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"Composting is the wonderful
alchemy that turns all kinds of waste material into rich, sweet
smelling goodness to be returned to the soil. Not only does
composting create a valuable resource, it also is the best way
to solve the growing problem of landfill. It is the easiest
way of working for our environment and every gardener and every
council should make compost today!"
Monty Don |
| How to Compost |
| 1. Put your composter
in the garden on bare soil, not paving or decking. It should
be womewhere that is easy to get to all year round. |
 |
2. The secret to good compost is getting
the right mix of ingredients. Try to establish a high carbon
to nitrogen ratio. Dried flowers, chopped woody stems, bracken
and cardboard are all very high in carbon, whereas fresh grass
cuttings and kitchen waste are high in nitrogen.
3.
Composting works best if you add a lot of materials at once.
Chop |
| chunky and large items into small pieces to help
speed up the composting process. Try to ensure your compost
is moist but not wet - when squeesed in your hand a few drops
of water should be produced. Add water if its too dry, cover
and add dry material if it is too wet. |
4. Every now and then introduce air
into your composting area either by using a garden fork
to mix the material, or add more scrunched up paper and
card.
5. To help speed up the
composting process add a handful of soil, finished compost
or a a compost accelerator (young nettles are an excellent
natural accelerator).
6. Keep
adding a good mixture of materials...
7.
Your compost is ready to use when it resembles
dark soil and has a sweet, earthy smell. This can take
anywhere from 6 months to 24 months. |
|
| Compost |
Do
Not Compost |
| » Vegetable peelings and
fruit
» Hedge Trimmings
» Grass Clippings
» Leaves
» Weeds (Avoid persistant weeds & weeds in
seed)
» Twigs
» Scrunched up paper
» Tea bags and coffee grounds
» Straw |
» Meat/bones
» Fish
» Dairy products
» Cooked
food
» Coal ash
» Cat/dog litter/poo |
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