In Today’s episode, let’s learn step by step – how to easily, quickly and successfully
perform smell free, aerobic composting at home with some very useful tips and tricks.
Coming up!
In our previous three episodes we discussed on the fundamentals of composting including
Types of Composting, the CN ratio and demonstrated the anaerobic or bokashi composting method
step by step.
You can find links to those episodes in the description below or at the end screen of
this episode.
In Today’s episode, let’s learn How to perfectly make compost at home in 5 easy steps:
Step 1: CHOOSING YOUR CONTAINER There are many ways to compost.
You can either use an open pile composting method or use a compost bin.
Open pile composting or using a simple chicken mesh boundary is the simplest way to start,
but it has its own disadvantages.
The best way to compost at home is use a compost bin.
Bins have the advantage of being neat, keeping animals, rodents and insects away and preserving
heat.
You can build your own DIY compost bin from some plastic buckets or even drums or barrels.
You can even build a tumbling compost bin.
Or you can just purchase these from a garden store or online.
The size and type of bin you build or purchase will depend on how much compostable material
you generate on a day to day basis.
A rotating Tumbler compost bin has many advantages, like you need not turn up the compost pile
for oxygenation manually, instead you just give few rotations once daily and this will
also speed up the composting process.
The twin drum has an advantage of providing continuous supply of compost, like when one
drum is full, you leave it for few weeks for final maturation and then start adding materials
in the second bin.
And repeat this process to get a continuous supply of compost.
Step 2: CHOOSING THE LOCATION For conventional pile composting, a sunny
location and a flat surface on soil is better.
For drum composting or if using a tumbling composter this is not so crucial.
However keep in a place which is open with good air circulation, and also keep in mind
there is a liquid leak below the compost bins.
This compost tea can be collected and makes a good liquid fertilizer for plants if used
in adequate dilution.
Step 3: ADDING GREENS AND BROWNS This we have discussed in detail in episode
2 of our composting series.
For greens and kitchen waste recycling you can add them daily to your compost bin along
with browns.
If your daily collection is too little, you can store in refrigerator and then add to
your bin.
Greens are nitrogen rich and mostly wet materials like waste kitchen scraps like vegetables
scraps, fruit scraps, fresh grass cuttings, animal manure but not your cat or dog poop,
then bird or poultry droppings, feathers, fleshy plants and leaves, flowers, tea and
coffee waste, egg shells, nail clippings, human and animal hair, and so on.
Browns are carbon rich dry materials like dry fallen leaves, dried flowers, wood chips,
twigs, straw, shredded paper, shredded card board or paper cartons, and also the toilet
paper rolls, toilet paper or used napkins or facial tissues, coffee filters and tea
bags, cotton, sawdust, pine needles, Pencil Shavings, dried grass clippings, peat moss,
cocopeat or coconut fibers, used paper plates, nut shells, wine corks, toothpicks, paper
cupcakes, used match sticks, wood ash or ashes from the fireplace, coal, and so on.
Well, We will not go into discussing the Carbon : Nitrogen Ratio in this episode.
You just have to remember the Green to Brown Ratio while adding stuff into compost bin.
As a General Rule: A 1-to-1 Ratio works well with the Add as You Go Pile as well as for
the Batch Pile and is safe for beginners.
This will aid you in creating about a 50:1 C/N Ratio, adequate enough to get a warm pile.
This means, For every bowl of greens, you add one bowl of browns and a little bit of
compost activator.
Step 4: COMPOST STARTER or ACCELERATOR OR ACTIVATOR
If you are starting for the first time or first batch, you need to add those microorgansisms
to start the composting process.
This can be either a commercial compost maker powder; but remember not to add the Bokashi
bran powder which is exclusively meant for anaerobic composting which we have discussed
and demonstrated in detail in episode 3 of this composting series.
You can check that link in description below.
So, you can add this powder like 1 or 2 teaspoons or as recommended in your packet and, every
time you add greens and browns and then rotate the tumbler or turn your compost a few times
for good oxygenation.
If you have a half finished compost or even a fully finished compost or decomposed cowdung
can be added as a starter.
You can also add the finished compost from your Bokashi bucket into this aerobic compost
bin.
Step 5: MATURATION AND HARVESTING when the bin is 70 to 80% full, stop adding
further waste into it and leave it for 6 to 8 weeks for compost cooking and final maturation.
But make sure you tumble the compost bin on a daily basis or if you are doing the compost
pile method, you need to turn the compost pile every other day for proper aeration,
otherwise it will develop foul smell and fail.
If you are getting a sweeter pleasant smell, then everything is going fine.
After 6 to 8 weeks or even more, you can collect your final compost and use this pure fertilizer
for your plants.
You can leave about 10% in the bin which acts as an accelerator for the next batch.
Finished compost will be dark, crumbly and smell like earth.
You can watch all videos on composting starting from basic principles from this new series
playlist circled right here!
Please like, share and comment below with your feedback and queries.
Happy Gardening!