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What type of compost would you like to learn more about?
Composting newspapers: Is it good for the compost?
Composting can be a great way to get rid of those weekly advertisements. It's simple and beneficial to your compost pit. Newspapers are made from a wood pulp substance that is actually a pretty nasty production, however, the end product is non-toxic and safe addition for the compost pit. Newspapers also use a soy-based ink that is non-toxic and safe for the compost pit. Newspapers can also add carbon to the compost pit which will help the overall health of your compost.
What is not recommended for the compost pit would be any glossy papers that you would find in magazines. We avoid these papers because of the potential risk that they may have fluorescent or metallic inks on them which use pigments that can have toxic elements in them. Some magazines actually use fluorescent paper. Worms will not eat these papers.
Below are several pictures of how I added some newspapers to the compost pit. I use the bags as poop bags when I take Utah the Dog out for her daily run/walk.
What is not recommended for the compost pit would be any glossy papers that you would find in magazines. We avoid these papers because of the potential risk that they may have fluorescent or metallic inks on them which use pigments that can have toxic elements in them. Some magazines actually use fluorescent paper. Worms will not eat these papers.
Below are several pictures of how I added some newspapers to the compost pit. I use the bags as poop bags when I take Utah the Dog out for her daily run/walk.
Compost Tea: Info to know before brewing
By Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens, Lakeview Organic Grain
Originally posted on August 3, 2004
Compost Tea – long favored by organic gardeners and biodynamic farmers, compost tea is coming under criticism by the NOP because improperly made compost tea may have the potential for spreading food-borne pathogens onto plant parts destined to be eaten raw by people. It continues to be a major topic of discussion among federal regulators. In April, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) made its recommendations to the NOP concerning the use of compost tea. Basically, if you are very careful to use only compost that meets all of the NOP compost requirements, can document that and are not using compost tea additives, that compost tea should be acceptable. If you aren’t sure whether your compost has meet all the requirements, especially if you are using purchased compost, then the timing restrictions of raw manure will probably apply. If additives are used, according to NOSB recommendations, the tea and brewing process must undergo a rigid series of tests to make sure no harmful pathogens are being produced or the 90-120 day timing restrictions apply. - provided by http://rodaleinstitute.org/2004/what-can-you-use-to-boost-your-soil-fertility/
Originally posted on August 3, 2004
Compost Tea – long favored by organic gardeners and biodynamic farmers, compost tea is coming under criticism by the NOP because improperly made compost tea may have the potential for spreading food-borne pathogens onto plant parts destined to be eaten raw by people. It continues to be a major topic of discussion among federal regulators. In April, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) made its recommendations to the NOP concerning the use of compost tea. Basically, if you are very careful to use only compost that meets all of the NOP compost requirements, can document that and are not using compost tea additives, that compost tea should be acceptable. If you aren’t sure whether your compost has meet all the requirements, especially if you are using purchased compost, then the timing restrictions of raw manure will probably apply. If additives are used, according to NOSB recommendations, the tea and brewing process must undergo a rigid series of tests to make sure no harmful pathogens are being produced or the 90-120 day timing restrictions apply. - provided by http://rodaleinstitute.org/2004/what-can-you-use-to-boost-your-soil-fertility/
Compost pit as of February 8, 2014.
Todays high temperature was 30, low 18.
Compost rarely freezes in the northeast due to the kinetic energy that is produced during decomposition. As you can see from the pictures above, just under the snow and ice we have great soil. See what we do with these mason jars at the DIY Projects section.
Health and Safety
Composting although safe, resourceful, and valuable does have a variety of health and safety concerns. Anytime we do something around our living area we are sure to know the health risks that come with having decaying food buried feet from our house. For instance, if you are experiencing rodents eating your compost you might want to try burying the organic waste or making a screen covering for the compost. This will keep out any rodents or wondering dogs. The two links below are health and safety guides from Cornell University. We urge you to take a look.
Health & Safety Guidance for Composting in the School Setting. 2p, 2005
Health & Safety Guidance for Small Scale Composting. 2p, 2004
Health & Safety Guidance for Composting in the School Setting. 2p, 2005
Health & Safety Guidance for Small Scale Composting. 2p, 2004
Fun facts about compost
Composting isn’t just for the benefit of gardeners.
Here are some interesting facts about the benefits of recycling organic waste.
provided by: http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/news/2013/some-composting-facts
Here are some interesting facts about the benefits of recycling organic waste.
- The average US. Household generates 650 lbs. of compostable materials each year.
- Over 60 percent of what we put in our landfills is organic waste, such as food scraps. Yard trimmings, and paper, much of which could be recycled by composting.
- Composting saves money. Families reduce their garbage collection bills and municipalities save money on transporting and disposing of waste when organic materials are eliminated from the collection system.
- Compost improves soil, adds important nutrients for plants, and reduces the need for expensive commercial fertilizers.
provided by: http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/news/2013/some-composting-facts
So you want to get started with your composting. Where do you start? What is the best type of composting for you? Where do I have my compost area? What do I put in my compost? What are the benefits of composting? There are thousands of questions to answer before getting started but the best way to get started is to just do it. Below is what the EPA has on their site explaining what compost is and the benefits of composting.
Compost is organic material that can be used as a soil amendment or as a medium to grow plants. Mature compost is a stable material with a content called humus that is dark brown or black and has a soil-like, earthy smell. It is created by: combining organic wastes (e.g., yard trimmings, food wastes, manures) in proper ratios into piles, rows, or vessels; adding bulking agents (e.g., wood chips) as necessary to accelerate the breakdown of organic materials; and allowing the finished material to fully stabilize and mature through a curing process.
Natural composting, or biological decomposition, began with the first plants on earth and has been going on ever since. As vegetation falls to the ground, it slowly decays, providing minerals and nutrients needed for plants, animals, and microorganisms. Mature compost, however, includes the production of high temperatures to destroy pathogens and weed seeds that natural decomposition does not destroy.Benefits of Composting
Compost is organic material that can be used as a soil amendment or as a medium to grow plants. Mature compost is a stable material with a content called humus that is dark brown or black and has a soil-like, earthy smell. It is created by: combining organic wastes (e.g., yard trimmings, food wastes, manures) in proper ratios into piles, rows, or vessels; adding bulking agents (e.g., wood chips) as necessary to accelerate the breakdown of organic materials; and allowing the finished material to fully stabilize and mature through a curing process.
Natural composting, or biological decomposition, began with the first plants on earth and has been going on ever since. As vegetation falls to the ground, it slowly decays, providing minerals and nutrients needed for plants, animals, and microorganisms. Mature compost, however, includes the production of high temperatures to destroy pathogens and weed seeds that natural decomposition does not destroy.Benefits of Composting
- Reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers.
- Promote higher yields of agricultural crops.
- Facilitate reforestation, wetlands restoration, and habitat revitalization efforts by amending contaminated, compacted, and marginal soils.
- Cost-effectively remediate soils contaminated by hazardous waste.
- Remove solids, oil, grease, and heavy metals from stormwater runoff.
- Avoids Methane and leachate formulation in landfills.
- Capture and destroy 99.6 percent of industrial volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in contaminated air.
- Provide cost savings of at least 50 percent over conventional soil, water, and air pollution remediation technologies, where applicable
- Reduces the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides.
- Serves as a marketable commodity and is a low-cost alternative to standard landfill cover and artificial soil amendments.
- Extends municipal landfill life by diverting organic materials from landfills.
The Composting ProcessOne of the most important steps for evaluating composting options is to become familiar with how the composting process works. Before you begin composting or start a composting program, you should understand the five primary variables that must be “controlled” during composting. These include the following:
- Feedstock and nutrient balance. Controlled decomposition requires a proper balance of “green” organic materials (e.g., grass clippings, food scraps, manure), which contain large amounts of nitrogen, and “brown” organic materials (e.g., dry leaves, wood chips, branches), which contain large amounts of carbon but little nitrogen. Obtaining the right nutrient mix requires experimentation and patience and is part of the art and science of composting.
- Particle size. Grinding, chipping, and shredding materials increases the surface area on which the microorganism can feed. Smaller particles also produce a more homogeneous compost mixture and improve pile insulation to help maintain optimum temperatures (see below). If the particles are too small, however, they might prevent air from flowing freely through the pile.
- Moisture content. Microorganisms living in a compost pile need an adequate amount of moisture to survive. Water is the key element that helps transports substances within the compost pile and makes the nutrients in organic material accessible to the microbes. Organic material contains some moisture in varying amounts, but moisture also might come in the form of rainfall or intentional watering.
- Oxygen flow. Turning the pile, placing the pile on a series of pipes, or including bulking agents such as wood chips and shredded newspaper all help aerate the pile. Aerating the pile allows decomposition to occur at a faster rate than anaerobic conditions. Care must be taken, however, not to provide too much oxygen, which can dry out the pile and impede the composting process.
- Temperature. Microorganisms require a certain temperature range for optimal activity. Certain temperatures promote rapid composting and destroy pathogens and weed seeds. Microbial activity can raise the temperature of the pile’s core to at least 140° F. If the temperature does not increase, anaerobic conditions (i.e., rotting) occur. Controlling the previous four factors can bring about the proper temperature.
Types of Composting:
Stay tuned as we explore each one of these techniques.
provided by epa.gov
Stay tuned as we explore each one of these techniques.
provided by epa.gov