If you don’t already make your own compost at home, now is a great time to start. Composting is an essential activity if you have a garden. It is crucial to ensuring productivity long term. When it comes right down to it, composting is simply nature’s recycling system. We simply take advantage of it to live more in a more sustainable way.
But composting is often overcomplicated. It is important to understand that some of the time, composting correctly is simply a case of standing back and letting nature do its work. Making the perfect compost might take a little more work. But when you are just starting out, you really don’t have to overthink it.
If you do already compost at home, you might want to think about whether you could improve the compost you make. Have you chosen the right composting method?
Composting Methods to Consider
- Simple cold composting in a heap or bin.
This method is great for those who have the space, and who don’t mind waiting a while to see results. As long as you follow a few simple rules, you can just add materials as you go along and not worry about it too much.
- Composting in place.
If you are starting a new growing area, then in a no dig garden, you can kill two birds with one stone. You can compost organic waste and create a new growing area. You can make a new ‘lasagna bed’ or Hugelkultur mound. Even if you’re not making a new growing area, you can simply bury materials in a pit or trench, then plant on and around that area.
- Vermicomposting.
Sick of turning your compost heap? Want your compost to use elsewhere, and want it a bit faster? Enlisting the help of special worms and taking up vermicomposting could be the answer. Getting a wormery could be great even in small spaces – so could be one to consider even if you don’t have a garden at all.
- Composting Faster With a Compost Tumbler.
Another way to ensure good aeration and even decomposition without turning your heap by hand is to use a compost tumbler. Is this the right option for you?
- Hot Composting.
Hot composting is just what it sounds like: composting at higher temperatures. It takes a little more monitoring to get it right. But if you do, hot composting in an insulated heap or special bin can deliver great quality compost remarkably quickly.
One final thing to consider is fermenting materials prior to composting. You can do so with a bokashi system. (Fermenting food waste etc. with a carbon rich material and effective micro-organisms. ) This can speed up decomposition and increase the number of materials you can add to your composting system.
If you would like some help to decide which option is right for you, or more information on the techniques mentioned in this article, please do get in touch.
EWSP Consultancy 