Compost is an amazing material that permaculturalists prize worldwide.
Compost is defined as "a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land" by Merriam-Webster.
In layman's terms, compost is the soil-like substance created through the process of breaking down organic substances through bacterial, microbial and fungal processes. Compost is a method of speeding up decomposition in a controlled way. Compost can be created with a wide variety of materials including garden trimmings, kitchen waste, animal manures, deadstock, and many other things. In order to make good quality compost in a reasonable time frame, it is the interest of the gardener to create a friendly environment for all of these microbes to process down the individual compost components down into a quality finished product. This is achieved through a balance of carbon rich materials and nitrogen rich materials intermixed in a pile with the addition of moisture. As a general rule, a good ratio of carbon material to nitrogenous material would be a 3:1 ratio by volume.
Under ideal conditions, three different phases of decomposition can be seen in a hot compost pile. (Hot composting is not the only way to compost but it is common.) 1. Mesophilic Phase - This is the initial phase of decomposition where mesophilic microbes begin to break down base materials to start the composting process. This is a 'cool' phase where temperatures just start to build up in the pile.
2. Thermophilic Phase - This advanced phase of decomposition begins when the pile temperature rises to around 130 degrees F and thermophilic bacteria begin to populate the pile replacing mesophilic bacterial who cannot thrive in the higher levels of heat. Reaching this stage assists in destroying pathogens that could be detrimental to both the gardener and plants due to the high heat being a hostile environment for the nasty pathogens.
3. Maturation - As the original feedstock for the compost is broken down and there is not enough to support the population of thermophilic bacteria, the pile cools and the microbial population decreases over time leaving a nutrient rich material that is beneficial for plants.
The composting bacteria mentioned prior are really amazing in the composting process. They take complex organic materials and break them down into simpler compounds. This process generates as byproducts both heat and creates a compound known as humus. The simple compounds are better available to plants to uptake as nutrients and to enhance their growth.
Benefits of Compost 1. Compost provides a source of nutrients for plants to grow over a growing season. While compost nutrient makeups can vary based on feedstocks, it is common to see an NPK of 1-1-1 from finished composts. Composts are not a concentrated instantly available fertilizer but rather a slow release nutritional material.
2. Compost improves the properties of soil to increase permeability, hold moisture, and increase organic matter.
3. Compost increases a soils CEC Cation Exchange Capability .
4. Compost stabilizes and buffers soil PH.
5. Compost can reduce soil erosion.
Detriments of Compost 1. Compost requires space to be produced. Some smaller homesteads might find this to be a challenge.
2. Depending on the materials being composted and technique, smell and pests could be an issue.
3. Many forms of composting involve physically turning over piles which take time and effort. This can be a limiting factor for some people.
Anything that may have seeds, could attract pests (meat/bones), may have the potential for disease goes into a hot compost pile. My hot compost piles keep getting flipped and may get several additions to it as its processing down.
Everything else goes into passive piles that are made and left to their own devices.
I build my passive piles when I obtain enough browns and greens so that I can make the heap and not have to touch it after. It starts by making a nice thick (3") layer of brown materials on the ground followed by layers (2") of nitrogenous materials and carbon materials. I aim for a size of around 5'x5'x5' for a finished pile. I will then finish up the pile by covering it with a cap of carbon material in order to insulate the interior.
Over time, if the pile seems to have stalled out, I will flip the pile a couple times but not as frequently as my hot pile. After five to six months there should be an appreciable amount of compost that can be harvested and utilized for plants.
I'm also a lazy composter, but I've just watched through Dr. Elaine Ingham's presentations from Permaculture Voices 1 (which you can purchase as part of a large bundle here: https://permies.com/t/voices123) and am looking to learn more about her particular approach to composting for maximum microbial life diversity. I have these three videos queued up for this weekend:
(She won't call the humus that comes out the bottom of my cold compost piles compost because it doesn't have the right life in it.)
Lazy composter here too. Sometimes my piles get hot but that's not really a goal. I mostly look at the compost as something nice to have on hand when I need it but mostly for adding some organic material or even some quick potting soil when dug out from he bottom of the pile more than for adding good diverse life. I've always looked at it as you can't stop composting from happening. Can only slow it down or speed it up.
I maintain worm bins indoors all year and make sure they are diverse with life and usually fungal dominant. When I want to add life to new areas or some potting soils I use some of the castings and worms from the bins. This works wonders for me.
There are a few different ways one could consider organizing all of the different composts but there is not a widely agreed way as far as I know. In lieu of an organizational standard, I find a running list may give some inspiration to new composters to explore further on their own.
Types of Compost 1. Hot Compost - Primarily Aerobic Compost
2. Cold Compost - Primarily Anaerobic Compost
3. Vermicompost - Compost created through the usage of worms.
4. Leaf Mould - Compost created with strictly leaves.
5. Mushroom Compost - Compost made from the byproducts of mushroom production.
6. Bokashi - Compost created through anaerobic fermentation.
Only some systems are intended to create harvestable compost that is to be utilized elsewhere. Instead, some systems are created to eliminate the need to handle the compost and instead benefit the immediate area around the compost system.
Composting Systems 1. Hot Compost Heap - Primarily Aerobic Compost to be harvested
2. Cold Compost Heap - Primarily Anaerobic Compost to be harvested
3. Keyhole Garden - A raised circular garden bed with a central composting pit.
4. Hugelkultur - A food system based on buried logs and organic material that creates fertile mounds to grow on.
5. Compost In Place - Putting organic matter directly into the soil via holes/trenches where you intend to grow plants.
6. Sheet Composting
7. Aerated Static Pile - A composting system involving air being forced into the pile.
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