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What
is Compost?
Compost
is the organic material left over when microorganisms break
down organic waste. Finished compost looks and feels like rich,
black, soil and has no strong smell. It looks rich because it
is rich - rich in the nutrients that plants need to thrive.
Sitka gardeners have an
endless need for compost!
Why
Should Sitkans Bother to Compost?
Composting
will help Sitka save the most money
of any waste reduction strategy. Instead of paying to ship our
organic wastes thousands of miles to the Lower 48, we will be
finding a beneficial use for them right here in Sitka! Mixing compost
into (amending) soil adds food for many organisms and an enormous
diversity of organisms to your garden.
What
Can Be Composted?
The
simplest kind of compost pile is comprised only of leafy or
woody matter, such as yard waste or uncooked vegetable trimmings.
Most Sitkans will want to limit their composting to these items.
Sitkans wishing to compost more complex materials, such as cooked
leftovers or fish protein should consider starting a worm bin,
(see vermiculture) or developing a more advanced (hotter) compost
pile.
Is
Home Composting Costly?
No!
Your compost pile can be as simple as a pile on the ground.
The only tool necessary is a pitchfork to turn the pile. You
can however, buy or make all different kinds of compost bins,
to make the process more efficient or to keep from attracting
vermin.
An
Overview of How to Compost
Yard
wastes, such as grass clippings, leaves, garden debris, and
small twigs, can be composted in your backyard.
A
commercial compost bin, helps keep the process tidy and it may
accelerate the composting process, but a simple pile in a corner
of the backyard is also effective.
As
a general rule, you will want to adhere to at least a 2:1 ratio
of browns to greens in your pile. This is not a strict rule,
but will help your composting process to move at a faster rate
and with out any offensive odors. A layer of branches near the
ground can help maintain airflow in the pile.
You
may also want to turn your compost pile every few weeks. This
will bring air to the bottom of the pile and help move the composting
process along.
What makes good compost?
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YES
Greens
(Nitrogen):
Grass clippings
Garden scraps
Floral clippings
Uncooked vegetable
and fruit trimmings
Egg shells
Coffee grounds
Tea bags
Browns
(Carbon):
Twigs
Deciduous leaves
Straw
Sawdust and wood chips
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NO
Diseased
plants
Tenacious weeds:
(Can take root in pile
if not hot enough)
Morning glory
Dandelions
Thorny
plants:
Roses
Blackberries
Waxy
Coated Plants:
(difficult to decompose)
Ivy
Rhododendrons
Evergreen needles
Laurel
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Want
to Learn More?
If
you wish to learn more about composting or how to accelerate
the composting process, please see the following resources:
Let
it Rot! The Gardener's Guide to Composting by Stu Campbell (1995)
http://www.solidwaste.org/compost.htm
http://www.oldgrowth.org/compost/
http://www.mastercomposter.com/
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