Creating compost is one of the most important activities in an organic garden. Before you even think about growing any food, you should think about getting a composting system in place. No matter how large or small your outside space may be, composting can help you to grow your own food and make your garden a productive area that can continue to provide for you and your family for years to come. For this reason, compost is a valuable commodity in the formation of a sustainable growing area.

Choose the Right Method

Ways to Create Great Compost

• Composting in Place

One of the simplest ways to compost in a permaculture garden is simply to layer up organic waste from your home and garden to create your growing areas. Layered composting beds, or ‘lasagne beds’ as they are sometimes known, are a ‘no dig’ approach to creating the areas to grow your crops. Since you will not need to lift the turf, or dig into the soil, the soil ecosystem will remain protected. 

In the creation of these beds, brown, carbon-rich materials such as cardboard and wood are layered with green, nitrogen-rich materials such as green deciduous leaves, grass, and vegetable peelings, then topped with some top soil or compost. As these decompose in place, the beds will sink, and nutrients will be released to feed plants growing on top. Mulches of organic waste laid on top will then replenish each bed.

• Cold Composting

A cold compost bin or heap uses the same principles as composting in place. Layers of brown and green materials are built up and will compost into a crumbly material perfect for top-dressing or container plants. It is best to have at least two bins, so you can keep filling one while taking finished compost from another. These bins can be made from old wooden pallets, or other reclaimed materials. It is important to turn your heap regularly and to keep it moist, though not waterlogged. Otherwise, you can pretty much leave your cold compost to its own devices until it is time to use it on your garden. A downside is that there are several kitchen-waste items that are best not included like citrus, onions & meat scraps. Cold composting also allows weed seeds to remain, which can lead to more weeding when spread on your garden

• Hot Composting

Adding manures as a nitrogen source to your compost will speed up the process by accelerating the heat the compost pile will generate. A pile with a carbon: Nitrogen ration of 25:1 meaning 25 parts carbon materials to 1 part nitrogen/manure with plenty of larger materials

• Vermiculture

The final technique we should look at is vermiculture, which is using special worms to help you to create a fine and fertile compost from kitchen scraps and household paper and cardboard waste. You do not need a lot of space for a small wormery, so this could be the best option for those with container gardens or minimal outside space. You can buy or make a wormery and purchase ‘tiger worms’ for delivery through the post. As long as you take care of the basic needs of your worms, you should get a very high-quality compost.

Consider What Compost Needs

Once you have decided on a method or methods for your compost creation, it is important to think about all the different elements that make up a good quality compost. It can be useful to think about this in terms of the following:

Nitrogen and Carbon in a Compost Heap

Creating a good compost involves a basic understanding of the different sorts of material in a compost heap. The materials are usually grouped into two categories – carbon rich ‘brown’ materials and nitrogen-rich ‘green’ materials. Both types are needed to create a good-quality compost. Brown materials include cardboard, straw, twiggy material, wood chips and bark. Green materials include green leafy matter, grass clippings, and fruit and vegetable scraps.

To get a good mix in your compost, you should add ‘brown’ and ‘green’ materials in thin layers. Adding in thin layers allows for the right conditions for aerobic decomposition and helps to ensure that your compost does not become too wet or too dry.

The Importance of Oxygen in a Compost Heap

When we create compost, we are aiming for aerobic decomposition. Aerobic decomposition takes place with oxygen, anaerobic decomposition takes place without it. Oxygen is used by microbes to process waste efficiently and effectively. Mixing or turning your compost heap once or twice a month can significantly speed up the decomposition process and help to make sure that the aeration of your heap is enough for microbes to do their best work.

The Importance of Moisture in a Compost Heap

When making compost, it is also important to make sure that it does not become too wet, or too dry. When there is not enough moisture, microbes will not be able to do their job. Problems will also arise if your compost becomes too soggy. You may have to water your compost in the summer months and cover it in the winter if you get a lot of precipitation where you live, to get the best results.

The NPK Balance in Compost

In addition to considering all the above, creating good compost is also about making sure that your heap has adequate levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – the three main nutrients required by plant life. An average home-made compost will have a nitrogen value of 0.5 %, 0.27% phosphorus and 0.81% potassium. By adding a good range of items to your compost heap, and making sure its microorganisms can do their jobs, you can help keep a good balance of these three nutrients in your compost, as well as supplying trace minerals and micro-nutrients needed for good plant health.

You can use the compost you create around your garden, for sowing seeds, potting up and adding nutrients to the soil through mulching and other organic gardening practices. Creating compost is one of the best ways to ensure continued health and fertility in your garden.