When home gardeners start looking for more eco-friendly ways of caring for their fruits and vegetables, the first step for many is composting. It costs very little, requires almost no work...and yet produces some of the richest soil you can find. Gardening expert Joe Lamp'l has some tips to get you started on your own compost pile.
Q: What materials do I need to build a compost bin?
Joe: You need a partially shady, level spot with good drainage and access to water. Your bin can be as simple or as elaborate as you want (some people don't even use bins – they just pile everything up in the corner of their garden).
Q: What can I put in the compost pile?
Joe: You can put in old newspapers, manure, leaves, grass clippings, egg shells, vegetable and fruit waste. Do not put in meat or dairy products that attract pests and can spread disease. Don't put diseased plants or roots in because they will spread wherever you use the compost. You can put ashes from wood in a compost bin, but not from the charcoal. Charcoal contains chemicals.
Q: How long will it be before I have useful compost?
Joe: It varies depending on where you live, but largely by how often you stir it (stirring promotes increased breakdown). The compost can be ready anywhere from two weeks with frequent stirring, to one year if stirring only every few months. If you start in the fall (when you've got a lot of garden waste), you will probably have useful compost the following spring.
Q: Do I have to do anything to the compost while it's composting?
Joe: Composting requires some sun, some shade, air circulation and water. Water and stir it with a shovel to help it along.
Q: Can I continue to add to the same pile year after year, or should I start a new pile?
Joe: Adding to the same pile is fine, so long as it has not been contaminated by bacteria or disease-spreading garden matter.
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