Composting Essential Facts

Composting is a simple, natural, biological process that breaks down organic waste into a crumbly, dark brown, earthy-smelling humus material with a soil-like texture.

Compost humus is the end product of a complex natural process involving bacteria, fungi, worms, and insects that leads to the breakdown of the organic materials within the compost pile.

Compost humus is often dubbed the “life-force” of soil. Although its benefits are abundant, humus is a highly complex substance that is difficult to define in precise terms. It can best be described as the transformation of organic matter into carbon dioxide, water, humic substances, valuable microorganisms and inorganic plant nutrients, and energy in the form of heat that is generated from the compost pile.

Adding compost to your garden stimulates seed germination and plant growth, and also reduces the garden’s susceptibility to pest attacks. Compost humus enriches your garden, enabling it to flourish and prosper.

Compost humus also acts like a sponge and improves soil structure, helping to break up clay soil with the help of bacteria.

When adding compost to sandy soils, we are in essence improving the soil’s water retention properties and improving its nutrient content.

By adding compost to any soil we increase the availability of this rich humus material to the plants, flowers, and trees it sustains. Improving your soil is the first step toward improving the health of your plants, resulting in improved nutrient values, greater water retention, increased water infiltration, and reduced crusting problems, all of which enhance plant resilience during dry seasons.

Composting cycle Time depends on a number of Major Variables:

1. Oxygenation – Oxygen is required for respiration by all aerobic inhabitants within the compost pile. Aerobic microbes decompose waste at a faster rate than their anaerobic counterparts, and will not produce the foul odors associated with anaerobic decomposition.
2. Adequate Ventilation and periodic Turning of the compost pile inside the COMPOST MIXER will increase the rate of the composting process. An unmixed compost pile may take up to three to four times longer to turn into compost humus.
3. Temperature – Heat is a byproduct of decomposition, and accelerates the composting process. The optimum temperature for a rapid composting process is 90-135°F (30-60°C). Due to the cold climate or insufficient bacterial activity, the composting process will slow, but not cease, when the temperature falls below this temperature. To keep temperatures elevated, keep the Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio (see below), and adjust the aeration vents of the COMPOST MIXER to increase the available oxygen.
4. Water Content – An efficient COMPOST MIXER needs to have a moisture content of approximately 50% (it should feel like a damp towel) allowing the compost pile to sustain microbial activity. If the compost pile is too dry, decomposition will slow down considerably, while overly wet piles can trigger anaerobic conditions and begin to smell. Keep the COMPOST MIXER door and air vents closed during heavy rains, to avoid anaerobic composting and prevent valuable nutrients to be washed away. Add more water if you feel the compost pile is too dry.
5. Waste Surface Area – Speed up the composting process by shredding and chipping all garden clippings and kitchen scraps into smaller pieces. The more surface area that is exposed to microorganisms, the faster the composting process will be.
6. Carbon/Nitrogen ratio – Organic materials rich in nitrogen are referred to as GREENS (fresh vegetable scraps or grass clippings, etc.). Other composting materials can be referred to as BROWNS (hay, twigs, dried leaves, etc). A good general rule of thumb is to use 2-3 parts brown to 1 part green.

For more information check out Compost eBooks