Composting

Winnie1 · #1 (**permalink**) 19-09-2008, 05:11 PM

OK, I did a search - I am terrible at searching, it never seems to work too well for me, until after I post a topic

Anyway, I'd like to start a compost - whats the easiest way to go about it - I don;t want to have to buy a special container for it and I don;t want to have to build anything.

Someone suggested I dig a hole, and use that until its full. Then move on to another spot.

How does this sound?

Bronnie · #2 (**permalink**) 19-09-2008, 05:52 PM

i'm a lazy composter. i just did a hole and dump the scraps in. or i pile them in a big container we have, dump a load of mushroom compost on and leave for a while.

hanabi · #3 (**permalink**) 19-09-2008, 08:29 PM

Yeah, just dig it in at progressively different spots in your garden. Takes about two to three months to be rendered unrecognisable. A bit of mulch over the top helps a lot. Rats can find it though, so depends on how deeply you need to dig it as to whether that may be a problem for you.

However, you do need gaps in the garden to dig it into. Not for people who like to keep things pretty.

Greenmama2AJ · #4 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 09:04 PM

There are two methods of composting.

Aerobic (Air) - this method is where you chop up and turn your compost to aerate it.
If you use this method you should keep your compost cool and damp. Chop and turn the pile regularly. The bacteria that will grow breathes in O2 (oxygen) and breathes out CO2 (an odourless gas). If you do this method correctly it shouldn't smell.
According to a Perth university website a full pig carcass decomposed completely in 30 days using this method.

Anaerobic (No Air) is the 2nd method. Using this method you keep the compost sealed (either in a plastic bin or by soil). These compost piles need to be kept warm (in winter they will decompose much slower). The bacteria that lives in these bins breathes in CO2 and breathes out CH4 (methane). Methane smells like egg fart, so you dont want it by your back door. If you get the compost hot enough (above 65'C or so - by adding grass clippings, black plastic to cover etc) you can kill 99% germs which means you can add things like dog poo, tissues and meat.

Animals break down waste much more quickly than bacteria alone - so if you're looking at just getting rid of kitchen/household waste worms and chooks are the best option.

If you want to get rid of garden waste an Aerobic compost is nicest but more work.

Yeah, I'm a compost geek.