Composting from A to Z By Édith Smeesters, biologist © 2011 Photos: Carole Delaître-Michaud, Edith Smeesters Featuring: Sean Murray, Florence & Vincent Denis English revision: Eva Waldron & Elaine Elkin-Heitner

In nature, decomposition is done without any help…. why should we compost ? 2 Composting is a biological process, carried out by micro- and macro-organisms in controlled conditions, providing a stable end-product: compost © Edith Smeesters 2011

3 Our waste in Eastern Townships Paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, glass Construction mat. Monsters Organic matters Other recoverable material Waste

Why make compost? To have healthy plants! To reduce our waste! (Organic Matter = 47 % of our waste!) 4 © Edith Smeesters 2011

Basic conditions for composting 5 air water organic matter proper habitat Compost © Edith Smeesters 2011

6 What can we compost? Green and moist material: Rich in Nitrogen (N) Brown and dry material Rich in Carbon © From the kitchen From the garden © Edith Smeesters 2011

7 Keep a little container in your kitchen Important Not too big Needs a lid (preventing flies) © Edith Smeesters 2011

8 And eggshells (calcium) Materials to compost Green & moist: rich in Nitrogen - N Fruit & vegetable scraps Tea bags, coffee grounds Fresh plant remains Brown & dry rich in Carbon - C Dead leaves Dry hay & straw Chipped branches Sawdust Shredded paper, cardboard Always cover “greens ” with “browns” © Edith Smeesters 2011

9 A compost bin is not a garbage can Caution ! !Use with caution !Table scraps !Bread, dairy products !Seeded plants !Diseased plants !Wood ashes !Cut grass !Soil !Manure  DO NOT use  Meat, bones, fish  Oil and fat  Big pieces of wood  Synthetics (plastic, glass, metal)  Vacuum cleaner bags  Coal ashes  Excrements (human or carnivores) © Edith Smeesters 2011

Maintaining the compost pile Provide good working conditions for your “volunteer workers” which are preparing compost! Bacteria Fungi Insects Worms Etc. 10 © Edith Smeesters 2011

11 Give them a balanced diet: greens and browns(about 1/1) © Edith Smeesters 2011

12 Aerate Once and a while with an aeration tool © Edith Smeesters 2011

13 Add water Compost should be moist like a wrung out sponge © Edith Smeesters 2011

14 Place under barrel: Wire mesh (1 cm 2 ) Flagstones Use a Lid Don’t add Meat, fish Dairy products Cooked food Always cover greens with browns If necessary: cover with some soil (flies) To prevent rodents © Edith Smeesters 2011

Avoiding odours Ammonia odour = too much Nitrogen Always cover greens with browns Don’t use meat, fish, etc. Rotten egg odour = anaerobic conditions Aerate By turning the compost pile over With an aerating tool 15 © Edith Smeesters 2011

16 Save a good supply of leaves and keep it near your compost bin © Edith Smeesters 2011

17 Don’t add cut grass… … because you would need to add the same amount of leaves! © Edith Smeesters 2011

18 Recycle your grass clippings on the lawn! Grass clippings= 20 % suburban waste in summer Collective costs ++ Grass recycling= Nitrogen source (30 to 50% N for lawn) Water source Less garbage bags Time saving © Edith Smeesters 2011

The best compost container ? 19 Qualities: aeration no bottom easy access size lid aesthetic? price? suitable for your needs! © Edith Smeesters 2011

20 Barrel: for small yard and for kitchen waste Add your greens every other day Cover with browns Mix with aeration tool Collect compost through bottom door or… Lift the barrel © Edith Smeesters 2011

21 Lifting the barrel © Edith Smeesters 2011

Commercial barrels in Québec 22 Garden gourmet Earth machine Soil saver © Edith Smeesters 2011

Box for medium garden 23 © Edith Smeesters 2011

Box for medium garden Often made of wood Capacity: about 1 m 3 Ideally: double Think about compost access Add and mix materials in first section Transfer in 2 d section after 1 month Start new compost in first section Protect from the sun 24 © Edith Smeesters 2011

Pile: for large garden, community garden or farm About 2 m wide x1,5 m high As long as necessary Ideal for “end of season” compost Mix garden and kitchen waste with leaves Cover with geotextile Turn over 3-4 times Collect after 6 months - 1 year 25 © Edith Smeesters 2011

Ideal compost site Well-drained spot On the ground Easy access Close to The kitchen The garden Ideally: Partial shade Create shade if needed (geotextile) Out of sight 26 © Edith Smeesters 2011

Can we compost in winter? Yes! The compost freezes, but the process resumes in spring Allow enough room (no volume reduction) Second barrel needed? Continue to alternate browns/greens Think about winter access! Or store kitchen waste in pails outside and close to the kitchen door 27 © Edith Smeesters 2011

28 How to speed up the process? Proper balance browns/greens Size of materials Aeration Humidity Volume of the compost pile © Edith Smeesters 2011

29 When it looks and smells like forest soil When you don’t recognize original materials When worms are gone When is compost ready? © Edith Smeesters 2011

Sifting: optional 30 © Edith Smeesters 2011

31 Use compost on your lawn © Edith Smeesters 2011

Use compost on your flower beds and vegetable garden 32 Dig-in a little bit © Edith Smeesters 2011

Compost benefits Aerates clay soil (heavy) Gives consistency to sandy soils Raises water retention in soils Helps drainage Stabilizing effect on pH Feeds plants in a natural way Protects plants against pests and disease Soil heats up faster in the Spring 33 © Edith Smeesters 2011

34 Spectacular results! © Edith Smeesters 2011

For a more detailed conference 35 Edith Smeesters, biologist gives lectures and training classes on composting and organic horticulture (450) © Edith Smeesters 2011