Growing an organic garden is never easy. Everything requires natural—from fertilizers to pesticides—in order to harvest agricultural produce devoid of the effects of synthetic chemicals. In ancient days, fertilizers were mostly natural, derived from decomposed state of the biodegradable wastes harvested from pits on the ground or from heaps of them.
Today, however, there is no need to dig deep and many holes to cook organic fertilizers, or to make heaps of the ingredients just to use organic fertilizers for the plants. A compost barrel can do that for you. Introducing the unique and handy approach to producing excellent fertilizers for your plant, compost barrels are particularly crafted so the organic ingredients are properly and quickly processed in six weeks or eight, depending on the technology of the barrel.
When you gather together the needed ingredients such as the greens and the browns, and mix them on a compost barrel, you will find yourself rotating the barrel instead of turning the compost pile from a heap, to facilitate aeration, and ensure insulation in the next couple of weeks. Barrels for composting are fashioned in such a manner that your biodegradable wastes are broken down by the microorganisms until the wastes are processed into humus—the black soil that is the by-product of composting.
Humus or compost is known for its nutrients, specifically potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen, which are all needed by your agricultural or garden soil. These nutrients are the foods for your soil and plants. When you feed your soil with compost, you are nurturing the plants planted on such soil, enhancing their healthy growth. Soil when used with synthetically-based chemicals from fertilizers, become damaged over time. Thus, any crops produced from such soil will be of poor quality, not to mention the impact of the chemicals on the nutrition value of your fruit and vegetable produce.
Because humus produced from compost barrel only uses natural ingredients, it only has benefits to provide. Of course, it is not that simple. You have to be choosy on which ingredients should be included in the admixture and which should be discarded. Although compost is manufactured from wastes, not all of wastes are amenable for decomposing. Meats, fats and oil are particularly banned. If you include an ingredient that is not recyclable, it will affect the quality of your compost, and eventually, your organic garden.
Also, a compost barrel has a rule to follow: turn it over, roll it to the ground, rotate or spin it, depending on its aeration system. Aeration stimulates the oxygen to ventilate the compost pile inside the barrel so the microorganisms responsible for recycling the wastes into organic fertilizers can breathe. This is also the only way to make it certain that your composting is not anaerobic, which can instead harm the organic garden soil. The ancient method of composting was done in the open, hence, people of their time used pitchfork or rake to mix and turn the compost pile to allow equal air circulation.
Composting does not harm the environment and your health, a stark contrast when you use artificial method of caring for your garden. If you have not tried composting, now is the time for you to get a compost barrel and experience the rewards of recycling.
Composting is mostly beneficial to your plants in particular and to the environment in general. The only time composting is wreaking havoc to your health and ecosystem is when your organic wastes turned anaerobic. If such a thing happens, the wastes pile emit bad odor owing to the chemicals like ammonia produced by the anaerobic organisms. These chemicals are hazardous to your health, as well as to your pets and plants.
At times, even when we do not have the intention of turning our compost anaerobic, it just becomes so. The culprit could be the improper ratio of your ingredients or using the wrong ones. While composting recycles wastes into organic fertilizers, it does not follow that all trashes in your kitchen and yard are convertible. Knowing which scraps can be used for decomposing is vital to the success of your composting. Many articles wrote about greens and browns to constitute your ingredients. We already know that we can use rotten fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds and filters, grass trimmings, plant stems, straw and leaves—both dry and green. But, are these all that we can use for composting?
There are some materials that are neither a good source of nitrogen nor of carbon but still can be used for decomposing, as long as such materials are neutral. Like eggshells, they are neutral; but they are used by hobbyists in decomposing although they break down slowly. The ashes of wood, not coal, are also selected as part of the ingredients. Coal ashes are toxic to plants, hence, it is discarded. On the other hand, wood ashes can be used as pest deterrent. Your beverages and kitchen rinse water is neutral as well. They can help keep the pile moist.
Except for the Envirocycle compost bin, carbon constitutes three parts of your organic wastes. Besides shredded cardboard, you can also use dryer lint. If you do, you have to moisten it a little before adding it. For best results on grass clippings, mix them with dry leaves and ensure that they are not wet. Other ingredients for your carbon materials include weeds, pine needles and cone, sawdust and wood shavings, oak leaves and newspapers.
Now for your nitrogen materials, your selection is wider. Lake moss, algae and seaweed are a good source of nutrients and minerals. Kelp seaweed is potentially rich in potassium. You can sprinkle kelp meal into your compost barrels. You can also add apple pomace and cider press wastes. Coffee hulls, pulps and filters are a good source of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous. Human hair is rich in nitrogen as well. And so is hay. However if you use hay, make it certain that it is dry and weathered, and it is not the one used on livestock. Other sources of nitrogen include feathers, dog food, leather wastes, and manure from herbivores such as cow, rabbit, chicken, pig, sheep and horse.
There are other materials that may be composted but with caution. To this group belong are milk, yogurt and cheese and sod. Sod needs high temperature to start decomposing. If you use it, make sure that your compost barrels get at least 135 degrees Fahrenheit for a few days. Dairy products are especially attractive to pests; hence, the barrels must be secured with lids to keep the wastes intact.
Composting may take a few weeks to decompose. Its by-product, humus, is rich in potassium, phosphorous and nitrogen, which are all healthy foods for plants. The process of decomposing can be traced back to the ancient times as their way of proper wastes disposal. In our time today, composting is one of the best ways we can help save the planet.
Composting in our modern era is fun and easy. Unlike in the past, we now have innovations in technology to convert the otherwise laborious endeavor into something worth waiting for. Compost barrels for sale have flooded the web with the goal to help you cook compost in your own backyard. There are two options on having your own compost barrels for composting.
One is to build a compost barrel yourself using materials that are normally discarded, like barrels or drums and some wood for the frame. Now, if you are not sure if you are ready to engage the Do-It-Yourself way of having a compost barrel, you can consider purchasing a barrel or two from commerce. There are few elements to consider in choosing the right barrel for your compost, and these are insulation, ventilation, rotation system and closure system.
Insulation. We all know that biodegradable wastes need high temperature in order to be cooked into humus. In most cases, the compost pile should always be covered all throughout the decomposing process to heat up the contents inside.
Closure System. Besides keeping high temperature within the compost barrels, the lid covers protect the contents from unnecessary disturbances or additives. For examples, if you have included expired or moldy bread into your compost pile, pests such as rodents and cats may be attracted to its smell and try to invade your compost. Rain is helpful in keeping the bio wastes damp. However, too much of it can damage the wastes and turn the composting process into anaerobic. Therefore, to keep the admixture safe, and to ensure cleanliness in your premises, it is best to choose a barrel from among the compost barrels for sale that is securely covered with lid or lock.
Ventilation. Time and again, air circulation is always emphasized as the key to a quick and successful composting. The aeration system should be effective to allow passage of oxygen into your barrels and aerate the microorganisms as they facilitate the process of decomposing. If the barrel has impressive ventilation, these microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria are empowered, thereby accelerating the process of composting. In other words, the more air circulating within the contents, the quicker is the cooking of the compost. Oxygen is also significant to absorb excess moisture in your bio wastes.
Rotation. Apart from the oxygen, it is also important to mix the contents of your compost barrels. There are few ways to do it. There is a type of barrel that is immovable and the only way to turn the contents inside is to use a pitchfork. To be successful, the barrel should be long enough or wide enough to allow turning over of the contents without spilling them over to the ground.
There are also barrels that are mounted on a frame or base and you only need to spin or rotate them to mix the organic wastes. Still there are few composters that are rolled on the ground or on their base. Rotation is important to ensure that all contents have equal share of air, heat and moisture and enhance the process of composting.
Compost barrels are a gardener’s best friend. They are very handy as they keep the place neat, not to mention making your garbage organized in a container. Your garden and lawn too will benefit if you use compost as your fertilizers. Choose one from a wide array of compost barrels for sale in the market today.
Gardeners have an enormous impact on the outcome of their composts. At its basic, a compost pile is composed of materials rich in carbon and nitrogen fed on the microorganisms until the materials reached the final stage resulting to compost. The selection of such materials defines whether the compost is highly fungal or highly bacterial. A compost pile of having less nitrogen will result to more fungal compost. Perennials, trees and shrubs will benefit most from fungal compost. For vegetable and garden application, however, plants will benefit more from bacterial compost.
While it is true that most organic wastes will decompose sooner or later, there are some of them that are better off excluded from the admixture for composting. The reasons can be obvious. For instance, plants that suffered from disease or subjected to heavy pest infestations may not be exposed to enough heat during the primary stage of composting to kill pathogens or insect eggs; this could cause problems for new crops once compost is applied to the soil.
Also, when grass clippings, plant stems and flowers that were previously subjected to fungicide, pesticide, insecticide, herbicide and synthetically-manufactured chemicals for fertilizers are added into your admixture, the remnants of the chemicals will live on during composting and be mixed with your compost, beating its purpose. Even weeds with seeds and plants that can re-grow from their parts are strictly excluded because they can survive the composting process and show up wherever you use your compost.
Fish and Meat—all kinds of them, fats and oils should not be considered adding into your admixture as such can attract pests, pets, and annoying animals like rodents, squirrels and raccoons. Moreover, they produce an unpleasant smell and cause uneven decomposition of your organic wastes.
Feces from dogs and cats should not be included as well because they may contain diseases that can be passed on to humans. More so should dead animals be not included. It is wise avoiding the risks; carcasses are best buried deep.
If you have citrus trees and peelings of citrus fruits, especially lime, you better not include them in your admixture because their acidity can stop decomposing. Fruits, regardless of being citrus or not, should be avoided if they are infested with fruit fly. In addition, avoid adding colored paper or papers with colored inks because they contain heavy metals and toxic materials. Newsprint is also excluded if it has colored texts or graphics.
Ashes are helpful in your compost. Nonetheless, use only ashes from woods. If you add coal and its ashes, you are adding poison into your composting barrels. Coals and their ashes have sulfur and iron in amounts great enough to damage your plants.
Other materials that are not biodegradable should not be added, despite being recyclable. Examples of this are plastic, metals and glasses. They are not decomposable. They should be segregated into a pile of their own and prepared for a different process.
Composting is a rewarding undertaking. You are doing the mother earth a huge favor when you choose to segregate and recycle organic wastes and return to nature what you have accomplished. In the end, your produce is nutritious and healthful sans of harmful chemicals. If you choose to recycle in composting barrels, you are doing the efficient and neat methodology.
Because the benefits of composting are being given recognition across the continents, more innovations are accommodating the need to address the growing demands for indoor composting. Composting, the natural process of breaking down solid wastes into a soil-like substance known as humus, is commonly carried-out outdoors. Tumblers are designed for easier and efficient composting in your backyard.
If you live in a studio apartment or a small condo unit, composting may seem bleak. But this is the thing of the past. Thanks to the manufacturers of indoor composters, you can now cook compost at the comfort of your kitchen, under your kitchen sink. The indoor composter offers a distinct way of allowing your organic wastes to decompose and turn them into something useful for gardening.
The principle used behind indoor composting is anaerobic. The anaerobic bacteria perform fermentation for two weeks, after which, the fermented wastes are mixed with soil and transferred into another container, such as a planter, to allow the anaerobic microbes to perform the final stages of fermentation for another two weeks before they are used as organic fertilizers in your garden.
Because anaerobic is the type of composting used, the indoor composters are not designed with ventilation. The holes found on these composters are on the base to drain the compost tea and prevent spoilage of the organic wastes. The presence of strainer and spigot prevents the foul odor from emitting from your indoor compost. It is important that from time to time that you harvest the liquid substance, which is equally rich with nutrients, to prevent putrefaction of your compost.
Also, the usual process of anaerobic fermentation takes several months, sometimes years before the by-product becomes useful. However, with an indoor composter, you will be given a lift with the use of additives to boost the anaerobic microbes in fermenting the organic materials. These so called additives come as part of the package when you purchase an indoor composter. Other terms are used to refer to these additives, like compost activator or compost starter.
One example of this additive is Bokashi, which is a mix of molasses and wheatbran. Bokashi is a Japanese substance used to amend soil type and increase the nutrient level and microbial diversity of the soil. When used in fermenting, it speeds up the process of decomposing without the annoying foul odor.
To use the indoor composters, you have to prepare its foundation first. A thick layer of the additive is laid out on the base of the composter. And as you add a layer of your wastes—you should exert effort in cutting them into smaller pieces—into the composter, you follow it up with another layer of bokashi. Make sure that the top layer of your compost pile is the additive. Moreover, each time you open the composter to add an ingredient, ensure that you close the lid tightly to encourage anaerobic environment.
There are indoor composters that are manufactured from recycled plastic, to fully utilize the word ‘environmental-friendly’ or ‘eco-friendly’. In a closer look, a typical composter stands 16”. Its width and depth is 10” respectively.
An indoor composter is an ultimate solution to people whose lifestyles prevent them from staying outdoors to dispose the garbage neatly. There is no additional container to accumulate wastes for composting as you can directly add them to the compost bin.
Composting is a way for you to show appreciation to nature’s blessings by enriching the soil and saving it from damage caused by toxic chemicals.
Question by Sunshine Girl: Compost Tumbler?
Has anyone successfully used a compost tumbler? The kind that is a bin that you can rotate. I’m considering one but I don’t know if it will work better than the normal bins. Thanks for any insight you can provide.
Best answer:
Answer by robertonduty
I cant remember the brand either… but if you look in any gardening mag you can find it. I highly recommend finding one used on ebay or at a yard sale. I had one years ago that I picked up used and they work GREAT… you really need to follow the “recipies” though to get the most out of it. I used sawdust, grass clippings and kitchen waste and had some very nice compost. I think the name was ComposTumbler. Good luck
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Composting for Beginners ? Do?s and Don?ts, Bins and Tumblers
Lots of novice gardeners believe that their plants and vegetables only need plenty of water and sunlight in order to sustain a healthy and fruitful lifespan. However this is not entirely true as plants also need healthy soil rich in nutrients to be able to survive and grow properly. The solution to this dilemma is composting.
Now, most of us aren’t too sure of what the heck composting is or what it even entails – I know I didn’t! An easy way to explain it is composting is a way for us to give back to the earth by using organic materials such as food scraps, vegetable scraps, grass clippings, leaves and manure from grass eaters like cows, sheep and rabbits. In general, composting is a wonderfully organic process that benefits your garden and the environment tremendously. In today’s article we’ll go ahead and talk about the benefits of composting, what you should and shouldn’t compost, and some composting systems you should consider investing in.
We all know that when anything dies it starts to decompose – humans, animals, plants, it’s all a very natural process. But did you know that in turn, the soil becomes very rich in nutrients and new life starts to grow? That’s the true benefit of composting and that’s what you want for your garden. In addition to improving your soil, it saves you money, makes for terrific mulch for your garden, and places less burden on landfills.
Before you start undertaking a large composting project, there are a few key things you should keep in mind, like what you can and can’t use for composting. Let’s start with what you shouldn’t compost; this includes weeds full of seeds and/or diseases, pesticide infested plants, wood ashes, lime, barbeque charcoal, meat, grease, bones, dairy products, cat, dog and/or human waste, plastic, metal, glass, branches, wood chunks, anything contaminated, and large loads of soggy matter. Obviously anything in the aforementioned list would have an adverse effect on your compost, or won’t decompose properly, especially the bones, but we’ll go more into that later on in a future article.
With that said, it’s highly recommended that you use grass clippings, leaves, non-diseased and seed sprouting weeds, dead plants, food scraps like fruit and veggie wastes, cow, sheep or llama manure, straw/hay, coffee grounds, and even hair and lint when composting. These items break down quick and easily, giving you the end result that you’re looking for.
The next thing that you need to keep in mind is where you’re going to be doing all of this composting work. While some don’t mind working on their compost heap out in the open, like in the woods or in an open area preferably away from prying eyes (I never said it was a pretty looking process), I suggest looking into a compost bin or tumbler system. There are a couple of compost bin systems that you should consider: the one bin and multi-bin systems. For the money conscious the one bin system is the preferred method since it is easy and most municipalities even work with manufacturers to make this method available to the public. In addition, it’s easy to move about, most can hold heat well and is sturdy enough to keep rodents and other wildlife out. The multi-bin system is for households that produce a lot of waste; it generally does the same thing as the one bin method but it allows you to stockpile your materials in one bin and in the other when more materials become ready. Both methods take anywhere from three to eight months in terms of ready to use compost.
Another method you can consider is working with a compost tumbler, which isn’t cheap, but it is small if you’re working with limited space. Think of the benefits though: tumblers rotate which keep your compost aerated and generate heat, which in turn means that you’ll have a batch of ready to use compost in about three weeks. The wire collector is another option to weigh. Great for garnering up quick, ready to use composting, it’s cheap and you can even make one yourself out of rabbit wire or field fencing. However, I don’t really recommend it too often because it’s easy for wildlife to break in to and it doesn’t hold in heat very well. But the great thing about it is after your compost is done and ready, all you have to do is just remove the wire covering.
Do keep in mind the laws of your city. You wouldn’t think it, but check with your local government agency to see what your city will let you compost, like food scraps and what not. After all being cited for not composting within the legalities of your city isn’t very green. And when choosing the ideal composting system, think about your needs, how much waste you can you’d regularly add to it, how animal-resistant it is, and whether you can easily remove your ready to use compost. I know it’s a lot to think about before you begin, but trust me, it’s well worth the effort. In our next installment I’ll go ahead and talk about the science and art of composting – stay tuned!
*Referenced from Home Composting Made Easy by C. Forrest McDowell, PhD and Tricia Clark-McDowell, 2002.
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