| Composting kitchen & garden waste to turn it | | | | Before starting each compost pile or bin, I set up a |
| into fertilizer is an ancient method of producing | | | | piece of 4 inch drainage pipe ( the flexible kind with |
| organic fertilizer for gardening. However, there are | | | | holes all over it). The pipe stands up right in the |
| very modern and easy methods of composting in the | | | | middle of the container into which you will dump your |
| 21st century. Over a period of about 25 years, I | | | | kitchen scraps & garden waste like leaves |
| have perfected the easiest and most effective | | | | & weeds & grass clippings. This pipe will |
| composting method imaginable. This type of | | | | help keep your pile supplied with air in the middle |
| composting actually makes a far superior fertilizer and | | | | where it is usually non-existent. The other way in |
| it all happens without the back breaking turning and | | | | which cold composting is different from fast or hot |
| shoveling. | | | | composting is the ingredients you use. You must |
| In the past, this type of composting was known as | | | | layer the pile with wet and dry ingredients alternating |
| Cold Composting, because it does not require that | | | | as you go. I use dry leaves from fall raking as my |
| the temperature of the compost pile reach high | | | | dry ingredient and kitchen waste & fresh green |
| temperatures. Cold composting takes an extra year | | | | matter as my wet. A handful of dolomite lime in |
| of being in a pile, but you will not have to turn the | | | | every wet layer will be helpful. Worms are another |
| pile or relocate it and the cooler temperature of the | | | | huge compost helper and you will have better results |
| process allows for a higher nutrient & beneficial | | | | if you can scrounge up a cup of them from around |
| microbe content in the final product. | | | | your property and just add them to your bin or pile |
| I know, it seems harsh to have to wait another year | | | | right at the start. By the time the compost is |
| for your compost to be finished. However, if you | | | | complete in about 2 years, there will be thousands of |
| think about it, once you get the system rolling, you | | | | worms ready to go into your garden along with the |
| will still be harvesting the same amount of compost | | | | compost. |
| every year; it will just be sitting in the composting bin | | | | That's it! No shoveling, no turning, no work! Once |
| longer. Every year, you will still have a nice supply of | | | | your bin is full or your pile reaches about 3-4 feet |
| 100% natural organic fertilizer that comes with | | | | high, cover it with a lid or tarp and leave it completely |
| organic matter to condition your garden's soil. | | | | alone while you start a new bin or pile. Come back in |
| There is no big trick to this -it's really just a matter | | | | about 18 - 24 months and you will find a smaller pile |
| of NOT doing all the hard work and leaving the pile | | | | of high quality organic fertilizer. There's nothing left to |
| for two years instead of one. There is a bit of a | | | | do but spread about 3 inches of your homemade |
| difference in how you make the pile, but these | | | | black gold on the top of your soil and watch your |
| differences are easy as well. | | | | organic garden grow. |