January Natural Awakenings Article: Don't Toss That!
People act like creating compost is a ridiculously big deal... in my latest article for Natural Awakenings, I counter that idea and share "the easy art of composting:"
Right on point. I don't get what the big deal is about composting. It's become the most natural thing in the world to me.
So far my favorite method is just a simple mound with an indentation at the top. I picture it like a reverse volcano: I put the most "decayable" stuff in the indentation at the top, usually after opening it up with a pitchfork, and then I scoop dry leaves and whatnot up from around the base to cover it. So there is a constant flow of eggshells, banana peels, coffee grounds and just about any kind of food waste into the top and then I layer dry leaves and grass to cover it. As the stuff further down the center sags, the mound keeps flattening out so I can keep scooping stuff from around the sides back up top. Continuous cycle. It usually takes me about 2 months to go from a pile of dry wood and leaves to a nice big mound of black compost.
I don't think you're grasping the mystical significance of Having A Proper Sized Pile, Greens, Browns, C/N and the Art of Thermophilic Maintenance, etc.
The way you're doing it is WAY TOO EASY, therefore it's likely wrong.
Well, I measure the ratio of height to width against the Golden Section and then I use the Fibonacci series factored against the Vernal Equinox in order to decide when to stop adding to one pile and start another one.
Of course I also make sure to completely disinfect my shovel and pitchfork after touching the compost heap, and I have a 5-yard-wide concrete barrier around the compost heap to keep it from touching anything else in the yard.
That sounds about right. I would also follow the Rule of Threes. The double bins I often see have a forced symmetry that's very hard to balance properly, especially when the older compost has sunken in.
KUDOS, my friend and fellow master gardener. Your article says it all. Thanks. now I can add 2 more pages to the 1000's of pages I've read on composting...............
Right on point. I don't get what the big deal is about composting. It's become the most natural thing in the world to me.
ReplyDeleteSo far my favorite method is just a simple mound with an indentation at the top. I picture it like a reverse volcano: I put the most "decayable" stuff in the indentation at the top, usually after opening it up with a pitchfork, and then I scoop dry leaves and whatnot up from around the base to cover it. So there is a constant flow of eggshells, banana peels, coffee grounds and just about any kind of food waste into the top and then I layer dry leaves and grass to cover it. As the stuff further down the center sags, the mound keeps flattening out so I can keep scooping stuff from around the sides back up top. Continuous cycle. It usually takes me about 2 months to go from a pile of dry wood and leaves to a nice big mound of black compost.
I don't think you're grasping the mystical significance of Having A Proper Sized Pile, Greens, Browns, C/N and the Art of Thermophilic Maintenance, etc.
DeleteThe way you're doing it is WAY TOO EASY, therefore it's likely wrong.
Heh.
Well, I measure the ratio of height to width against the Golden Section and then I use the Fibonacci series factored against the Vernal Equinox in order to decide when to stop adding to one pile and start another one.
DeleteOf course I also make sure to completely disinfect my shovel and pitchfork after touching the compost heap, and I have a 5-yard-wide concrete barrier around the compost heap to keep it from touching anything else in the yard.
Imagine Phil Hartman at this.
That sounds about right. I would also follow the Rule of Threes. The double bins I often see have a forced symmetry that's very hard to balance properly, especially when the older compost has sunken in.
DeleteKUDOS, my friend and fellow master gardener. Your article says it all. Thanks. now I can add 2 more pages to the 1000's of pages I've read on composting...............
ReplyDeleteThank you. 1000s of pages - you sound like me. Composting is quite a deep rabbit hole.
ReplyDelete