Creative composting and Greencycling

Every house and property with a Garden, no matter how small, should have a composting area. With the high amounts of land fill waste and green house gases generated we can no longer afford to waste any natural resources, and making compost from organic waste is an easy and efficient method of conservation, returning the nutrients back to the soil.

Of the most common complaints about compost heaps is that they smell and look unsightly, however these problems can be avoided. Try using self-contained compost bins that totally enclose the compost ingredients, or routinely cover fresh kitchen scraps with a layer of leaves or grass clippings to reduce the smell and flies that may be attracted. There should be no smell associated with composting, as a well-made heap or bin will decompose quickly and result in a pile of rich humus with a slightly sweet aroma.

Compost works basically by the decomposition of organic materials. To be successful a compost heap needs both water and air, to generate heat that is required to speed up the breaking down process. Allowed to dry out the process will slow down. Also, if air cannot circulate through the composting materials the entire process will take much longer.

Ideally you should water the compost with a thorough soaking each week, and then lightly turn the ingredients with a fork to allow air circulation. There are several compost activators that will speed up the process, such as Blood and Bone fertiliser. Sprinkle your compost activator into the heap every couple of weeks, and the result will be a faster richer compost product.

The best composts are built directly on the ground, because the soil beneath contains earthworms and micro - organisms which travel upwards into the composting materials, creating channels of air and therefore speeding up the decomposition process.

If the area you have chosen for building a compost heap is badly drained, begin by placing a layer of sticks at the ground level to slightly lift the heap, allowing the water to escape from underneath.

Ideally compost should be built layer upon layer. Layered compost allows organic materials of various thickness and textures to break down as quickly as possible. Fine materials such as grass clippings will heat up quickly and help to activate coarser materials such as straw or shredded bark and sawdust. Try to vary layers, start with grass clippings, and then add some vegetable scraps, straw, some animal manure (poultry, cow, horse etc) and then the leaves. Keep the layering, varying ingredients as you go, until the heap is about 1 metre high.

If you make the heap too big it will be difficult to work with and take too long to break down.

When the heap is finished start building a second or start filling a second bin. By the time it has been layered the first heap should have broken down enough to spread on the Garden. Ideally good compost will need three to six months. If you are producing a deal a large amount of organic waste then three heaps or compost bins may need to be going at once.

Never burn leaves or throw them away, layer them in the compost.

Fast working and ideal for covering over food scraps.

Good for providing bulk. In country and livestock areas you can get stable sweepings of straw and manure, which are an excellent combination.

All pre cooked vegetable peelings and scraps, tea leaves etc (never put raw meets into a compost)

Bulk that is good for speeding up the composition.

A mulching machine is great for shredded all kinds of barks, twigs, branches and leaves for mulching and then adding to the compost. We recommend the Granburg mulcher that trials have proven to be reliable and a well performing.