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Garden Composting Article
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Help Your Soil Become Rich With Composting
from:Did you know that you have a virtual goldmine within your rubbish pile? Composting is not a new technology, in the least, but it has become increasingly evident that it can be important to our environment.
Once upon a time, when most people had a garden in their backyard there would also be a compost pile; a pile of rubbish and clippings that provided black gold. Not, oil but rich soil that was used in gardens to add nutrients to increase vegetable production.
What Is Compost?
What is composting? Well, it is the "aerobic decomposition of biodegradable organic matter which produces compost"; in other words it is decaying food (mostly vegetable or fruit) and other green matter. Composting is a form of recycling because it down cycles organic household, yard wastes, and manures to useful soil or hummus. It does return needed organic matter and nutrients to the soil and it helps reduce "green" waste in the landfills.
Composting Terms
There are certain words used when speaking of composting technology. A few of these are:
• Compostable – This is biodegradable material that when put under composting conditions breaks down into carbon dioxide, methane, water, and compost biomass. However, size does make a difference to a timely compostable. For example, a whole piece of hardwood would take a long time to break down, but the sawdust of such would be a lot easier.
• Compost-compatible – These particles are not compostable or even biodegradable but they do not have an adverse effect on the compost. As a matter of fact, most compost has traces of these materials; sand particles and small plastic bits are commonly found.
• Biodegradable – Materials that are capable of being broken down completely into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass. Some materials make time a long time, but eventually they will.
How Is It Done?
There are different ways to compost and some are more effective then others. Regardless your style, the technology stays the same. Food and green waste will eventually break down and you can use it within your garden, yard, and under bushes and trees. If you have the correct ratio of certain elements, then you will have compost in no time and with little decaying smell. Suitable compost ingredients with high carbon content are: dry straw material, autumn leaves, sawdust, wood chips, paper, or corrugated cardboard. Suitable compost ingredients with high nitrogen content are: vegetable and fruit peelings, coffee grounds, or herbivore manure (cow, rabbit, horse, or chicken).
It is a fact that American's landfill waste is compiled of 60% compostable or recycled materials but less then 6% is recycled or composted. Composting was once historically for gardeners or farmers but now it is considered a necessity for saving our landfill space.
Garden Composting Specific links
Garden Composting News
Drinking the Compost Kool-Aid - Baristanet
Drinking the Compost Kool-Aid Baristanet Remember water and air are key in the process to hot composting. Starting your compost in the fall may be the easiest with an abundance of leaves to work with. Of course starting now — particularly while you are out in the garden noticing that your ... |
Composting denied for expanded Eau Claire community gardens - Leader-Telegram
Composting denied for expanded Eau Claire community gardens Leader-Telegram Concerns over unwanted dumping and a city ordinance passed two weeks ago led the Eau Claire City Council to unanimously ban compost from the newly expanded Phoenix Community Gardens. The council agreed in an 11-0 vote Tuesday afternoon to increase ... |
Nominations now being accepted - SooToday.com
 SooToday.com | Nominations now being accepted SooToday.com Categories are: Front Yard, Backyard, Commercial/Institutional, “Feature in a Garden Award” (sponsor – Lemieux Composting), “Most Improved Residential Property”, “Best Water Feature” (sponsor – New North Greenhouses), “Green Glove Garden” (sponsor ... |
Compost champs - Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph
Compost champs Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph More than 450 residents turned up at the council's headquarters in Thrapston on Friday and Saturday to collect bags of free compost and speak to officers about recycling, composting and the council's garden waste service. |
Thanks to assistance from BOCES students, Giving Garden will offer outdoor ... - Metrowny.com
 Metrowny.com | Thanks to assistance from BOCES students, Giving Garden will offer outdoor ... Metrowny.com The Giving Garden has been a popular feature at Union-Pleasant. “They learn about gardening, composting, the environment,” Miller said, noting that nearly every class uses the garden. Jackie Peffer, principal at Union-Pleasant, said SOLE has provided ... |