Why, exactly, would I create a compost heap? What is it for?

Question

What goes in it?

Answer 1

Just garbage, especially old fruit and vegetables as they have the most nutrients and attract the best bacteria.

Anyway, they create great soil. The bacteria really break down the nutrients for ideal, fertile soil. Then you can use it for a garden to grow super plants!

Answer 2

A compost heap is a great way to recycle kitchen waste, paper, etc. into free, very nutrient-rich and organic soil fertilizer.
You can throw anything in there except meat, bones, or dairy.
Depending on which method you use, you can even compost pasta, bread, just about anything you would normally just dump in the trash.
Coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, veggies, fruit, can all go in there.
There is a ton of information out there. Even how to make your own compost bin. Good luck, I think once you get started, you will see a lot of benefits from composting!

Answer 3

A compost pile is a great way to "recycle" if you will, grass clippings, old food etc. The proucts break down making an excellent growing medium for plants and works great in gardens and such.

What most people dont know is that even though an item is bio-degradabe, most landfills are so stuffed and things are so pack together that the stuff does not break down. They have even found old (20+yrs) newspapers in landfills. Not to mention ordinary things like plastics and diapers.

Composting is an excellent way to take the earths environment inot your own hands and make a differenc, even if its just in your own back yard.

PS, a well maintained compost pile will not smell "nasty" if it smells much at all. But it is recommended that you put it in a far corner or distant area of the yard/land. degredation of any plant, animal compound will produce some odor.

Answer 4

Compost heaps are great for those that are into gardening or are environmentalists, or both. They are a great way to provide top quality compost for use in the garden for growing plants or mulching (improving soil existing quality).

DEFRA estimated that up to 60% of household waste is biodegrable. Added to that latest research has proven that biodegradable material does not break down at substainially faster rates than that of plastic in landfill due to the conditions at the site. By composting you will help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, and the amount of money councils and authorities spend on landfill taxes.

There are some restrictions that can affect the decision to compost, such as age, mobility issues, space (apartment owners).

There is a guide to home composting here, including what's in and what to avoid;

http://howtosaveenergy.blogspot.com/2007/05/guide-to-home-composting.html


Energy Saver
http://howtosaveenergy.blogspot.com

Answer 5

I answered the same question the other day. You create a compost heap with grass cuttings, sticks, tree branches, leaves and then add lime and you have to keep it mixed well or it will start to smolder. There are other things you can add (check the net). After a long time and being mixed it forms a dark loam type stuff which mixed with soil makes very good planting soil. Plants eat up nutrients, different plants eat up different nutrients...so mixing stuff into the soil like from the compost heap plus plant food will make your plants happy and healthy and grow well.

Answer 6

A compost heap is the best way to "recycle" kitchen scraps, and the resulting compost is GREAT for enriching garden soil. All plant material can go into it: banana peels, used coffee grinds, tree leaves, grass clippings, carrot and potato peelings, leftover cooked rice. Just DON'T add meat, bones, or any fats/oils. Start your pile in a sunny spot in your yard, and keep a good mix of "greens" (such as fresh vegetable scraps) and "browns" (dry tree leaves), and the "good bugs" (worms, etc.) will break it down to compost in afew months. Add this to your soil when planting to give your plants a nutritional boost!

Answer 7

Organic waste is responsible for 70% of contamination in Land fills if it goes out with the trash ,so please do not do this

COMPOST
bones,treetrunks,cardboard,egg... clothes(if they are organic),poop,leaves,kitchen waste,foodscraps,newspaper,
your mother inlaw and kitty litter
and even the dead cat

All can be put on the compost heap

as long as you seal it with a covering of leaves .or put a piece of plastic on top ,
keep it moist and in the shade ,it will then get hot enough to kill all parasites

the worms will devellop,and take care of everything ,the moisture helps decomposition

the plastic keeps in the moisture and protects the worms from predators .like chickens ,birds armadillos,and even dogs .i have seen going in to eat my worm culture

you could add a bit of lime now and again
to make the process more potent

HOW

make the compost in a shallow hole ,so that it retains more humidity,
about 2 square meters is good ,and have it under a tree or put a little roof over i t,which does not have to be water proof ,so a palm thatch is enough,

and makesure the garden sprinkler gets there or spray some water on it ,at least once a week,dont have it water logged or the worms will drown or leave

RECYCLING
Cardboard is also acceptable for recycling

so is glass if you classify it in colors,and
aluminium cans

Answer 8

I think there are two major reasons to compost.

1. "Yard waste and food scraps make up 20% to 30% of garbage!! Many landfills are filling up and closing. Finding places to put garbage is a big problem. By composting yard and kitchen waste, you send less garbage to landfills" ("Why Compost?").

2. "While it takes thousands of years for the earth’s forces to build good soil, we can help do this in 5 – 10 years by adding compost—which adds microorganisms, arthropods, worms, and humus to the soil." So if you want to grow anything -- vegetables, for example -- it'll grow better in soil to which compost has been added ("Fundamentals of Composting").

There are lots of websites out there that will give you step-by-step instructions as to what you should put in a compost heap, in what order, in what amount, etc., etc. There's a range of complexity -- some people get into very specific formulas of what goes in the compost heap, while others tend more toward a "throw all the compostable scraps in there!" approach. A few websites you could look at are http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/1654-how-to-build-a-good-compost-heap.asp, http://www.gardenguide.biz/uk/compost-heap.htm, and http://www.care2.com/greenliving/211.html.

Good luck! :)

Answer 9

Compost is a great fertilizer for gardens. Pretty much rotten fruits and vegetables go in a compost. It stinks like crazy, but it helps the growth of new life. mix it with existing soil and it does wonders.

Answer 10

I have an 18 bu CompostTumbler. You can make the heap in a corner just by piling stiff up. You put mostly fresh grass clippings in it and may add anything organic. you must turn the pile to keep it from going septic (if it stinks, it is septic). I add dung from pets, chickens(for acid soil) and grazing animals(for basic garden plants) , shredded dead wood, trimmings from the garden, waste from food preparation, and (occasionally) stimulants like bone meal , blood meal, or oyster shells. My tumbler makes 18 bushels of ready to use compost (high quality potting soil) every three weeks. I use it for special plant beds-- esp my orchids.

Answer 11

If you have a garden it provides for great organic fertilizer. If not, it's still a great way to cut down on waste in landfills and create a home for worms!

More info about starting a compost pile can be found here - http://www.kitchenwitch.com/compost.html