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Carbon (browns)
eaves, branches, pine cones Fresh grass clippings
Untreated wood
Shredded Newspaper
Straw or hay
Saw dust
Dryer lint
Advantages
•
Compost improves the ability of the soil to retain moisture, which reduces material costs;
•
provides needed nutrients and humus for healthy plants;
•
makes a fine mulch for fruits plants;
•
is perfect for lawns to help soil organisms thrive;
•
makes an excellent potting soil for houseplants and potted plants;
•
makes compost from tea.
Checking the process
•
Composting is the process of breaking down organic material for use as an excellent soil amend-
ment. Beneficial bacteria do their part to return this waste into a form usable by plants. These
microbes need air, water, food, and heat to thrive. Keeping these microbes "happy" will speed
up the process.
•
The microbes do need both carbon and nitrogen. The recommended carbon to nitrogen ratio is
around 30:1. Explanations to solve possible problems concerning this ratio are explained in the
following table (composting tips).
•
The compost temperature is a good indicator of the activity of the microbes. Consuming the
food, they give off heat. Active compost temperatures range from 26 ℃ to 65 ℃. If it feels com-
fortably warm, the microbes are active. Temperature makes the microbes move faster. The
faster they work, the sooner the compost is completed.
•
After two or three days, check your compost pile to see if it is in a good moisture. A moisture
content of between 50–60 % is desirable in an active compost pile, but there is a way to help
you to check the moisture level. Here is a simple way to judge the moisture content in your
compost:
•
Take out a handful of compost from the centre of your pile and squeeze it in your hand:
If you can squeeze water out of it, the compost is too wet.
o
If the compost does not release water but crumbles apart when released, it is to dry.
o
Add a little water (not too much), and turn the composter 5–10 times every 2–3 days to
mix well.
If the compost does not release water but stays compacted, the moisture is just right.
o
•
Turning regularly on a weekly base will loosen up the compost and create air passages. Too
much air exposure can quickly dry out the compost and thus bring the decomposition to a stop.
If the composter is mostly filled with grass, it may need to be rotated more frequently to keep
the grass from matting together.
•
The compost is done when it becomes dark brown and has an earthy smell. It can be added
directly to ornamental plants as mulch or worked into the soil.
•
It is recommended to dump the finished compost on the ground and then shovel it into a garden
cart to prevent damage to the inside of the composter. This is done by sliding the door of the
chamber that you want to empty to make the compost fall down. Make sure the other chamber
under composting is closed.
© by WilTec Wildanger Technik GmbH
http://www.WilTec.de
http://www.aoyue.eu
http://www.teichtip.de
Nitrogen (greens)
Freshly cut leaves
Fruit scraps, vegetable scraps
Kitchen scraps
Garden plants
Chicken, rabbit manure
Item 51477
Do NOT add!
Meat, fat, bones
Pet droppings
Treated wood
Dairy products
Weeds, diseased plants
Poisonous sumac and ivy
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