With issues such as the environment, sustainability and self-sufficiency growing in importance these days, many households are trying to do their bit by growing a few herbs and vegetables in their own gardens. Most also seem to be focussing on organic methods of growing vegetables, avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the home garden.
A very important part of any organic vegetable gardening is compost. Compost consists of broken down organic material, which replenishes and improves the quality of the soil, thereby leading to higher quality and volume of produce.
It is very simple to create your own compost from household waste, recycling it back into the garden to produce the next crop of delicious home-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs.
I use a plastic compost bin purchased from a local hardware shop, however it is very easy to build your own out of scraps of wood, wire or brick. If making your own, aim for something approximately 3 ft X 3ft X 3ft in size.
All composts require a combination of “green” or “wet” materials, such as grass clippings, fallen leaves, kitchen scraps and so on and “brown” or “dry” materials, such as straw, newspapers, fine twigs and so forth.
A layering system works best. Start with a fairly thick layer of straw, fine twigs or wood chips to allow some drainage. On top of that, add alternating layers of green and brown organic materials. You also don’t want your compost to dry out, so keep it damp, but not soggy. To avoid nasty smells and vermin visitors, ensure that food scraps are covered immediately. My own preference is for a thin layer of damp newspaper or garden soil. I keep a small covered bin in my kitchen specifically for compost materials, and wait until this is full before adding to the compost bin.
Items great for composting include:
- Fruit and vegetable peelings, cores etc.
- Egg shells
- Tea and coffee grounds
- Grass clippings
- Pulled weeds (just be careful not to use weeds that have already flowered, or you risk seeds surviving within your compost)
- Fallen leaves (These are particularly fantastic, as I’ve found they break down very quickly)
- Pet or human hair and even the contents from your vacuum
- Certain animal manures, such as chicken, horse, sheep and cow (avoid dog and cat faeces, as well as that of other meat-eating animals)
- Tissues, newspaper and scrap paper (I avoid glossy coloured paper as the inks can be toxic)
- Ash from a wood fire
Items to avoid in your compost:
- Oils (including kitchen scraps cooked in oil)
- Meat and dairy products
- Any treated wood products (these can be highly toxic)
- Bread
- Very thick / woody cuttings (these take far too long to break down)
- Anything that has been exposed to chemicals or pesticides
Composts also require occasional airing to prevent them from going smelly, and to encourage the breaking down process. I use a large garden fork every now and then to turn and air my compost. You can buy specially designed hooks and similar, specifically for airing compost.
The bin I purchased has opening flaps at the bottom, so I can scoop out broken down compost from the bottom while continuing to add to it from the top. Some people prefer to have several composts on the go at once, so that they can use one that is ready, whilst having another underway. It all comes down to how much waste your household puts out, and how much space you have for composting.
