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2 part green 1 part brown “makes a good compost mixture for most homeowners”
* close to the optimum ratio of carbon to nitrogen
- f 30:1 for composting bacteria.
* close to the optimum ratio of carbon to nitrogen of 30:1 for - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
* close to the optimum ratio of carbon to nitrogen of 30:1 for - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
2 part green 1 part brown makes a good compost mixture for most homeowners * close to the optimum ratio of carbon to nitrogen of 30:1 for composting bacteria. IMPORTANT NOTE: An optimal C:N (carbon:nitrogen) balance is not critical to
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foods with oils or fats –peanut butter –salad dressing –margarine –vegetable oils –mayonnaise
–
DO NOT COMPOST
dairy & meat products
– butter – bones – cheese – chicken – fish scraps – lard – meat scraps – milk – sour peels – yogurt
Uof WI, PUBL-SW-182 93
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Uof WI, PUBL-SW-182 93
NO pet wastes!
- meat eating animals (cats, dog) & birds
- manure contain pathogens (disease
- rganisms) which can be transmitted to humans
- grass-eating mammals (cows, horses, sheep, etc.)
- stabilized, commercially processed manure does
not have pathogens which can be transmitted to humans
- can be used in compost.
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–grapefruit –lettuce
–onion peels –orange peels –pears –pineapple –melon rinds –potatoes –pumpkin shells –squash –tea leaves –tomatoes –turnip leaves
DO COMPOST
Uof WI, PUBL-SW-182 93
fruits and vegetables:
–apples (peels and core) –cabbage –carrots –celery –coffee grounds –egg shells?
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WEEDS Another nitrogen-rich material is fresh weeds.
EXCEPTIONS:
- remove seed heads
- don’t add perennials until
their roots are fully dried out
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MAIN CONCERNS WHEN HOT COMPOSTING:
- volume
- surface area
- moisture
- aeration
- temperature
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INCREASE SURFACE AREA
- chopping materials increases the surface area for
bacteria to feed on
- greatly speeds the composting process
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MOISTURE CONTENT
To Dry To Wet
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Maintain moisture to level similar to a damp sponge
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Pile aeration
Getting air to your work force
- Turning the pile mixes
fresh air into the pile
- Turning tools can make the
job easier
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Turn the compost pile when:
- the temperature cools down
- there is a bad odor
- rotten egg smell
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Pile aeration
Getting air to your work force
- Turning the pile mixes
fresh air into the pile
- Turning tools can make the
job easier
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Turn the compost pile when:
- the temperature cools down
- there is a bad odor
- rotten egg smell
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Aerobic composting and temperature
- A thermometer is a nice tool but is not essential for good composting
- Active composting occurs in the temperature range of 55oF to 160oF