Nitrogen - "Green" ingredients range from lawn clippings and green leaves to manures and garden
trimmings and are all ideal sources of nitrogen for composting. The same can be said of kitchen waste,
such as vegetable and fruit leftovers, which also generate nitrogen. Kitchen waste can be kept in a plastic
container under the sink and should be cut up into smaller pieces before adding them to the composter.
Carbon - “Brown” garden ingredients such as dry leaves, twigs, or hay provide the carbon part of the
mixture and will ensure a lighter and aerated compost. Carbon is best provided by using dry leaves. Dry
leaves can be collected, shredded, and stored to be used all year round. If the mixture gets too wet or
contains too much nitrogen, add dry leaves. (Refer to BASIC NITROGEN / CARBON CHART for more
detailed information).
Water
- Neglecting humidity is a common mistake made during the composting process. The compost
should remain humid throughout the process. About 50% humidity is acceptable. How can we make sure
that such levels are achieved? One can simply open the compost tumbler, grab and squeeze a handful
of material in your hand; if a few drops of water are released, it is probably humid enough, if not, water
should be added by inserting a hose deep into the mixture so that not just the upper layer will get wet.
Let excess water drain out through the ventilation bores. The mixture should remain humid, but not wet.
Air
– All creatures and mushrooms in the compost mixture need oxygen during the process. If the mixture
is too dense or gets too humid, the air supply into the mixture is cut off and the laboring creatures will
probably be exterminated. The process will slow down and a nauseating stink will start. To prevent this
and hasten the process, the tumbler must be rotated every second day or so. This would also be a good
time to add shredded leaves from the stockpile. Preventing moisture can also be achieved by opening the
composter lid for a few hours.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes during the process, you will learn from experience. It would be a good
idea to write down these experiences and keep some records; they might come in useful in the end! Refer
to TROUBLESHOOTING for more detailed information.
NOTE
: The decomposing process has a lot to do with the surface area the tiny creatures have to operate
on. The best results are achieved when individual pieces in the decomposing mixture are kept small. So,
cut or shred larger ingredients into smaller pieces. A lawn mower can be used to shred dry leaves when no
shredder is available.
BASIC NITROGEN/CARBON CHART
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