– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension
Woven wire compost bins are easy to construct and economical. Photo by Pixabay.
One of the key elements of healthy soils is the presence of organic matter. Organic matter is the decayed residue of living things. Adding organic matter to the soil in your garden, lawn, or crop field can improve water infiltration and water holding capacity, nutrient access to plants, loosen dense soil texture, and lead to healthier plant growth on the surface. Every citizen has the ability to contribute organic matter back to the soils in their community in some scale through composting organic wastes.
There are many methods of composting that can be employed depending on the amount of waste generated by the household or business. Composting reduces excess deposition of organic wastes in landfills and recycles nutrients naturally by promoting speedy decomposition of organic tissues into soil media. From a coffee can on the counter to composting with worms in a vermiculture box to a 3-foot by 3-foot bin in the backyard, there are options to fit your rate of waste accumulation and site.
Yard waste like grass clippings, leaves, and pine needles can be recycled as compost. Kitchen waste such as coffee grounds, eggshells, fruit, and vegetable peels can be added be used to create compost. Many types of paper can be used for compost as well. If you live in a neighborhood where outside space is limited but have a desire to create a compost bin, consider talking with your neighbors about working as a team to create a community compost bin where everyone can contribute to the pile and share the benefits in their lawns and gardens.
The keys to making good compost are getting the right recipe of carbon to nitrogen in the pile, moisture, mixing, and patience.
Carbon and nitrogen are present in all living things. When creating compost, we want the ingredients in our recipe to equate about 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen (30:1). Organic wastes sourced from wood have the greatest carbon to nitrogen ratios (~400:1). Piles with significant amounts of paper products or wood chips will often be deficient in nitrogen and break down very slowly. Grass clippings, food waste, manure, and leaves have lower carbon to nitrogen ratios (15-50:1) and can be added to balance the pile for good microbial activity and speedy breakdown. Do not add meat, bones, or fats to the pile. These often cause foul odors in small compost bins and attract unwanted wildlife visitors.
When creating a compost pile outdoors, layer the additions to the compost pile alternating high carbon material (ex: wood chips), followed by low carbon material (ex: grass clippings), followed by a layer of soil, and then manure (if available from animals that consume grass), repeating until full. Once enough material has been added to the compost pile to fill the designated space, stop adding to the pile and begin a new pile for new waste. After three to four weeks, turn and mix the compost pile by rotating the outer layer to the inside. Repeat this process two to three times and monitor moisture with a squeeze test. Compost should have the texture of a damp sponge, moist to the touch, but not leaching liquid from the pile. If the compost feels dry, add water and mix.
Compost to be used as a soil amendment for already growing crops can typically be achieved in three to four months. Compost to be used in soil media for seed starting will typically take four to six months.
Successful composting takes practice and finesse but can be easily learned and used to create healthier soils while reducing landfill waste. A complete fact sheet on compost bin design, lists of “dos and don’ts” for compost, and information on how to scale compost bins to match waste accumulation can be accessed by visiting ohioline.osu.edu or contacting your local Extension office. Online resources are available from the EPA about both commercial composting and home composting. Visit https://epa.ohio.gov/dmwm/HomeComposting to access them.