A multitude of books and businesses have been founded on compost. Wastrels from Washington to Eureaucrats in Brussels happily pump confiscatory taxes into its encouragement. Yet it is an amazingly simple process. And of course like all such, things occasionally go wrong and make a pong.
In days gone by, gardeners were said to be judged by the size of their compost heaps--the bigger the heap, the better the gardener. Alas no more. Drastic reductions in garden size, neighbours' objections and decline in garden know-how have all brought havoc on the traditional compost heap. And let's be honest: those compost heaps of yore were all too often nothing so much as massive mounds of organic waste.
Nowadays, three types of composter predominate. In larger gardens, open top and front retainers made of wood 4x4s or 6x6s, each at least six-feet-square my be used singly or in trios, the latter for each stage of the composting materials. A plastic, lidded bin is an alternate of this for smaller gardens. Those desiring more rapid results might opt for a drum tumbler, the idea being to give it a daily turn, improving aeration and thus speed of composting.
Although convenience to the back door might appear to be a necessity, it seems to be considered bad form to display a composter so prominently. In practice, it is relegated to the back of the garden, out of sight if not out of mind.
"Kings and cabbages go back to compost, but good deeds stay green forever," observed Rick DeMarinis. True, but kitchen waste is too wet to break down on its own. Mix with drier yard prunings, dead leaves and the like. Build in six-inch layers, separating each with a sprinkling of soil. Compost accelerator is often added at this point, but a simpler and less expensive option is composted animal manure. While dog and cat waste is inadvisable, that of small, caged family pets such as rabbits, hamsters and gerbils can be added. Indeed, many experienced gardeners believe composted rabbit manure to be superior to almost anything except horse manure.
Overly moist compost, or that consisting principally of kitchen waste, may become to acidic to properly breakdown. Balance this acidity by sprinkling in granulated lime. This is often found to be one of the principal complaints.
In order to compost, the discarded materials must heat up. In northern climates, however, winter intervenes. Waste can continue to be added, but all composting action will cease until the heap can warm up once again. In the long run, as has been observed, "compost is proof that there is life after death" no, not all gardeners are
non compost mentis.
