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Composting workshop final
- 1. Composting . Lisa Finn Bsc An Taisce
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Editor's Notes
- (For your own info; Before the meeting commences ask the coordinator if there Greet the group! Ask if there is it’s the first time for anybody in the group to attend a GH meeting Introduce yourself and explain that you work with An Taisce Education Unit
- Satisfaction of doing practical recycling – getting in touch with nature Used to feed plants greenhouse window –boxes Excellent soil conditioner that helps aerate the soil Reduces volume of waste to landfill by up to half Env. Friendly – helps Irelands waste crisis – helps to save the last of Ireland’s bogs (not peat based) 94% of raised bogs and 86% of blanket bogs in Ireland have already been lost forever In Ireland we conserve 50% of Europe’s peatlands
- Soil conditioning – clay soil is easy to work with sandy soil adds moisture so leads to moisture retention Compost hold 200 times more its own weight of water Containers – don’t overcompost can be too rich – just use one third the mix of home compost Lawn feed – Spring and Autumn – after scarifying Mulching trees,shrubs, and hedges Feeding – nutrients released as plants need them – the perfect diet! Feeding will be guided by outdoor temperatures
- Cones suit small amounts of waste – tidy and compact smaller gardens – don’t heat up – Plastic – long life – don’t need to be turned?? Need a clear spot of grass and a path close to it to avoid it getting mucky in the winter Open spot with easy access is necessary needs some sunlight – keep close to the backdoor-plant shrubs around the composter Ground needs to be flat- composter is perfect for hibernating animals- compost generates heat when it decomposing so it’s a nice warm spot Can put on concrete but you need plenty of soil on the bottom of it Rainproof cover Air is very important – drainpipe that has been drilled with a few holes placed at the centre of the bin when starting to compost Selection of materials Twiggy base Watch moisture level Add large amounts at a time Poke it from the top to keep it aerated Method for hot fast batch of compost pile (compost in 1-3 months) Start with a layer of coarse material – stalks twigs straw Then alternate layers of green and brown materials adding a shovel of soil and moistening every other layer Repeat this layering and moistening until the bin is full Monitor temp. of the pile Within 24 hours it should be 120-130 degrees farenheit After 3 days @ this temp turn pile #Add moisture and some nitrogen (food scraps or grass clippings)#Again the pile should heat back up After 3-4 days turn pile Repeat for 3-4 weeks Method for Slow or cold composting (3-8 months) Most common type of composting Pros Easy little effort/No stockpiling/Immediate kitchen scrap disposal/great for homes that generate little waste Cons Decomposes slowly/can cause odours/doesn’t heat up/can attract pests/won’t kill weed seeds/compost may be less nutrient rich
- Animal waste – rabbit guinea pigs, hamster poultry manure perfectly hygienic ( not dog/cat waste –dangerous pathogens) Citrus fruits can be used but are slow to break down – cut them up Kitchen waste : Fruit and veg peelings tea leaves and bags Coffee grounds Cardboard rolls Kitchen Paper Egg boxes Wait til kitchen caddy fills up – don’t run out on a daily basis is handful of waste Garden Waste: Garden clippings Leaves Old plants, Grass clippings, Wood ash, Wood chip/wood shavings
- -Choose just one from this list-Add at the beginning and then monitor every few weeks – fruit and veg should keep it going Activators are not necessary if you have a balanced mix of green and brown waste. Commercial activators usually consist of chemical nitrogen – may be harmful to living organisms in your heap HLA Human liquid activator – urine is a source of nitrogen and potassium All activators high in nitrogen – creates heat
- The more waste you have, the higher the temps- the quicker the process- the more compost is produced! Process speeds up during the summer Good to give the bin a break for a couple of weeks to allow the contents to drop down
- Anaerobic bacteria develops through lack of sufficient air. Aerating creates pathway for air and moisture to circulate – elimates odours-Takes care of most composting problem Turn every 7-10 days – the more you turn the faster you get finished compost Offensive odour – too wet need to add dry materials such as paper/cardboard/leaves/straw Strong offensive smell – too much grass clippings – add dry materials and mix well Two heaps better than one Too wet? Saw dust/ wood chip /shredded newspaper soaks up the wet Slow – need a good balance of green and brown – shredded – correct moisture content – sufficient air-(compost ready in 6 months) Plastic base no use on compost bins – slow down composting process – rats will eat their way through cement and plastic so it is not worth it for that reason alone Too much grass clipping pick up amazing temps and then becomes a slimy mess – need carbon- paper