The week of June 1-6 is National Environment Week, with June 5 being World Environment Day.
In celebration of this, we take a look at how you can practise carbon gardening by making your own compost.
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We have all heard about how we should be reducing our carbon footprint which in turn will lower greenhouse gases and make our environment a better place. How can you, as a gardener, make a contribution to improving your home environment? One of the easiest ways to be a 'greener' gardener is to recycle your garden and kitchen waste into compost.
A thick layer of compost spread across your flower beds is just what your plants need and will improve the life of your garden. Compost sifts down into the soil and in so doing improves the aeration and water retention of the soil and returns nutrients to it so that plants can grow better. Composting household materials also saves landfill space, as you will be able to reduce the amount of waste you dispose of.
There are four basic requirements for successful composting - air, water, heat and organic materials.
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- Air: Air is necessary for organic matter to decompose properly. This will result in fast, odour-free decomposition. Air can be incorporated into your pile by simply turning the compost regularly.
- Moisture: Moisture is needed to maintain composting activity in your pile. The micro-organisms that decompose the organic matter need moisture to move around and break down the material. Keep your pile about as moist as a well-wrung sponge. If the pile becomes too dry, composting activity will slow down and eventually stop. When watering your compost heap be sure to turn it so that the water penetrates all the way through.
- Heat: If a compost pile has enough water and oxygen, a good balance of material, and enough volume, temperatures in the pile may reach above 55° C. Heat is the result of the work of the micro-organisms that are decomposing the organic material. The higher the temperature, the more work being done. The compost pile should feel warm or hot to the touch when you dig into it. Temperatures of 55° C are desirable because they kill weed seeds and speed up the composting process. However, don't worry if yours doesn't reach this temperature, a cooler compost can work just as well.
The right ingredients
What can you put onto a compost heap? All organic materials contain a mixture of carbon and nitrogen. Items high in carbon are often a brown colour and items high in nitrogen are mostly green in colour. Try to collect equal amount of greens and browns in your compost heap as this gives the correct ratio of carbon to nitrogen in the final product.
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Greens: (these materials are usually moist):
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Browns: (these materials are usually dry)
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Make sure you layer the material in your compost heap. Start with a layer of twigs and then alternate layers of green and brown material. It is also very helpful to put ordinary garden soil between your layers as this introduces the micro-organisms that do the decomposing. Composting should take between 2 to 3 months depending on the material used and the time of year.
What to avoid:
- Meat
- All dairy products
- Oil
- Weeds with mature seeds
- Pet wastes
- Walnut shells
- Rhubarb leaves
- Plants or grass clippings that have been treated with chemicals
- Diseased or insect infested plants
