Finishing Up - Kayla

So far composting has been a great experience. I have learned a lot about the waste I produce and the best way to reduce that waste. Maintaing the compost is an easy task and it only takes a few minutes of work each day to make sure its in the best possible condition. I have made sure that we have the right mix of food waste and yard waste. I have also been making sure to aerate the compost pile to ensure continuing decomposition of the pile. I am glad that I had to opportunity to start this compost with my family because I know it is something that we will continue for as long as we can. I am glad that we could take a small step to reducing the thousands of pounds of waste that are put into landfills each year in the United States. I am also looking forward to continued composting and to finally using our compost around our house and hopefully one day making a garden and using the compost there. I hope you enjoyed our blog!

Looking Foward- Haley

As my project winds to a formal close, I know that my family and I will still be composting. This 2 weeks was just a start for something that will continue in my house. Although my project is almost done, the effect of having a compost definitely not disappear as the school year ends as well. With this project and by composting my family has greatly reduced the amount of waste that goes into the garbage. My family used to take out the garbage once every 2 days, give or take depending on dinners and who is home. By composting I have noticed that we only need to take the garbage out once every 3 days. My compost is right now just a pile in the back of my shed, but we have purchased wood to make a container to organize our compost more. Once completed, our composting process will be much more uniform and easier to follow, and I hope it will be as second nature to us as taking out the trash. In 3-4 months we will be able to use our compost in our growing garden that we have been working on as well. The most rewarding part of this project is knowing that some of my wastes are being broken down and used to hopefully in a few months help to grow our garden. Also, I find comfort in knowing that some of my waste wont be in a landfill that is leaking leachate and is taking up hundreds of thousands of miles of land in the US.

Tending to your Compost

A well-constructed pile can produce compost in 3-6 months. If the decomposition is slow or you would like to accelerate the process, you can do so by turing and remoistening the pile and added more of the needed ingredients. Only a few days after you created the pile, it should shrink considerably. This happens because decomposers are using up the oxygen in the pile, collapsing the airspaces between the material. Even though this is occurring the decomposers need oxygen to do their job. To add more oxygen you need to add more organic matter to the pile. It is also important to aerate your compost. This is another easy way to add oxygen to your compost pile. The best way to aerate your pile is to turn  the entire pile. As you aerate your pile you should moisten it. Your pile should be moist like a wrung-out sponge.

How To Build a Compost Pile

Are you ready to compost but don't have a bin? Do not worry at all! Building a pile is just as effective as building a pile in a bin.

First, chop, break, and shred most of the material into small pieces. Remember: The smaller the pieces of organic matter in your compost, the faster the rate of decomposition. 
Then, build your pile alternating green and brown materials, like a layer cake. You could also just mix all of the browns and greens together, but that is usually harder for most people. When making a layer compost, follow these steps: 

1. Start with 4 inches of chunky browns (sticks, woody trimmings, dried perennial stems, cornstalks, and the like) to promote aeration at the bottom.
2. Add 4 to 5 inches of other browns (leaves, straw, woody trimmings, paper products, pine needles, sawdust).
3. Add 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters) of greens (kitchen scraps, grass clippings, leafy plant trimmings, manure).
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until you reach a pile height of 3 to 5 feet. Finish with a top layer of browns to insulate.

Whether you layer or mix your compost pile doesn't really matter. The more important issue is to ensure that all your recipe ingredients are sufficiently moist as you build. Use a hose with an on/off spray attachment, and sprinkle each layer of organic matter as you build. Everything should have the moisture level of a wrung-out sponge, so grab a handful every once in a while as you build to test it.

And thats it! Remember that the compost must be turned every few days and follow this guide you believe there is something wrong with your compost!

What's Wrong With my Compost?

Problem	Cause	Solution
Slow decomposition	Lack of nitrogen	Add "green" nitrogen-rich organic matter.
Slow decomposition	Poor aeration	Turn pile.
Slow decomposition	Too dry	Turn pile and remoisten all materials.
Slow decomposition	Pile too small	Add more organic matter to increase pile size to 3–5 cubic feet (1–1.5 cubic meters).
Slow decomposition	Cold weather	Insulate outer pile with thick layers of cardboard, sod, straw, or leaves. Use a compost bin style with a lid to retain heat. Increase pile size.
Ammonia odor	Too much nitrogen	Add "brown" carbon-rich materials and remix.
Rotten odor	Too wet	Add "brown" carbon-rich materials and remix.
Attracts flies	Kitchen scraps too close to top of pile	Bury scraps in center of pile. Don't add meats, dairy, oils, or grease.
Attracts dogs, raccoons, or other pests	Kitchen scraps too close to top of pile	Bury scraps in center of pile. Don't add meats, dairy, oils, or grease. Use an animal-proof enclosed bin.
White or gray thread-like filaments resembling spider webs on the outer edges of the pile	Actinomycetes, a type of bacteria, are at work decomposing organic matter	No change required. These are "good guys"
Contains grubs, worms, and other large bugs	No worries! Indicates nature is at work.	No change required.

Choosing a Location For Your Compost

Something everyone making a compost must take into consideration is the where. After you have finally decided to start a compost finding the right spot for it is essential. How much space you need depends on the ultimate scope of your composting operation and what style of bins, if any, you decide to use. If you are making a freestanding pile of organic matter without a bin enclosing it should be at least 3 feet long x 3 feet wide x 3 feet tall and up to 5 x 5 x 5 feet.



 If you are using a bin then find an area that is big enough to fit it and don't forget to allow yourself elbow room to comfortably swing a pitchfork loaded with organic matter and shovel your finished compost into a bucket, wheelbarrow, or cart for transport elsewhere in the landscape. To be a good neighbor, take into account your neighbors' views or potential concerns. Will your bins piled high with straw and fresh manure be visible from your neighbors' patio? Also, check homeowner association or other municipal regulations that may limit your options. Don't let lack of space deter you from composting. Even the smallest courtyard garden or balcony has a corner for a compact compost bin design or a worm bin, and good-looking bin designs are available for those who have nowhere to hide their composting efforts. Check out this post for how to compost in a city. Regardless of where you live, site your compost area in the shade if at all possible. Shade keeps the organic matter from drying out rapidly and also keeps you from dehydrating in the sun when the time comes to toss a ton of organic matter.

How to Speed up your Compost

4 simple steps to speed up the composting process-

1. Chop or shred all your materials into small pieces before adding them to your compost
2. Turn the pile, make sure the material on the outside gets mixed into the material on the inside, this will promote decomposition
3. After a week or two turn the entire pile and remoisten it
4. Repeat these steps very week or two, watch the heat and moisture of your compost and you will quickly have harvestable compost!

Common Composting Mistakes

-Avoid placing animal products in your compost (fats, dairy, meat and bones can all go rancid and produce unpleasant odor)
-Try and keep the moister levels ideal (too little moisture can slow down the decomposition process and too much moisture can cause issues with microbial organisms)
-Ensure the correct nitrogen to carbon ratio (Carbon-rich materials: paper, dried leaves and cardboard should make up 75% of the compost, nitrogen-rich materials: coffee grounds, food scraps and grass clippings should make up 25% of the compost)
-Don't compact the compost too much (microorganisms that decompose need a constant supply of oxygen to do their job)
-Don't buy worms or any kit (these kits are unnecessary, the organisms will come naturally)
-Don't start too small (the decomposition will occur faster with a bigger mass of material)
-Use many different materials (the more materials you have the more resistant the pile is to pests and diseases, many different materials will also accelerate the decomposition process)
-Add small objects (large food scraps or large branches will not decompose quickly, cut up your larger items into smaller pieces)
-Mix up your compost (you can turn or aerate your materials to add oxygen and speed up decomposition)

How To Compost In a City

I know that by living in a house with a backyard makes composting pretty convenient because you can essentially just dig a hole and cover it back up. Unfortunately, not everyone lives in a suburban or rural area. In an urban environment it can be very challenging to compost! Many major cities have programs that encourage and help with the composting process. The city closest to me, New York City, has many programs in place to help those who want to compost, and those who have no clue what composting is but are willing to try. They sell bins like the one Kayla has for a low cost, but also gives links to places that have composting programs in all of the boroughs. Worm bins are very useful for small spaces such as small terraces and porches that one might have in a city.

I have spoke with someone who lives in the city and composts and she says that although it might take a little more work than maybe my compost it is still simple. If you purchase a kitchen bin you can collect all of your compostable materials and then each week or every few days bring them to the sites that collect compostable materials for a community compost. Also, you can add the kitchen scraps with some brown materials in a worm bin and compost that way!

click here if you would like to see more about NYCs composting program
This article is also great to encourage composting in any city, and shows how to get started!

Benefits of Composting

Enriches soil - with the compost you create rich humus for your lawn and garden, the addition of nutrients benefits your plants and helps retain soil moisture

Reduces waste - as much as 30% of your waste can be diverted from the garbage can

Beneficial organisms - microorganisms in compost helps aerate the soil, ward off plant diseases and help break down organic plant matter

Helps the environment - the use of compost reduces the need for chemical fertilizers

Decreases landfill waste - about 1/3 of waste in landfills is compostable materials, by composting you greatly decrease landfill size and the need of landfills

Prevents pollution - prevents storm water from reaching surface water, can prevent erosion and silting

Cleans contaminated soil - the composting process can absorb orders and treat volatile organic compounds, can also bind heavy metals and prevent them from being absorbed by plants or migrating to water resources

Improves soil structure - in a garden compost can help neutralize pH and increase the soils ability to hold nutrients for the plants to use

Use less water - compost increases soil fertility, more fertile soil retains more water, therefore you have to water a garden less, decreasing the amount of water you use 

My Progress- Haley

Halfway through the project my progress is going pretty well! We are composting most kitchen things and trying our best to compost everything we can. It has been a little hard to get everyone on board especially since our compost actual bin isn't completed yet. We collect the kitchen scraps, paper towels and paper plates and bring them out to the spot we have behind our shed and bury them about once a day. We have purchased the wood that we are going to use to make a compost bin, and we will have a little compost spot that is fenced and has a gate so my dogs don't try to get in it! I'm really excited that although we don't have a actual compost bin we have been able to greatly decrease our waste and get used to composting so that when the system is set up it will be super easy to manage. I'm so excited to see how in a few months we will have a fully functioning compost bin!

My Progress- Kayla

So far I have had my compost for less than a week and I can already see a reduction in the waste we put in the trash. This week we have not had change the garbage bag we have in our kitchen and usually we would especially because my sister is home from college. So far we have mostly put kitchen waste and food scraps in the compost instead of having a mix of greens and browns. We have had to take out the small kitchen bucket multiple times a day because we are now putting all the waste we can in there instead of putting it into the garbage can. I have seen that having the compost has really helped so far to decrease our waste and as we continue to compost hopefully we can decrease our waste even more.

Difference Between Brown and Green Composting Materials

To have a successful compost pile you will need a balance of brown and green materials to layer within your bin or pile. 

Brown Materials: 

Brown is the carbon energy the compost microbes need to thrive. Without it, your pile of green kitchen scraps will become smelly and slimy. This is because your greens will decompose too quickly, rapidly fermenting nitrogen into the rotten egg smell of ammonia. If your compost smells rotten, it needs more brown materials to be stirred in. Brown materials are stocky and coarse, they include:

• dry yellow or brown leaves and grass
• paper and wood products (sawdust, shredded up twigs, etc.)
• dryer lint
• straw

Green Materials: 

Nitrogen is the protein the munching microbes need to thrive. Green materials are nitrogen rich. Too little nitrogen, and your pile will decay into compost a lot more slowly. The microbes will be fewer and weaker, so it could take a year or two in a mainly brown compost pile to turn into rich compost. A well-balanced compost will be hot, due to all those microscopic bodies busily multiplying and creating rich compost. Green materials include:

• Kitchen scraps (vegetables, melon rinds, etc)
• Coffee grounds

MORE THINGS YOU CAN COMPOST HERE!

Harvesting Your Compost

Most people find that they can harvest their compost from the bottom of the pile every 6 months or so. If you have a good mix of greens and browns make sure to mix it thoroughly and often so that it doesn't get too dry or too wet; if you do this you can create compost in as little as 6 weeks.

With the Earth Machine compost you can easily lift the door and empty out the compost toward the bottom of the pile. Also with the Earth Machine if you want to see your entire compost pile you can unscrew the pegs, lift the entire bin, load the finished compost in a wheelbarrow and place the unfinished compost back into the Earth Machine.

Click here for more information on harvesting your compost

How to use the Compost

Compost is nutrient rich soil amendment created by the decomposition of yard and kitchen waste by microbes, worms and other organisms. When compost is mixed with soil it will make your soil healthier, more productive and increase moisture retention. By having more productive soil the plants in that soil will also be more productive and healthier.

How to use compost in your yard-
In the garden - Spread the compost in a flower or vegetable garden in the fall or spring and mix it into the soil.
On Lawn - Add the compost to the top of your lawn in the fall or spring. The compost will help to maintain healthy soil and build topsoil
Around trees and shrubs - You can spread compost around the base of trees or shrubs.

Click here for a step by step explanation on using compost

Some Helpful Videos to Help Start up a Compost

A very helpful video showing the basics of composting!!

This video is great because it gives you the basics of composting:
-Green materials
-Brown materials
-How to properly layer your compost
-What to add to the compost (water, types of materials)
-What not to add to the compost (dog litter, human litter, etc.)
-How to mix up a compost pile to help decomposition

Where Does Your Trash Go?

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), most commonly called garbage or trash, consists of items we use and then throw away. In 2012, Americans generated 251 million tons of trash. Organic materials make up the largest percentage of MSW. As you can see in the chart below, the majority of MSW is materials that can be composted.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, “Reducing, reusing, recycling, and rebuying—the four "Rs"—is key to diverting organic materials from landfills or incinerators and protecting human health and our land, air, and water. Waste reduction and recycling prevents greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduces pollutants, saves energy, conserves resources, and reduces the need for new disposal facilities…Yard trimmings and food residuals by themselves constitute 24 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream Composting offers the obvious benefits of resource efficiency and creating a useful product.”

As a nation, we have made remarkable strides towards recycling these materials, primarily through the development of effective composting technologies. Whereas in 1990 recovery via composting only diverted 2% of the total solid waste stream, we now recover 20% through composting, including 62% of all yard trimmings (USEPA, 2006a). Unfortunately, confusion over how to deal with global climate change among some members of industry, government, and the general public threatens to undo these gains. That is where composting comes into play! 

Composting all Year

When first starting a compost you need to add soil and leafy greens to get the decomposition started. It is also important to chop up bigger items (watermelon rids and corn cobs) so that they decompose faster. You also want to stir your compost often, stirring will add oxygen to the compost and help the decomposition process. You can also cover your food scraps with old leaves and soil to add carbon and reduce odor. 

Composting each season-

Spring- when people start their compost, add soil and greens to start your compost. 

Summer- Stir your compost frequently and add leaves. Add water if the compost looks dry.

Fall- When your compost can be harvested! Clean out the compost and use the new soil in a garden.

Winter- Because of the cold temperatures your compost will decompose slower. Let the compost fill because as soon as spring comes decomposition will begin again. 

Where My Trash Comes From- Kayla

According to the EPA in 2012 Americans generated about 251 million tons of trash and recycled or composted about 87 million tons of that trash, that is only a 34.5% recycling rate. Individually Americans only recycled or composted 1.5 pounds of the 4.3 pounds of trash we create each day. In my house the most garbage we create is our kitchen garbage. We also create a lot of paper garbage, the newspaper, printouts for school and mail. My family does recycle everything we can and usually we only have one big garbage can to take out for the trash each week. So by adding this compost we will produce even less garbage and it will last for many years to come, it is a lasting solution. I have already seen a decrease in the amount of garbage that we create, we take out the little kitchen bin at least twice a day. I am excited to see how much garbage we will create now that we compost all that we can and hopefully what we produce will be cut in half.

Information about my Compost

I bought my compost through Westchester County from the Department of Environmental Facilities at the 2014 Earth Day event at Croton Point Park. The compost is from a company called Earth Machine and involved basic set up. This compost comes with 2 parts to be snapped together, 4 pegs to to anchor it into the ground, a retrieval sliding door and a locking lid. The compost also has holes all around it for ventilation. We also bought a compost aerator, so that when the compost becomes full we can easily move around the dirt and promote more decomposition. Along with the aerator we also bought a kitchen collector bucket, an easy way to collect all of the garbage that will later be put into the compost.

This is my compost-

Where My Trash Comes From- Haley

In my house we produce a lot of garbage, and when I started thinking of ides for this project I realized a lot of what is thrown out at my house can be composted! Personally, my waste is composed of plastic water bottles, soda cans, food waste, paper goods (ie. paper plates, paper towels, etc.), and food packaging waste. I know that by composting I can reduce my waste that goes into the garbage can by at least 50%. I hope that by having an easy to use composting system I can get the rest of my family on the bandwagon. The hardest part will be figuring out a system that works well for my family. Every case is different so in the beginning stage we will need to see how many times a week we should take out the waste from the kitchen into the compost bin. I hope in a few weeks I can see a reduction in the amount of waste my household produces.

Understanding the Composting Process

How the composting process actually works

What To Compost

Click here to acess basic composting information

Intro to Compost Chicks- Kayla

Hi, my name is Kayla Brooks and my classmate Haley O'Connell and I set up this blog. We created this blog as a final project for our AP Environmental Science class. We both decided to do our project around composting so we decided on a joint blog. My family has wanted to start composting and this project gave us the opportunity to do so. We will be using the soil from the compost around our yard but more importantly we are going to greatly decrease the amount of garbage we create. Can't wait to tell you all about our experiences!

Intro to Compost Chicks- Haley

Hello! My name is Haley O'Connell and this is my joint blog with fellow classmate Kayla Brooks. We are doing similar projects that have to do with composting. My compost is more to reduce the copious amount of waste my family produces. Then, once the compost is up and going we will be using the soil it produces in our new garden that is already underway in my backyard! I will be posting pictures and tips on here, as well as videos that are helpful in starting your own compost or just to learn more about composting. I hope you can learn something from this blog and enjoy!!!