Jessica Ivaska
Laura Brewer
Michael Sarko
Bryan Mills
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May 10 2010
Posted in
Seattle -
Grow It - Seattle
Seattle has been hit with an intense amount of rain the last few weeks, so I’ve had to put off my gardening plans until the weather clears up. In the meantime, I’ve noticed that our food waste is piling up in the backyard where I’ve been dumping it. As it turns out, things don’t decompose very quickly by themselves. In an effort to give nature a helping hand, I’ve decided the build a compost pile.
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I elected to go the natural route and not use wood or any kind of support structure. I started off by digging a hole in the ground, about 6 inches deep, which helps the pile retain water. Compost needs about four things to really get down to decomposing: it needs air, water, a good temperature and the right mixture of nutrients. Air and water are easy, just make sure that your compost is moist and that you turn it every couple of weeks. Semi-shady spots give the best temperature, but you have to make sure that you don’t restrict rainfall on the pile with overhanging branches. Also, trees can sometimes send their roots up into your pile if you don’t turn it often enough.
The final step, the nutrient balance, is where building your pile really comes into play. There are plenty of different recommendations, but in general you want a good layer of organic material followed by a smaller layer of soil, and a little fertilizer if you’re inclined. Most organic things, like plants, yard waste and kitchen waste, can go into a pile. There are a few items, namely oils, fish and animal products, which are not recommended for composting because they draw unwanted pests. These items will definitely decompose, but it’s up to you whether or not you want to deal with the odor of rotting cheese and the visitors it will bring.
What do you put in your compost pile?
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