and left alone with a little water. EM added to compost pile really speeds things up.Compost is waste material from life, human life in the form of vegetable material from food preparation and farming, anything organic news papers / cardboard (shredded) animal manure (dry first) wood chips / sawdust (best mixed with fresh animal manure) and left alone with a little water. EM added to compost pile really speeds things up.
Compost serves primarily as a soil conditioner, whether it's spread in a layer on the soil surface or is dug in. A garden soil regularly supplied with compost is better able to hold air and water, drains more efficiently, and contains a nutrient reserve that plants can draw on. The amended soil also tends to produce plants with fewer insect and disease problems. The compost encourages a larger population of beneficial soil microorganisms, which control harmful microorganisms. It also fosters healthy plant growth, and healthy plants are better able to resist pests.
It returns your organic wastes to the soil and creates a healthy environment for your plants. You will also be able to reduce or stop the use of chemical fertilisers in your garden, and this will save you money
A garden soil that has been well mulched and amended periodically requires only about a ½ inch layer of compost yearly to maintain its quality.
The Layering Method (Slow and Cool)
Add a mixture of materials. Try to add alternate 10 cm layers of vegetable and fruit scraps, grass clippings and leaves and shredded newspaper.
Cover each layer with a thin layer of soil and a bucketful of manure.
Keep moist, but not too wet. Compost should be as wet as a damp sponge. The compost should be ready in 3 to 6 months. Breakdown will be speeded up if the heap is turned weekly.
The 'All In Together' Method (Fast and Hot)
Store enough food and garden waste to make a heap of about one cubic metre.
Add to a bin or a tumbler, or form into a heap with some manure.
Turn several times a week. The heap will generate a great deal of heat as the rate of breakdown is very high. The compost should be ready in 3 to 6 weeks.
The Compost Worm Method (Moderately Fast and Cool)
Build the heap slowly as for the layering method, but add some compost worms (special worms that thrive in compost) to the bin. Start with about 2,000 worms.
Keep the heap well watered, but not too wet. Turning is not necessary as the worms will turn the heap for you. The completed compost should be ready in about three months.
Worms do not survive in temperatures above 30oC so keep the bin in the shade. There is some doubt about whether worms are capable of killing weeds and diseases, as they might digest some weeds and ignore others. Worms do not digest seeds but love cardboard. More research in this area is needed.
Compost is produced from natural materials and contains a variety of living organisms. On rare occasions, these organisms have been associated with illness and allergies in humans. For health reasons, it is very important to take the following health precautions when handling compost:
For individuals who have allergies to the fungal spores in compost or depressed immune systems, it may be necessary to wear a face mask when working with dry compost. Severely affected individuals may have to avoid contact with compost altogether. Elderly gardeners should be especially careful when working with compost.
