Blessed Mumma and Pappa Earth always provides! In this blog we are looking at creating great compost for free from your own gardens all around PERTH. Giving you a source of Soil Health Conditioning/Strengthening/Building, and, quite possibly upsetting some Green Wheelie bin enthusiasts, probably confusing some formal gardeners, and most definitely annoying big chain suppliers and such. Why buy when you already have.
This is not a go at suppliers and municipal services, but a strength to your knowledge and to our biospheric environment.
Environmentally friendly and responsible, utilising IMO’s (Indigenous Micro Organisms) specifically suited to your area and location along with other soil microbiology to boost your gardens health, water holding capacity, cation exchange and balance.
Location and size matters
How much compost do you want to make? If you need less than 100l per load and only have minimal waste, go for a smaller sized bin that you can easily fill. Either a Rotary Geared 2 section, reputable bin or a bottomless Static bin aka Dalek. Faster breakdown occurs in rotating systems but is not necessary to have one.
Another way is if you have a need for over 200l, perhaps a Biomass pile will do the job. This set up can hold up to and above 1 cubic meter of Compost. Usually consisting of used pallets to form a Three-Sided box, dumping at the open side and covering with a tarp or similar during winter months.
Both need to be in semi shade or afternoon shade.
Both need to be near a water source.
Both need to be accessible but not in the way.
Both need room to decant and fill/turn even.
Both need to be aerated weekly.
Both can be made cheap, or you can find more expensive manufactured options if you wanted.
Be careful with flip flop composters. Theses are the ones that flip over on an axle. As the weight shift’s to the bottom of the holder/catcher during decomposition, it takes more force to turn or flip it. This is where the danger can sometimes happen. Be careful not to flip yourself, or injure your arms. Always if it is getting too heavy, empty some of the compost or ask for some help in carefully turning it over. It can be a great activity and team work always wins – TOGETHERNESS 😊.
Collecting your BLACK GOLD starter material aka waste
Whatever option you choose, the filling procedure is still the same. There is a ratio of Fresh (Green) waste, to Dry (Brown) waste that is recommended.
That is: Carbon to Nitrogen (C:N) 30-40:1 or simply, 3/4 parts Brown to 1 part Green. You can use anything that has or had a Carbon Atom. Just chop it up into small pieces and in some cases, run a lawn mower over what you can or better yet, get a mulcher.
For Browns (sticks, branches, leaves, cardboard, paper, dead dry plant material) nothing over 15mm diameter and 10cm length. Always remove staples, plastic tapes, glues, labels etc from paper/cardboard and check it the cardboard is not treated with polymers and waxes. You do not want these in your compost.
Greens (any living plant material, grass, pruning’s, leaves, moss, vegetables) nothing over 15mm diameter and chopped to 15cm lengths.
Filling your composter
Empty your kitchen waste into a collecting bin specific for kitchen green waste. And another for Browns. Once you have collected enough for about half of the static or smaller (under 200l) systems, layer it and give a little watering with the hose each brown layer. Not too much though, just a light amount to get it primed. Then continue to fill until topped up. For Rotary Geared bins, fill one side at a time, allowing for a production line as you swap sides. Give it a forking or compost turn spiking once a week.
Now, for Biomass piles.
Create a large enough space for your pile to sit for 6-12 months generally undisturbed. Using 4-6 star pickets, make a circle and drive them in. Diameter 30cm and wrap with heavy gauge, galvanised bird wire in the centre of the pile. Time to surround the upright breather with garden goodness.
Instead of trimming small amounts a lot of the time to fill the 1m3, save all the effort for one or two massive garden maintenance runs. I do mine around every 6 months.
This way you can ensure to have enough material to fill to at least 900l. then you can top with anything missed and lawn clippings for the rest of the 100l to make 1m3.
Not too much so you don’t get Nitrogen Drawback occurring.
When filling, the same layering happens. The same watering happens, but just on a larger scale. Once a week give it a little watering via overhead sprinkler for around 5-10 mins. Cover with tarp during winter months. The breather is to allow air flow and temperature dispersal and activate the pile.
So when is it ready?
Generally speaking, these bin type systems can take somewhere between 3 weeks and a few months to mature, depending on capacity/size. Static bins, usually the compost at the bottom will be ready first whilst sometimes breaking down in stages towards the surface. Rotating Geared bins contents will all be ready at the same time. Keep the mixture damp and when it has a soil like consistency and an earthy smell it is ready to go. If it has a funky smell or vinegar smell, its fermenting, so adjusting the ratio (Green to Brown) and making sure that air is getting in there and not becoming anaerobic.
A Biomass pile can take 6 months to over a year or more to compost.
But remember, these are for larger beds and areas. They might not be suitable for your situation.
If you have a static composter you will have to at some stage empty it, usually via a hatch at the bottom or by lifting the lid off and tipping it over, spreading the black gold where needed.
If you have a Biomass, use a wheelbarrow and shovel to spread it. I do not dig it in. SUBURBAN FARMER PRACTICES AND PROMOTES NO DIG GARDENING.
The roots of the plants and the life found within the soil is packed with nutrition and vibration soaking it all up and storing it for use to feed themselves. So why not do as nature does, albeit a little faster. We love you Blessed Mumma and Pappa Earth. Thank you for our works and love, life and compost.
Blessings, Ras Mark Suburban Farmer.