What Happens in a Compost Pile

Composting turns organic garbage into fertilizer. The way this happens is by two processes. The first is an aerobic breakdown of the material. This is encouraged by turning the compost, keeping it wet and having lots of good green stuff in the pile. The compost heats to between 90 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit during the process. The higher the temperature the faster the compost makes fertilizer. Turning the compost regularly keeps air mixed in which enables the aerobic (oxygen fed) process. Not turning the compost lets it pack down and burn all of the available oxygen and engage in anaerobic decomposition. Anaerobic decomposition produces methane. This stinks and is a serious cause of global warming.

Some of the internet sources of advice say not to add meat or bones because they attract scavengers. These are good sources of phosphorous. Just bury them in the hottest part of the pile. You can tell that your pile is working when you are turning it or digging into it because it is actually burning. There will not be a flame; but the material is grey like ashes and smoke comes from it. The center of the pile is inhabited by microbes surrounding the hottest part. In the cooler portions, if you are lucky, there will be earthworms. Earthworms love compost and coffee grounds seem to be their favorite food. They cannot live in the hottest part of the pile. Earthworm poop is one of the greatest fertilizers on earth.

The composting system used in my yard is 5 bins made from old pallets. They won’t last forever; but they are free. Compost takes about 5 weeks so I turn the bins each week. The final bin has a top of 2”x 4” fence wire. When I turn into that bin anything that doesn’t fit through the wire goes back to the 1st bin. Also material from the 4th bin is used to cover new material placed in the 1st bin and give it a “starter” of bacteria and earthworms. All of our grass clippings and table scraps and coffee grounds and egg shells go in the compost. I also pick bags of grass clippings up from the side of the road in the grass cutting season. Leaves are good; but they compost pretty slowly. They are only used when they have been mulched or if they are mixed with grass clippings.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/