
Wood Clippings
Shredded pine needles *in small amounts since they decompose slowly and can make your finished compost acidic.
Shredded paper
Paper towels
Fireplace ashes

An ideal compost pile should be about 25-50% (N) and 50-75% (C). The above lists will help you determine which category your waste falls under. All you need to do is make sure your pile is balanced by containing matter from both lists.

Compost will occur on it's own in about 3-6 months if you do nothing more than add material and water to your pile. A faster breakdown requires a little more effort on your part such as putting smaller particles in the pile, adding more (N) sources to increase the temperature and turning the pile regularly to allow for more air flow. The more attention that is paid to your pile, the more active it will be.

Getting Started

Winter is a dormant, or slow time for most compost piles (unless you live in a warmer area), so now is a good time to get everything ready to start in the spring. Some people keep a separate wastebasket in their kitchen just for compost matter. Food scraps can also be frozen to halt the decomposition process until they are ready to go in the pile.

The next step is gathering a good supply of (C) ingredients so the microorganisms that break-down the compost will have a food source. In the spring, dry leaves might not be readily available so opt for other sources of (C) such as dried grass clippings, shredded paper or straw. Start layering the ingredients by putting a good foundation of (C) on the bottom, a layer of (N), another layer of (C) and so forth. Finally, insulate the top of the pile with several inches of straw. Make sure to have a way to cover your pile such as a tarp or lid to deter wildlife and to help keep moisture in and rain or snow out.

After a few days you will discover that your pile has shrunk considerably due to dehydration. Before adding more matter, test the pile for dampness and heat. Ideally the pile should be about as damp as a wrung out sponge and should feel hot to the touch or between 110 - 140 degrees. Using gloves, determine if the center of the pile is hot to the touch. If it's not, you need more (N) ingredients to warm things up. If your pile feels dry, it needs water. Compost thermometers are available, but touching the pile works just fine. You can add more waste to your pile by digging 6-10" down into the center and depositing more matter.

Another important factor for a healthy pile is aeration. If using a bin, simply dump out the pile, or lift up and relocate the bottomless bin and then put the compost back in your bin by using a pitchfork or shovel. If you have an open pile, or limited space, use your tool to lift, poke and mix your pile around without moving it. If necessary, add water from a bucket or by spraying the pile with a water sprayer. Try to check on your pile about once a week. Even if you skip this step Mother Nature will still be taking place, but at a much slower pace.

Now that you have the composting basics, here are some possible troubleshooters:

Rotten smell - could be anaerobic or too much (N), add more (C); aerate
Pile too wet - add more dry (C)
Pile attracts wildlife - line the bottom of the bin with mesh wiring and make sure the foodstuffs are buried deep in the middle. Make sure the pile is covered. If you live in a rural area, you might want to consider using a bin that's off the ground, such as a tumbler. If rodents are a problem, try sprinkling cayenne pepper liberally around your pile.
Flies - make sure the food isn't readily available and that's it's covered with straw and/or buried deep in the pile. * Worms and other insects in the pile indicate a healthy pile.
Pile too cold - add more (N)
Pile to hot (over 140 degrees) - add more (C)

Once you have finished compost, it should have an earthy, soil like smell and look like a black, rich humus. Some particles might be recognizable, such as straw or larger wood particles. Depending on the method used, you might only have finished compost at the bottom of your pile rather than the whole pile. Congratulations! Compost can be used as a mulch, mixed in with clay or sandy soil to improve soil conditions, sprinkled on your lawn, used in potting mixes for household plants, or made into a "tea" for use as a safe liquid fertilizer.

Composting is a fun and easy way to turn our organic waste into a valuable gift for the environment. Once composting becomes a part of your life, it will be hard to imagine living without it. For more information, please visit: http://vegweb.com/composting/
http://www.compostguide.com/

*Utilizing yard and kitchen wastes (which make up about 30% of the waste stream in the USA (1) is a big part of the plan to minimize waste overall.

References:
BACKYARD COMPOSTING. Harmonious Press, 1992, p.7.

If you have companion animals, manure from herbivorous animals, such as rabbits, could be put in the compost, but never add cat or dog feces. Strictly veganic or stock-free composting does not utilize added manure of any kind.