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Aug. 11th, 2010 10:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Backyard Composting
For millions of years nature has recycled its own organic waste through a process known as composting. A walk
through the woods and this process can be seen. Leaves that have fallen during the autumn are composting on the
ground, nourishing the plants and trees that grow in the forest. Composting is nature’s way of recycling.
Composting is simple and provides your garden with nutrient rich compost that you can use for potting soil, added to
your lawn or garden as a soil amendment or around trees and bushes. Not only do you reap the benefits of the
compost, but you help the Borough of Fair Lawn save money in collection costs of yard waste.
How Does Composting Work?
Composting is the biological degradation of organic matter. All organic matter has certain
bacteria, fungi and other living organisms that live on and around it. These organisms eat
the organic matter and break it down to a matter called compost. This process happens to
all organic material, however, the process can take place at a slow or fast rate, depending
upon how the organic material is prepared for composting.
How Do I Compost?
Composting your leaves, grass, yard waste and other organics is easy. Garden centers
and hardware stores sell compost bins that are made from plastic or wood. You could also
build your own bin or compost without a bin. Some homemade bins are constructed with
chicken wire, snow fence, wood pallets or wood scrap. A quick search on the Internet will
give many plans for building your own or purchasing options. The BCUA also holds
composter sales each year. Call 201-807-5821 or e-mail abonannolynch@bcua.org for details.
INGREDIENTS:
A compost pile requires nitrogen and carbon to properly compost. These come in the form of BROWN and GREEN
materials:
BROWN: leaves, twigs, sawdust, newspaper, coffee grinds
GREEN: grass clippings, flowers, food waste (egg shells, vegetables or fruits only)
Never add meat, fat, bones or dairy to the compost pile as it will attract animals.
SLOW COMPOST RECIPE (12-18 months)
• Set your compost bin / pile where it will get rained on. Remember to leave the bin uncovered.
• Put your BROWN and GREEN material in your bin. In 12-18 months, the material in the center of the bin
should be ready to use.
• Remove the finished compost. Use the uncomposted material to start your next batch.
FAST COMPOST RECIPE (5-15 weeks)
• Put your BROWN and GREEN material in your bin and add water.
• Turn the pile twice per week. Be sure to keep the pile moist.
• Any material not decomposed after 5-15 weeks can be used to start your next batch.
Troubleshooting:
ROTTEN ODOR: Too much moisture. Correct by turning the pile, and adding dry, porous material.
AMMONIA ODOR: Too much nitrogen. Add high carbon (BROWN) material, such as saw dust, wood chips or
straw and turn.
DRY PILE: Not enough water / too much carbon. Add water and GREEN materials.
NOT COMPOSTING: Lack of nitrogen. Add GREEN materials and turn.
For millions of years nature has recycled its own organic waste through a process known as composting. A walk
through the woods and this process can be seen. Leaves that have fallen during the autumn are composting on the
ground, nourishing the plants and trees that grow in the forest. Composting is nature’s way of recycling.
Composting is simple and provides your garden with nutrient rich compost that you can use for potting soil, added to
your lawn or garden as a soil amendment or around trees and bushes. Not only do you reap the benefits of the
compost, but you help the Borough of Fair Lawn save money in collection costs of yard waste.
How Does Composting Work?
Composting is the biological degradation of organic matter. All organic matter has certain
bacteria, fungi and other living organisms that live on and around it. These organisms eat
the organic matter and break it down to a matter called compost. This process happens to
all organic material, however, the process can take place at a slow or fast rate, depending
upon how the organic material is prepared for composting.
How Do I Compost?
Composting your leaves, grass, yard waste and other organics is easy. Garden centers
and hardware stores sell compost bins that are made from plastic or wood. You could also
build your own bin or compost without a bin. Some homemade bins are constructed with
chicken wire, snow fence, wood pallets or wood scrap. A quick search on the Internet will
give many plans for building your own or purchasing options. The BCUA also holds
composter sales each year. Call 201-807-5821 or e-mail abonannolynch@bcua.org for details.
INGREDIENTS:
A compost pile requires nitrogen and carbon to properly compost. These come in the form of BROWN and GREEN
materials:
BROWN: leaves, twigs, sawdust, newspaper, coffee grinds
GREEN: grass clippings, flowers, food waste (egg shells, vegetables or fruits only)
Never add meat, fat, bones or dairy to the compost pile as it will attract animals.
SLOW COMPOST RECIPE (12-18 months)
• Set your compost bin / pile where it will get rained on. Remember to leave the bin uncovered.
• Put your BROWN and GREEN material in your bin. In 12-18 months, the material in the center of the bin
should be ready to use.
• Remove the finished compost. Use the uncomposted material to start your next batch.
FAST COMPOST RECIPE (5-15 weeks)
• Put your BROWN and GREEN material in your bin and add water.
• Turn the pile twice per week. Be sure to keep the pile moist.
• Any material not decomposed after 5-15 weeks can be used to start your next batch.
Troubleshooting:
ROTTEN ODOR: Too much moisture. Correct by turning the pile, and adding dry, porous material.
AMMONIA ODOR: Too much nitrogen. Add high carbon (BROWN) material, such as saw dust, wood chips or
straw and turn.
DRY PILE: Not enough water / too much carbon. Add water and GREEN materials.
NOT COMPOSTING: Lack of nitrogen. Add GREEN materials and turn.