How to Compost
How to Compost
We use compost in most ever plant we sell. Compost is easy to make, and you throw out most of the things needed to make compost. If you don't have a big need then go small. There is no need to buy expensive composters unless you don't have the space. You can compost a pile on the ground, small or large. We built a large container that better suits our needs. Yet larger or smaller composting is easy following the information below.
For our nursery we need all the compost we can generate! We use several ingredients but by for chicken manure is the best. We have six chickens and they supply an endless supply! Chicken manure is a hot manure so it must compost for at least three months. In this post we will share our technique for creating compost. There are many things you may compost. We look for things that will compost, and provide nutrients for our plants.
You must have the correct ratio of brown and green materials. Brown is more dry material such as leaves, or cardboard. Green is the nitrogen-rich materials and are more fresh and moist. The correct ration would be two parts green and one part brown. If you have too much green you will make a mess! Too much brown and it will not compost. So make sure to get the right ratio. No matter how big or how small, the ingredients for making great compost are the same.
Below are several types of things you can compost.
- Fruit scraps - Green
- Vegetable scraps - Green
- Coffee grounds - Green
- Eggshells - Green
- Grass and plant clippings - Green
- Dry leaves - Brown
- Chopped wood and bark chips - Brown
- Shredded newspaper - Brown
- Straw - Brown
- Sawdust from untreated wood - Brown
What you should not compost.
- Pet waste
- Bone
- Cooked foods
- Grease
- Weeds
- Diseased plants
- Dairy products
- Bakery products
- Meat products
The above is not an all-inclusive list but outlines some of the major topics most people ask about. For our backyard nursery we compost a large pile of compost 8ft. by 4ft. wide. Almost daily we are turning our pile and getting it ready for use in our nursery.
If you would like to take a look at our compost operation please ask when visiting our nursery. We will be happy to give you a tour!