Organic Waste Gardening Nursery Landscaping Guide
Organic Waste To Create Garden Compost
By Pixie Matthews
Just about any topic that deals with organics garners a fair
amount of interest, and yet there has been some confusion about
the meaning of the term "organic waste." Basically,
any kind of waste material that originated in any kind of biological
form can be categorized as this type of waste.
Some good examples includes green waste, such a yard debris and
lawn clippings; newspapers, cardboard and other paper products;
manure and feces; food waste; and biosolids.
The Composting Process
The process that organic matter goes through to become waste
is called composting. The composting process breaks down the microorganisms
in the organic material through a combination of exposure to heat,
moisture, oxygen and bacteria. Once this organic material has
passed through this decomposing process, it can be reused as a
very effective soil additive.
The fact of the matter is that even though most people don’t
think about it in these terms, organic waste is an essential and
life-giving part of the cycle of life on earth. There is no doubt
that the natural decomposition and composting process is simply
nature’s way of recycling.
Nutrient Rich Compost
Once organic materials are gathered together in a compost pile,
the microorganisms rapidly increase in number and essentially
grow into a community that "colonizes" the composter.
Through the natural biological functions of the microorganisms,
the organic components are systematically broken down and the
result is a nutrient rich compost.
As the bacterial microorganisms grow, they assimilate the starches,
sugars and organic acids found in the waste matter. A side effect
of their activity is a rise in the temperature in the center-most
portion of the compost heap.
Temperature Of COmpost Heap Increases
Eventually, the temperature of the core of the compost pile will
reach more than 140 degrees Fahrenheit and this heat contributes
to the escalating decomposition of the material.
When the busy bacteria have consumed all of the sugars and starches
and other materials they feast upon, the interior temperature
of the compost heap begins to fall. As the temperatures become
lower, other kinds of microorganisms, such as fungi, become more
dominant in the composting community.
At this stage the waste is considered to be stabilizing but there
are still biological activities going on which will affect the
woody elements of the compost mixture, allowing them to be broken
down as well.
Compost Heap Needs To Be Turned
In order to continue through the composting process, the compost
heap needs to be turned. This is a simple process that brings
the material that is on the edges of the heap into the center
so that it can be exposed to this process of heating as described
above. It is recommended to allow the compost pile to sit undisturbed
for approximately two weeks between turnings.
Organic waste can always be added to any compost heap at any
time. As time progresses and the compost contents are turned regularly,
the organic elements will all be broken down. After about six
months of this process, the compost is ready to be used as a potent
and effective additive to any soil that will result in healthy
vegetation.
About the Author:
Pixie Matthews has written a number of articles on gardening and
landscaping including Organic
Vegetable Gardening, Vegetable
Gardening Tips, Spring
Vegetable Gardening, Compost
For Your Vegetable Garden, Vegetable
Gardening Tricks.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles on this website.
Little Known Gardening Facts....
How do I build a compost heap?
There are plenty of compost
plans on the internet and do-it-yourself websites.
Most people simply create a pile in one corner of
their lot and create their compost heap there. But
you want to be careful where you place your compost
heap. It will need shade but will still need a little
bit of daylight.
The area will have to be kept moist and you will want to keep
it away from the house and the neighbor’s house so that the smell
does not become a neighborhood issue. This is especially true
if you use pet or animal waste.
Rotting food will attract unwanted animals that will rummage
through the pile scattering the decomposing material everywhere
so be careful how you store your compost heap and what you place
in it depending on what type of area in which you live.
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