compost

Compost – What to Use & What to Avoid

Breadcrumb Navigation

Compost, which in its most basic form is simply the process of decomposition, began long before we humans ever took it upon ourselves to make it an organized activity. Given enough time and the proper conditions, organic material breaks down. Composting, as we use the term today, is a system for enhancing, and thus accelerating, the natural process of decomposition. Since composting is going to take place with or without us, we can make the process as simple or as complex as we choose and be assured of success every time.

Compost Activators

To get a compost pile working well, it’s essential to have several layers of an activator throughout the pile. An activator is a source of both nitrogen and protein – ingredients that help all the various microorganisms and bacteria break down compost material.

Alfalfa meal is one of the cheapest, quickest-acting activators. If you can’t find it at your garden or feed store, look in the supermarket for Litter Green (a cat littler product that is 100% alfalfa meal).

Every time you add new material to the pile, dust it thoroughly with alfalfa meal and moisten the pile a little. Alfalfa meal is an excellent source of nitrogen and protein. Made from alfalfa hay, it is usually 14% – 16% protein. Other good activators include barnyard manure, bone meal, cottonseed meal or a good, rich garden soil. Any time you add to your compost pile, dust it with a little activator & water.

Leaf Mold

In a hurry-up world, the making of leaf mold is largely forgotten. Because the leaves have little nitrogen, they decompose slowly and do not heat up as they would if high-nitrogen material were added to them.

The 2-year process of decomposition can be hastened by running the leaves through a shredder before piling them. Fence the pile in to prevent them from blowing back on your lawn. Stamp the pile down. Expect to see it half its orginal size when the leaves have truned to leaf mold and are ready for use.

After a year, turn the pile, cutting it and mixing it as much as possible. In this stage it can be used as a mulch, and will be welcomed by earth worms.

What to add to your Compost

Here’s a handy list of what you can use in your pile:

  • Kitchen scraps – vegetable & fruit rinds, egg shells, coffee grinds, filters, tea leaves, etc.
  • bird or pet cage cleanings, animal droppings
  • Pine needles, tree leaves, wood chips, rotten wood, saw dust, wood ash
  • Yard waste, grass clippings, weeds, dead plants, pond weeds
  • Feathers, hair, nail clippings
  • garden waste – leaves, stalks, husks, roots
  • fruit or vegetable bi-product from wine, cider or jam making

What NOT to add to your Compost

Not all organic material is suitable for compost. Animal bones and other animal waste are inappropriate, as are grease and oils because they take a long time to break down and will attract animal pests. Sewage sludge may contain heavy metals that you don’t want to use in your garden.

  • branches or limbs that will take a long time to break down – chip or shred first
  • Eucalyptus – the oil will prevent plant growth in the garden
  • Magnolia leave take years to break down
  • Bermuda grass, nut grass, morning glory, butter cup, English ivy, or other “tough-to-stop” spreading plants.
  • Diseased plants should be burned not composted
  • Coal ash, charcoal contain too much sulfur and iron.
  • Be sure your newspaper uses biodegradable ink, otherwise do not use it in the garden
  • Cat or dog litter can harbour pathogens.

Using your Compost

Your compost is ready when it resembles black, fluffy soil and has a sweet earthy smell. Compost is best used within a few months of being ready – the longer it sits, the more nutrients will decompose and leach away. As the compost continues to breakdown, it’s soil texture-improving qualities diminish as well.

Compost is not a substitute to fertilizer, it is most often used to improve soil quality. Large scale addition of compost to your garden is best done in the fall. It may be spread evenly on the ground. Because we practice Permaculture Farming, we do not till the compost in, but let it over winter on the surface.

Finished compost can also be added a few weeks before planting in the spring. Many gardeners insist that nothing can take the place of a shovelful of compost mixed in planting holes for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and members of the cabbage family. Melons, cucumbers, and squash need composts’ richness to send out strong healthy vines.

Compost is also used to side-dress hungry crops. Screen the compost with a sieve, then mix it into the seedbed, or use it to cover fine seeds during planting. The screened mixture can also be used to top-dress lawns in the spring or fall, or mix 1 part compost and 2 parts potting soil for a rich potting soil mix. Don’t forget to use your compost tea, your plants will love it!!!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook for more great tips!!!

Naturally Knotty Farms
  • How to Make Your Own Jam
    How to Make Your Own Jam Making your own homemade jam is a great place to start your canning journey. The recipes are simple, and the process is usually pretty quick (approximately 2 hours, including clean up). There are many benefits to making your own jam & jellies. You know every single ingredient that goes into the jam or jelly. You have them in your kitchen and use them all the time – fruit, sugar, pectin, and depending on the jelly maybe apple cider vinegar. When done properly, these jars can be stored in a cool, dark spot for up to 18 months without spoiling. They make excellent homemade gifts or additions to a charcuterie board that will impress your friends & family. The price of groceries is beyond ridiculous, and the supply chain is uncertain. It’s cheaper to buy local, in-season fruit and make your own. All my recipes…

    Continue Reading How to Make Your Own Jam
  • Calendula – Why & How to Grow it!
    Learn how & why you should grow Calendula in your garden. We offer FREE Calendula Seeds, so you can grow your own and reap the benefits! Why Grow Calendula Bright yellow and orange flowers, historically used for medicinal and culinary purposes, come from easy calendula care when growing this simple flower. Commonly called the pot marigold (Calendula officinalis), the calendula flower has long been a staple in British cottage gardens. Petals are used in cooking, and were used as yellow coloring in cheeses and butters in centuries past. When used in stews, broths and salads, these petals add a spicy taste similar to saffron to many dishes. All parts of calendula plants are useful in many ways. The plant is said to stimulate the immune system and is currently used as an ingredient in many cosmetics. Flowers and leaves of the calendula may be dried and stored for later use.…

    Continue Reading Calendula – Why & How to Grow it!
  • Keep Growing – How to Identify & Care for your Seeds
    Welcome to our Keep Growing Project! If you haven’t already requested your seeds, you can do so here. We grow many things on this Farm from beautiful flowers, medicinal plants & herbs to delicious fruits & veggies. Most of these plants produce seeds to ensure their circle of life. We collect the seeds that Mother Nature gives us and pass them on to you! Our Moto here on the Farm is – Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy Minds. Growth is essential to life, without it, eventually we wither up and blow away. We want to encourage your growth – mind, body & spirit. We also think there needs to be a little adventure, a lot of faith and a dash of curiosity. This is why we send you seeds unlabeled. We want to spark your curiosity and sense of adventure and never lose your faith. All the seeds we have…

    Continue Reading Keep Growing – How to Identify & Care for your Seeds
  • FREE Groceries – Growing Food from Grocery Store Scraps.
    This year, in the greenhouse, I will be experimenting with growing food from our kitchen scraps. Here are 10 foods you can regrow with regular kitchen scraps. Grow vegetables from scraps: 1. Green Onions Green onions are arguably the easiest and most popular vegetable to regrow. All you have to do is cut them from about an inch from the roots, and leave them in a glass of water. 2. Celery Cut off the celery, and leave about an inch or two from the base. Place the base in a bowl of water and leave it where it can get adequate sunlight. As new leaves begin to sprout from the middle, allow for it to gain thickness for about a week before transferring it into a pot of soil. 3. Romaine Lettuce, Bok Choy, Cabbage Romaine lettuce is as easy to regrow as celery! Leave the stump of the lettuce…

    Continue Reading FREE Groceries – Growing Food from Grocery Store Scraps.
  • 3 Simple Herbal Tea Infusions
    I’m going to preface this post with full transparency. I am not an herbalist. However; I have been enjoying the benefits of herbal tea for years!! We use teas for just about everything. I have chosen some simple recipes with very common ingredients that most people have at home. If not, they are at all local grocery stores. Chronic Pain Tea Most of your regular garden herbs are highly medicinal so it makes sense to have them close at hand. Basil, thyme & oregano all have pain & inflammation-reducing properties and they make a wonderful, highly drinkable tea!! 2 cups water 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh Basil, Thyme & Oregano Add chopped herbs to a 473 ml jar Bring water to a boil Pour boiled water over herbs Steep for 10 – 15 minutes Strain out the herbs Add honey if you wish Drink daily, as often as needed, to…

    Continue Reading 3 Simple Herbal Tea Infusions
Please follow and like us:
0
fb-share-icon124898524
Tweet 1k
Pin Share1k
Sending
User Review
0 (0 votes)

0 Replies to “Compost – What to Use & What to Avoid”

Leave a Reply