Deconstructing compost

I've started reading the Humanure Handbook which is available online. I have no immediate plans for a composting toilet but it's a fascinating read nonetheless, not least for some of the chapter titles: check out A Day in the Life of a Turd and The Tao of Compost. It's well written and, for anyone who is invested in the idea of recycling at all levels, it's (shit) stirring stuff.

Take this line:

"The act of carrying a container of one's own excrement to a recycling bin is an act of humility, and humility is sometimes in short supply."

Meanwhile I am grappling with how to arrange my current dissatisfactory composting arrangements (for plant materials and kitchen waste only), which consist of several large custom-made compost bins that are nevertheless pretty useless because they're too small to really get cooking (1m cubed would be ideal) and their construction makes it very hard to carry out the crucial process of turning the heap.

I have plans, once the harvesting season is over, to construct a pair of compost bins out of the standard unit of allotment compost bin measurement, the wooden palette.

Once it's created I'll just crack on with regular additions to the heap - and turning - and I should have some lovely crumbly compost within six or so months.

(I also came across a blog - sadly not updated recently - by Amy Stewart, the author of a book about earthworms. Worms of Endearment reminded me that a wormery might be another way to boost my recycling levels.)

If you're clueless about composting here are a few top tips:

1. Piss on your heap regularly. The ammonia in urine is a great activator to get materials breaking down quickly. If your heap's on your allotment you may prefer to fill a bottle while standing in your shed... but if you have a secluded garden, enjoy an alfresco pee.

2. Layer materials onto the heap little and often and make sure you chop up anything larger than a golf ball (not literally a golf ball, obviously) and keep a mix of dry (shredded paper, dried leaves) and wet (grass cuttings, weeds) stuff.

3. Turn the heap with a fork. Then turn it again. Then again. Then again ...

Then again.

4. Don't add any meat or cooked stuff or you'll attract mice and rats.

5. If you eat a lot of citrus fruits and add them the pile will become slightly acidic but this can easily be corrected with a touch of lime on soil improved with compost.

6. Remember to turn the pile. Hey, did I already mention that?

7. You don't need to put a lid on it but it can help decomposition to get under way. Take the lid off (can be old carpet or a piece of plastic) for a bit if things are getting too dry, to allow some rain to get in.

8. If you grow comfrey add some leaves as it'll help to make lovely rich compost.

9. You'll know the compost is ready when it's crumbly and soil-like. If it's slimy and wet, add some more dry material and keep turning.

10. Once the bin is almost full stop adding stuff ... but keep turning. Got the idea?

Comments

[Pamela]

Have you tried adding hops to your compost heap? I've heard they really help it along, but haven't met anyone who has actually tried them.

[Jane]

Hmmm... not sure where on earth I'd get hops although I did see some for sale in a garden centre recently... anyone else tried them? I can see how they'd work though ...

[Gabrielle]

I have used comfrey, as it grow out of control. Works great. I can't spare the hops, but may add the spent vines to the pile this winter. Never tried it before. Worms are fun. I have red wigglers in a big Rubbermaid box. They make great compost, but you would have to have oodles of worms to add significantly to your compost yardage. They are enough to handle the kitchen waste of an average household, though.

[the gimp suit guy]

what is hops and where do you get it