How Not To Compost
I thought that I would never tell this story about how not to compost, since it was my first experience with composting. First let me give you a little background. I have always been the type of person that likes to learn. You know, just curious for life and learning. So when I heard about the wonderful benefits of composting for your garden, I dove in head first.
It was fall when I decided that I would set up a compost bin during the winter and when the spring rolls around, I will have a wonderful heap of fine organic composted soil. It was a vision only to be had in my dreams.
I figured since the fall was here and the trees on my property began to shed I would have plenty of leaves for my compost pile....and I did. I have way more than enough in fact. But the problem was I didn't save any of the grass from my last lawn mowing of the year. Tragic mistake.
Without the Nitrogen created by the green substances, in this case the grass, my compost bin was doomed to failure. However, I wasn't aware of this. I figured since the leaves were organic materials eventually they would break down, but would just take longer.
With that bit of wisdom, I raked the leaves into a nice pile and began to soak them with the water hose. I put some netting around it and thought that I had a chance of having some beautiful organic top soil for my garden.
This dream was never to come to fruition. It didn't happen, but I did learn the lesson that if you want to create some compost, you must must have a Nitrogen element in your bin. Carbon and Nitrogen are need to start the biological reaction used to create organic compost.
With all the seemingly magical nature and benefits of organic compost, I think you will be more amazed at how it is created. At least, this is something that blew me away when I first learned of composting and what is needed to make that happen.
If you are anything like me more than likely, you are thinking that composting must be an overly difficult process of creating natures dirt. I know I thought that there was machinery involved, a lengthy process, and much more equipment required.
Well, this isn't the case at all. All you need are few components to make it happen. Two of which are chief among all others.
1. Carbon
This is one of the critical elements of the composting process. To even have the materials to properly breakdown, Carbon must be present. This is not difficult to do because there is Carbon is in just about everything, but what you want is in brown materials. The best example is the leaves that fall from the trees every year. They are an high source of Carbon that you will need. So don't curse them, rake them up and save them for your composting needs. Brown paper bags are another source of carbon.
2. Nitrogen
Nitrogen provides the chemical compound to breakdown the components of the compost pile. This is a wonderful thing again as Nitrogen can be found in the green of the earth. So, when you are cutting your grass, you are creating all the Nitrogen you need to start of composting pile. Other sources of Nitrogen are green food scraps, and green plants work best.
The secret for these two components of composting is to remember you need 2 parts Carbon for every 1 part Nitrogen. Don't worry, if you are a little off one way or another it will still work. There are a few more elements that you must understand, but today we made a good step towards understanding. Learn more at my blog.
It was fall when I decided that I would set up a compost bin during the winter and when the spring rolls around, I will have a wonderful heap of fine organic composted soil. It was a vision only to be had in my dreams.
I figured since the fall was here and the trees on my property began to shed I would have plenty of leaves for my compost pile....and I did. I have way more than enough in fact. But the problem was I didn't save any of the grass from my last lawn mowing of the year. Tragic mistake.
Without the Nitrogen created by the green substances, in this case the grass, my compost bin was doomed to failure. However, I wasn't aware of this. I figured since the leaves were organic materials eventually they would break down, but would just take longer.
With that bit of wisdom, I raked the leaves into a nice pile and began to soak them with the water hose. I put some netting around it and thought that I had a chance of having some beautiful organic top soil for my garden.
This dream was never to come to fruition. It didn't happen, but I did learn the lesson that if you want to create some compost, you must must have a Nitrogen element in your bin. Carbon and Nitrogen are need to start the biological reaction used to create organic compost.
With all the seemingly magical nature and benefits of organic compost, I think you will be more amazed at how it is created. At least, this is something that blew me away when I first learned of composting and what is needed to make that happen.
If you are anything like me more than likely, you are thinking that composting must be an overly difficult process of creating natures dirt. I know I thought that there was machinery involved, a lengthy process, and much more equipment required.
Well, this isn't the case at all. All you need are few components to make it happen. Two of which are chief among all others.
1. Carbon
This is one of the critical elements of the composting process. To even have the materials to properly breakdown, Carbon must be present. This is not difficult to do because there is Carbon is in just about everything, but what you want is in brown materials. The best example is the leaves that fall from the trees every year. They are an high source of Carbon that you will need. So don't curse them, rake them up and save them for your composting needs. Brown paper bags are another source of carbon.
2. Nitrogen
Nitrogen provides the chemical compound to breakdown the components of the compost pile. This is a wonderful thing again as Nitrogen can be found in the green of the earth. So, when you are cutting your grass, you are creating all the Nitrogen you need to start of composting pile. Other sources of Nitrogen are green food scraps, and green plants work best.
The secret for these two components of composting is to remember you need 2 parts Carbon for every 1 part Nitrogen. Don't worry, if you are a little off one way or another it will still work. There are a few more elements that you must understand, but today we made a good step towards understanding. Learn more at my blog.
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