COMPOSTING

Decomposition is the end and beginning of the natural cycle of all living things.

Turn over the top few inches of soil in a forest and you will see the rotting leaves and other organic material being broken down through a combination of water, air, microorganisms and time. From that rich forest floor will emerge new seedlings and shoots to carry on the cycle of growth and decay.

By composting the organic waste produced in our daily lives, we are mimicking Mother Nature’s cycles in a way that is good for our gardens and good for the earth. Composting speeds up the natural process of decomposition to several weeks or months, depending on the method used. When it comes to composting, there is an option for everyone, from large rural landowners to urban apartment dwellers, from commercial businesses to local schools.

“Due to the increasing interest on the part of Central Oregon residents in wanting to grow their own food, I am certain that the number of people composting will increase,” said Amy Jo Detweiler, associate professor of horticulture with the OSU Extension Service.

The key is educating yourself and others as to the value of composting and how to do it.

What is Composting?

Composting is the natural process of breaking down and recycling of seemingly useless organic material into a dark, nutrient-rich, crumbly humus (organic component of soil) containing microorganisms that benefit the garden. Microorganisms need five things to flourish.

Air – Turning the compost pile or being sure to include small branches and other woody material will keep the compost from becoming compacted.

Water – Water the compost enough so that it feels like a wrung out sponge. Too dry or too wet and the composting process will slow down or stop.

Food – Microorganisms in the compost need a balanced diet of brown (high carbon) materials and green (high nitrogen) materials. Brown materials include straw, sawdust, wood chips, fallen leaves, pine needles, and newspaper or cardboard. Green materials include grass clippings, chicken or horse manure, kitchen scraps, and plant trimmings.

Space – A healthy compost pile is at least one cubic yard (3’ x 3’ x 3’) in volume.

Time – Depending on the kind of composting being done, it can take from several weeks to months and, in some cases, a few years for organic waste to become usable compost.

Why Compost?

According to the local Rethink Waste Project, the average household garbage is made up of 25-35 percent compostable waste. When kitchen and yard waste is composted rather than thrown away, valuable nutrients are put to good use in the garden and diverted from the landfill.

Everyone has their own reasons for composting. Many people compost to save money by producing less trash, lowering water bills, and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Other inspiration for composting includes helping the garden by organically feeding the soil, which boosts plant health and improves garden yields. Furthermore, many people recognize that composting helps the environment by reducing the amount of waste that is burned or sent to landfills, where the decomposition releases methane gas into the atmosphere, creating greenhouse gases.

Denise Rowcroft, sustainability educator at The Environmental Center, offers another way composting is helpful.

“Your compost pile is a good feedback loop about how healthy your eating is. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetable scraps – healthy. Very few because you’re eating lots of take-out and processed food – not healthy.”

Karen Roth, a Sisters Master Gardener, composts for all those reasons.

“Composting allows me to do my part to reduce the waste going to the landfill, and I find that my actions have a ripple effect with my friends and coworkers.”

How to Compost

There are many different methods of composting, and the “right one” will be the method that fits your lifestyle and living space. Whatever method you choose, do not compost meat, fish, dairy products, greasy or oily foods, diseased plants, weeds gone to seed, or dog and cat feces. For those who are considering any kind of composting, do your homework before you start and determine what will work for you.

Backyard composting is a good choice for people who have yards that produce a fair amount of yard waste. Options range from the basic open pile, which is a simple way to compost, to various bin systems, to a store-bought tumbler, which makes turning the compost easy, producing well-aerated, hot compost within a few weeks.

The tumbler is a good choice if you have smaller amounts of waste and little yard room for piles or bins, but the initial purchase price makes it a more expensive option.

Worm composting (or vermicomposting) makes use of red wiggler worms to help break down the food. It also makes indoor composting feasible for apartment and condo dwellers. A worm box – with air holes, drainage, bedding, and a healthy worm population – can turn food waste into compost with very little effort and little or no odor. Fruit and vegetable scraps, crushed egg shells, coffee grounds and tea bags with the staple removed can be collected in a covered container kept on the counter or under the sink in the kitchen until time to feed the worms.

Toni Stephan, horticulture and small farms instructor for the OSU Extension Service in Redmond, started raising red wigglers in 1992. After discovering worms in the soil in her childhood Alaskan home, she vowed if she ever had the opportunity she would get some worms and raise them. She is now a partner with Rocky Bessette at Rockton Ranch in Redmond where they create their own compost using a variety of methods, including vermicomposting.

“Worms are not as picky as we are about where they live,” she said. “As long as you give them an environment to their liking, they will produce compost. They are natural composting machines. They don’t need expensive houses as long as they have appropriate biodegradable bedding, food, some form of grit, and moisture.”

Worms can also be added to outside compost piles to aid in the decomposition.

The amount of information available about composting can seem overwhelming at first glance. If you talk to people who compost, they will tell you there are very few hard and fast rules. They all have their own favorite methods.

Mother Nature has been composting for eons, long before we got involved. By simply following her example, we will have compost to use in a multitude of ways in our gardens.