Compost-A Guide to getting Sh*t done!

May 29th is “Learn About Compost Day” and take my word for it, if you get together with a bunch of “master” gardeners and ask “What’s the best method of constructing a composting station and you will receive a bunch of very different answers with very strong opinions on what does and doesn’t work. After much discussion and research I’ve decided that most of it sounds like very hard work and some of what I’ve been told (or even read) is down right weird! One elderly gentleman told me that if you  “pee on the compost pile it will add plenty of nitrogen”. I’m all about Guerrilla Garden Adventures but this is not one I’m willing to embark upon…for which my neighbors are extremely grateful.

In the spirit of celebrating this important garden holiday, I decided to surf the internet to do some research on composting. On some blogs it was even mentioned that human hair is a rich source of nitrogen and can help deter pests. As a Guerrilla Gardener on an Adventure I have come to my own conclusions on compost, none of which I assure you involves any type of body waste or hair trimmings!

1- The Heap Method:

In order to use this method of composting, you will simply need to dump organic material in a hidden corner of the yard. Children can easily be involved with this process as long as you don’t make it out to be a chore. One guerrilla gardener I know (who shall remain nameless) conned her children into willingly taking out the compost by telling them that she would buy them a sled to use on it when the pile was big enough.

To actually create a pile of really good compost you will need to accumulate a heap of layered green and brown material (see list below), then add a compost starter or you can just add some garden soil to help jump-start the decomposition of the organic materials. Water it, stir it, keep it to the right temperature (140-160 F) and you will have some very fine compost.
There is a potential downside to this method. It just so happens that when some guerrilla gardeners (not to mention any names) tried the heap method, the pile quickly became a breeding ground for the most intriguing collection of weeds, thistles and grass. Also some uninvited guests were rumoured to have shown up with their freeloading rat faced friends for the free daily buffet.

Guerrilla Garden Solution: Sprinkle some flower seeds from THE FREE SEED MAILBOX on the compost pile, call it your “wildflower garden” and leave well enough alone; or you could sprinkle some grass seed on it and then tell the neighbors that it is a giant mole hill that no exterminator is willing to take on.

2-The Composting Bin Method:

Fancy very expensive plastic composting bins can be found in almost any gardening magazine or garden center. It’s a tidy, organized container to put your organic household scraps while still being environmentally friendly.

Guerrilla Gardener’s Solution: If you simply must have a tidy compost option and don’t want to spend a fortune, you can always go all Guerrilla Gardener! Buy a large plastic garbage can with a lid, from a store in your area whose name ends in the word “mart” or possibly “depot”. Then drill holes in the bottom of container and place your compost material inside.

An ideal blend would involve alternating layers of soft/green material and hard/brown material (see list below). Stir it around twice a week or so, keep the contents damp, and you’ll have rich compost in no time.

Note: You may not want to place this bin near your house as decomposing material is not what you want to smell on a hot summer day…just saying.

3-Too lazy to start a compost pile? Or maybe you live in a townhouse where they don’t allow composting.

Deploy Guerrilla Composting Tactics!
Discretely place some organic trash right into the garden, all year round. Banana and vegetable peels ground up in the blender and used coffee grounds are all excellent things to bury directly into the gardening soil without the Strata Nazis being the wiser……if you know what I mean.

Note: Composting adventures are always more successful when using a mixture of  Green and Brown Materials.
For best results your composter or pile will require a balance of carbon (brown) and nitrogen (green) materials, with the ratio ranging between 25:1 and 30:1 for the optimum combination for rapid decomposition. Also the ideal temperature is 140-160 F. (60-71 C.).
Too cold and your compost will result in a smelly mess or a pile that takes forever to break down.
Too hot and it can kill beneficial microbes and there have been reports of spontaneous combustion, however this is rare.

Here is a list of green and brown materials and materials to incorporate into your compost pile:

Soft and Green
Livestock manure
Fruit and vegetable peels
Grass clippings
Green leaves
Strips of turf
Alfalfa
Peat moss
Seedless weeds
Coffee grounds/tea bags
Seaweed

Hard and Brown
Wood chips
Ground-up twigs
Sawdust
Pruning scraps
Brown leaves
Straw
Shredded bark

Materials to avoid adding to your compost pile!

FYI – Adding large pieces of twigs or pieces of wood as well as weeds that have gone to seed or plants that can spread by runners are also not recommended in order for your composting adventure to be successful.

 

The bottom line is that no matter how you compost,
it’s a benefit to the planet so pour yourself a drink and high-five yourself for getting Sh*t done!

 

Happy Gardening!

Guerrilla Garden Adventures

Inspiring Garden Rebels everywhere to make the world a greener, happier and more creative place.