COMPOST

(Page 8 of 9)

September/October 1986
 
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The ideal carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is about 25 to 1, but you'd need all sorts of time and charts to figure out how to achieve that precise ratio out of the materials you may have on hand. It's easier — and perfectly effective — to just take some ingredients from the carbon list and some from the nitrogen list and layer them, experimenting with proportions until you find what works for you.

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In a nutshell, then: 1) Lay down some stalky material, preferably on bare soil you have forked up some to allow easier passage for bacteria and earthworms. 2) Fork on a layer of carbonaceous material. 3) Fork on a layer of nitrogenous matter. Each layer — N or C — should be about two to eight inches thick. And fluff it up as you add it to promote airflow. 4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you've finished building your pile. Sprinkle on a spadeful or two of soil or cured compost occasionally, and if your materials seem dry, spray on some water periodically as you work. 5) Cover the pile with a waterproof tarp to protect it.

I mentioned that you'll have to experiment to find the best ratio of materials for you. One of my "old reliable" combinations, if you'd like to try it, is alternating in a 5-5-2 pattern: a five-inch layer of green matter, a five-inch layer of dry matter, and a two-inch layer of manure. But — contrary to some opinions — good compost piles can be made with all vegetative matter and no manure. Just make sure you have enough nitrogen (here's where something like blood meal or human urine is invaluable).

If It Didn't Work

If all goes well, in about four or five days the interior of your compost pile should have heated up. Indeed, before long a hand poked inside the heap will get uncomfortably hot.

If that happens, congratulations! Your compost is cooking! If your pile doesn't heat up, something's wrong. First check to see if the pile is too wet or too dry . If it's too soggy, turn it, adding more dry material as you do. If it's too dry, wet it.

Assuming the pile is properly moistened and isn't too compressed for good air circulation, your problem is that the compost mixture needs more nitrogen . Turn the pile, incorporating more nitrogenous material as you do so.

You may have a diferent problem — namely, the cooking mound will smell like ammonia. In that case, you've got too much nitrogen . So turn the pile, adding more carbonaceous matter.

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