Albuquerque Composting Basics 101 for 2021 – Part Two

Pick a composting place that features plenty of space. The bigger the compost bin the better. Focus on setting up a compost pile that is very wide and not tall. Tall compost bins impede the flow of oxygen and prevent decomposition from occurring.

Cover your compost bin with a plastic sheet or set it up inside a dry shed. If rain is added to your compost pile it will become soaked, which will hinder it success. Be sure to add some water occasionally to moisten the content. Do not soak your compost pile ever.

Set up your compost pile on the ground with nothing on the floor of the pile. Plain earth will allow natural decomposition to happen and earthworms to infiltrate the compost, which will enhance its ability to decompose. Setting your compost pile on the bare ground will allow it to breath and add natural nutrients from the soil to the content. The natural organically produced organisms will assist your flower garden, vegetable garden and landscape reap the benefits of all the hard work you put in.

Put both nitrogen content and carbon content in the compost pile in layers. Being with carbon content like branches, twigs, and straw, which will allow air and water to go through and not get trapped in the compost pile. Then add green nitrogen content old food, coffee, and other green matter. Then add another layer of carbon content. Keep adding layers using the two to one ratio until your compost pile is complete.

As you build your compost pile, once it starts looking successful and it comes established, begin adding new content by turning new material over to the top as its being added, instead of layering it like you did at the beginning. Turning over the pile introduces oxygen which will enhance decomposition and speed up the process.