Composting
Proposed Goals:
50 new composting families by 11/11/11
Hanover Residents: Approach zero waste by 2021
Why Compost?
Composting is a great way to begin impacting your family's waste stream. Composting allows you to reduce the amount of garbage you throw away each week, it reduces the smell of your garbage, it provides a productive outlet for your yard trimmings, and it allows you improve the quality of the soil in your garden or yard.
During 2010, numerous Hanover residents began composting. Here are six different kinds of composters used by your neighbors (stories coming soon!!)
During 2010, numerous Hanover residents began composting. Here are six different kinds of composters used by your neighbors (stories coming soon!!)
Etna Composter in Winter
"Right now it looks like a black lid on top of snow mound. But I am determined to keep going throughout the winter because it makes me SO happy to not throw the fruits and veggies away!" - Etna Resident, Started composting July 2010
In-Town Rotating Composter
"I was inspired to compost by my children and their friends. Santa brought us this composter this past Christmas. We have been using it all winter - the lid has not frozen and I can still turn it. I love having so much less in my garbage!" - In-Town Resident
Hanover Composters For Sale!!
These are available each spring from the Hanover Department of Public Works. Be part of the Hanover Composter, Rain Barrel, Kitchen Pail Campaign!
You put the compostable materials in the top and harvest the finished product from the bottom. | 3-Bin Shared Composter
"I made this composter as part of a short apprenticeship with a woodworker in the Fall of 2009. I share it with my parents who live next door. 1 bin has the active pile; 1 bin has the pile that is cooking; 1 bin contains extra brown material, mainly leaves. I rotate the bins and turn the compost twice a year - once in March/April and once in August. When compost was ready in the Fall of 2010, my parents and I both took what we needed to apply to our vegetable garden beds, using the compost to help regenerate the soil." - In-Town Resident
In-Town Rotating Composter
"I loved the concept of this composter, but found it difficult to empty. When I first used it, I did not use enough brown materials and the end product was heavy and goopy. I now use this composter as a holding bin for leaves - I stuff as many maple leaves as I can in the fall and then extract during the winter to add brown to my regular compost." - In-Town Resident
Worm Composter (Vermiculture)
"I first encountered a worm composting bin in the office of the
Environmental Studies Department at Dartmouth. I have two bins going
all year in our basement. That's one of the best things about this kind
of composting--it's year-round, even in New Hampshire. It doesn't
smell. It quietly builds brown gold over the course of several months.
And kids love the worms when it's time to harvest the castings." -In-Town Resident
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What is Compost?
Compost you make at home is produced from decayed organic matter. While there are numerous compost products you can purchase at garden supply centers, these contain 'garden' compost mixed with other materials.
On the most basic level, compost is a soil conditioner, it improves the structure of the soil, acts as a fertiliser and, when used as mulch, can suppress weeds and retain moisture in your garden.
Compost involves the interplay between numerous micro organisms (bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes) and macro organisms (earthworms, insects, spiders, nematodes). For the micro organisms to do their job, they need a source of energy (carbon), a source of protein (nitrogen), oxygen and moisture. The worms and bugs you see in your compost (the macro organisms) dig, chew, digest and mix compostable materials. If you want to learn more, please refer to the resources below. The main points are:
1. The decomposition process involves the interplay between heat, moisture, brown materials (carbon) and green materials (nitrogen);
2. The optimal balance is about 25-30 parts carbon (brown stuff) to 1 part nitrogen (green stuff);
2a. If too much brown stuff (oak leaves, sawdust and wood chips), it will take a long time for your compost to decompose;
2b. If too much green stuff (all vegetable scraps and little else), your compost will release the excess as a smelly ammonia gas.
3. To ensure sufficient oxygen, aerate the compost by either turning it or moving it around with a pitch fork.
4. But don't worry about being too scientific - try with what you have and add bits of this and that as you go along.
On the most basic level, compost is a soil conditioner, it improves the structure of the soil, acts as a fertiliser and, when used as mulch, can suppress weeds and retain moisture in your garden.
Compost involves the interplay between numerous micro organisms (bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes) and macro organisms (earthworms, insects, spiders, nematodes). For the micro organisms to do their job, they need a source of energy (carbon), a source of protein (nitrogen), oxygen and moisture. The worms and bugs you see in your compost (the macro organisms) dig, chew, digest and mix compostable materials. If you want to learn more, please refer to the resources below. The main points are:
1. The decomposition process involves the interplay between heat, moisture, brown materials (carbon) and green materials (nitrogen);
2. The optimal balance is about 25-30 parts carbon (brown stuff) to 1 part nitrogen (green stuff);
2a. If too much brown stuff (oak leaves, sawdust and wood chips), it will take a long time for your compost to decompose;
2b. If too much green stuff (all vegetable scraps and little else), your compost will release the excess as a smelly ammonia gas.
3. To ensure sufficient oxygen, aerate the compost by either turning it or moving it around with a pitch fork.
4. But don't worry about being too scientific - try with what you have and add bits of this and that as you go along.
How do I Compost?
1. Choose a location (too sunny, it will dry out; too shady, it will be too moist)
2. Start small (work with what you have).
3. Choose composter and make or purchase it.
4. Delegate a compost bucket for your kitchen.
5. Begin collecting kitchen and yard scraps and see what happens!
2. Start small (work with what you have).
3. Choose composter and make or purchase it.
4. Delegate a compost bucket for your kitchen.
5. Begin collecting kitchen and yard scraps and see what happens!
The Mix
Composting is all about the mix of stuff you put into it.
If the compost starts to get wet and sloppy, add more 'browns' (like scrunched-up cardboard)
If the compost looks too dry, add more garden waste and kitchen scraps and water the heap a bit.
Like life, it is all about balance.
YES! Please Compost Me!
| YES! Compost me too
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NO! Please Recycle Me!
Bulky cardboard; Cat litter (used); Coal ash; Cooking grease and oils; Disposable diapers; Dog feces; Fish; Foam packaging; Glass; Glossy magazines; Meat; Metal cans; Metal Foil; Newspapers (in large quantities); Perennial Weeds; Plastic bags or containers; Wire; Woody material (that is too large).
(From How to Cook Compost by The National Trust (Anova Books Company Ltd., 2008)
(From How to Cook Compost by The National Trust (Anova Books Company Ltd., 2008)
Frequently Asked Questions
Smell? Make sure you empty your bucket in the house every few days, but if you mix brown materials in, they should absorb any smells.
Winter? Compost freezes and piles up fast. One technique is to get some 5 gallon buckets and keep your compost, covered, in the garage - The minute it starts to thaw, your compost pile will compact and you can add the materials from the buckets. It can be heavy and goopy, however, so be sure to add brown materials, like toilet paper rolls and shredded cardboard or leaves to help the compost stay drier, bulkier and lighter.
Timing? Depending on the balance between brown and green matter, heat, and moisture, it can take from 8 weeks to a year.
What should I do with it when it is 'done'? Add it to garden beds to enhance the soil.
Winter? Compost freezes and piles up fast. One technique is to get some 5 gallon buckets and keep your compost, covered, in the garage - The minute it starts to thaw, your compost pile will compact and you can add the materials from the buckets. It can be heavy and goopy, however, so be sure to add brown materials, like toilet paper rolls and shredded cardboard or leaves to help the compost stay drier, bulkier and lighter.
Timing? Depending on the balance between brown and green matter, heat, and moisture, it can take from 8 weeks to a year.
What should I do with it when it is 'done'? Add it to garden beds to enhance the soil.
Additional Resources
To Purchase Composters in the Hanover area:
Town of Hanover (Special price for Hanover residents; available in the spring - Orders due April 1, 2011)
Energy Emporium (Sells the barrel model composters; helpful consultation as well)
West Lebanon Feed & Supply (Sells composters in the Spring)
Longacres (Sells composters in the Spring)
Useful Web Sites:
Composting101.com
Guide to Composting (Gardenguides.com)
EPA Composting Guidelines
163 Things You Can Compost
Composters.com
CompostGuide.com
Books:
How to Cook Compost by The National Trust (Anova Books Company Ltd., 2008
Let it Rot! The Gardener's Guide to Composting, by Stu Campbell. Storey Publishing, 1998 (At the Howe Library)
Worms Eat my Garbage, by Mary Appelhof (At the Howe Library)
Click here for a link to the Howe Library's listing of books about composting.
Town of Hanover (Special price for Hanover residents; available in the spring - Orders due April 1, 2011)
Energy Emporium (Sells the barrel model composters; helpful consultation as well)
West Lebanon Feed & Supply (Sells composters in the Spring)
Longacres (Sells composters in the Spring)
Useful Web Sites:
Composting101.com
Guide to Composting (Gardenguides.com)
EPA Composting Guidelines
163 Things You Can Compost
Composters.com
CompostGuide.com
Books:
How to Cook Compost by The National Trust (Anova Books Company Ltd., 2008
Let it Rot! The Gardener's Guide to Composting, by Stu Campbell. Storey Publishing, 1998 (At the Howe Library)
Worms Eat my Garbage, by Mary Appelhof (At the Howe Library)
Click here for a link to the Howe Library's listing of books about composting.
