Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
I prefer compost over chemical fertilizers because of the huge number of benefits from composting:
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Economically, the cheapest soil-builders are the ones from your own garden, livestock, and
kitchen. Why throw it out if you can compost it and add it to your garden for no money at
all?
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From an ecological perspective, avoiding the petroleum-based fertilizers is an obvious benefit.
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Building your soil with compost gives longer-lasting benefits because chemical fertilizers,
while quick and easy to apply, are usually water-soluble and wash away very quickly.
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Soil that is rich in organic material will hold heat better, helping gardeners extend the
growing season.
Making compost is not rocket science. It's earth science. In its simplest form you throw a bunch of
biodegradable stuff together in a pile, and a few months later you have fabulous dirt to add to your
garden. Remember when I said it's okay to be a get-it-doneist instead of feeling like you have to be
a purist? This is one of those areas, because if trying to do compost “perfectly” means you don't do
anything, then stick with a heap-it-in-a-pile method. Having said that, there are a few things you
can do to increase the effectiveness of your compost pile.
The Right Ratio
The key is to make a compost pile that cooks or matures—that is, breaks down from your raw
materials into
humus
more quickly. Finished compost is almost always a 30:1 ratio of carbon to
nitrogen. The microbes that work to break down the materials in your compost pile live and work
best in a ratio of 25:1 to 35:1, so providing a mix of high-nitrogen (called
green
) materials and high-
carbon (called
brown
) materials is the best way to build up your compost bin quickly.
deFinitiOn
humus
is the final product of the breakdown of organic matter. It is dark, woodsy smelling, and full of
nutrients that benefit both soil and plants.
Now don't get overwhelmed by all that. The key to remember is that when you put a high-nitrogen
item like, say, chicken manure (10:1) into your compost bin, you would want to also mix in a
low-nitrogen ingredient such as chopped leaves (50 to 80:1). As I said, this isn't an exact science but
rather a principle to keep in mind when working in the backyard. If you have mucked the goat pen
and the chicken pen into the compost bin that week, you might decide to throw in some dry straw,
shredded paper, sawdust, or even cardboard.
The following table lists some common green and brown matter you can find readily in most
households and backyard farms.
