🌱How to Start Your Own Compost Pile🌱
Just as nutrient rich blood provides us with a strong healthy body, nutrient rich soil helps our garden plants grow big, strong and healthy. One of the many ways you can jumpstart your garden is by starting a compost pile. You can start this anytime, but keep in mind it can take several months to be ready, but will vary depending on your climate. Following are some key tips to get a successful compost pile starting from start to finish:
1. Choose a sunny spot. The more heat your pile gets the faster your pile "ingredients" will decompose.
2. You can surround your pile on 3 sides (left, back and right) with pallets, cinder blocks or whatever material you have on hand or can buy to hold the pile together. Just a side note: If you have gopher issues, include a wooden bottom and make sure the material you use is untreated as this can leech harmful chemicals into you pile.
3. Make sure you include "browns" and "greens", as well as the right amount of moisture and airflow.
a. "Browns" should be high carbon materials and can include leaves, twigs, brown cardboard with no ink or plastic, wood chips or straw. This will compose at least 2 of 3 parts of your pile. Place about 3 inches on the bottom and again 2-3 inches on the top. This will help absorb the excess moisture from the greens.
b. "Greens" should be nitrogen rich materials and can include kitchen scraps, such as veggies (even if they're NOT Green 🍅🍊🍇), untreated grass clippings, coffee grounds, eggshells, tea bags, etc. Cut these down to small pieces. The smaller the better as this will speed up the composting process.
c. Add water if there is not enough in the scraps (more info below).
d. Earthworms, not required, but will add extra nutrients to your pile. The more the better.
e. Do NOT include meat, dairy, raw eggs, dog or cat waste, or chemically treated materials.
First place 2-3 inches of "browns" on the bottom, then layer an inch of "greens,” and finally add water only if the scraps are not moist enough. You don't want to soak it, as this can lead to stinky compost. Mix your pile and add another layer of "browns" to soak up any excess moisture. If you are planning to use worms, add them at this stage.
Mix your pile once a week to get airflow and help the break-down process. Turn it only a few times. Be gentle for your worms sake😉. Keep adding "greens" and "browns" everyday or as you have them on hand. Cover your pile with a piece of plastic or piece of thin untreated wood to help maintain heat, only if needed. Hotter climates do not need this step.
After a few weeks, stop adding materials to your first pile to allow it to finish decomposing and start a new pile. Once you see that your pile is brown and that your materials are almost completely decomposed, your new soil is ready to use. This can take several months to up to a year in colder climates. I hope this adds on to your happy gardening experience.
Isaiah 61:11 For just as the soil brings forth its shoots, and as a garden makes what is sown within it spring up, so the LORD God will make righteousness and praise spring up before all the nations for Zion's
God Bless your efforts.
- Vasti F, Main Farmer of SunFlores Farm
5/2/2023