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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/06/why-composting-is-the-ultimate-way-to-reuse-and-recycle
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| Why composting is the ultimate way to reuse and recycle | Why composting is the ultimate way to reuse and recycle |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| My mother had some funny habits as far as composting was concerned. She | My mother had some funny habits as far as composting was concerned. She |
| ran a small free-range egg business so there was plenty of chicken manure and, | ran a small free-range egg business so there was plenty of chicken manure and, |
| for that matter, chickens. | for that matter, chickens. |
| The deep freezer often had a dead chicken, sometimes many, at the | The deep freezer often had a dead chicken, sometimes many, at the |
| bottom. Not for eating, mind, these were old birds saved for when a plant | bottom. Not for eating, mind, these were old birds saved for when a plant |
| needed to be moved or something new to established, she would head to the freezer, | needed to be moved or something new to established, she would head to the freezer, |
| pull out a dead bird, dig a big hole, put the birds at the bottom and the plant | pull out a dead bird, dig a big hole, put the birds at the bottom and the plant |
| on top. | on top. |
| This was her secret to such a wonderful garden. For several years the | This was her secret to such a wonderful garden. For several years the |
| freezer held a large male peacock, only just covered by two bin liners, so you had | freezer held a large male peacock, only just covered by two bin liners, so you had |
| to push past him to get to the ice-lollies. There was an idea he would be | to push past him to get to the ice-lollies. There was an idea he would be |
| stuffed, but we all knew that actually he was just in waiting for the right | stuffed, but we all knew that actually he was just in waiting for the right |
| plant. There was no such thing as waste anything. Even a dead pet had a | plant. There was no such thing as waste anything. Even a dead pet had a |
| purpose. | purpose. |
| Of course, there were traditional compost heaps too. Big heaps fed on a | Of course, there were traditional compost heaps too. Big heaps fed on a |
| diet of animal manures and grass clippings, spread out in autumn across the | diet of animal manures and grass clippings, spread out in autumn across the |
| vegetable garden. | vegetable garden. |
| The cycle of life was such a visceral yet ordinary part of my | The cycle of life was such a visceral yet ordinary part of my |
| childhood: dead, rotting, rotted, new, that it is no surprise that I grew up to | childhood: dead, rotting, rotted, new, that it is no surprise that I grew up to |
| love compost. | love compost. |
| And love it I do though I am far more vegetarian about my compost. No | And love it I do though I am far more vegetarian about my compost. No |
| dead birds for me. But I do take an extraordinary delight in taking the | dead birds for me. But I do take an extraordinary delight in taking the |
| unwanted and turning into black gold. | unwanted and turning into black gold. |
| Vegetable peelings, toilet roll holders, the scum from the sink | Vegetable peelings, toilet roll holders, the scum from the sink |
| strainer, the empty flour packet, the coffee grounds and rhubarb leaves, fuzzy | strainer, the empty flour packet, the coffee grounds and rhubarb leaves, fuzzy |
| fruit, moldy tomato paste, old socks, pants too, orange juice that fizzes, old | fruit, moldy tomato paste, old socks, pants too, orange juice that fizzes, old |
| bills, dog hair, a vase worth of flowers, old tea towels and pizza boxes, if it | bills, dog hair, a vase worth of flowers, old tea towels and pizza boxes, if it |
| will rots down I will take there. | will rots down I will take there. |
| In return my garden grows lush and provides lunch or supper and | In return my garden grows lush and provides lunch or supper and |
| sometime both. My compost bins provide the greatest wildlife habitats I know. | sometime both. My compost bins provide the greatest wildlife habitats I know. |
| They team and seethe with life. Bumble bees nest in them, worm wriggle, slugs | They team and seethe with life. Bumble bees nest in them, worm wriggle, slugs |
| munch, frogs follow and trillions of bacteria, yeast, mould and microbes call | munch, frogs follow and trillions of bacteria, yeast, mould and microbes call |
| them home. Another world sits at the bottom of my garden. | them home. Another world sits at the bottom of my garden. |
| I have many bins. It’s a habit, like shoes or shopping. I am forever | I have many bins. It’s a habit, like shoes or shopping. I am forever |
| falling for a new way of rotting. There are bins for food waste: bokashi, | falling for a new way of rotting. There are bins for food waste: bokashi, |
| a Japanese system that rots food in two weeks with special bran and then you | a Japanese system that rots food in two weeks with special bran and then you |
| bury it, a Hotbin, which cooks the compost, | bury it, a Hotbin, which cooks the compost, |
| a Green Cone, which is a form of | a Green Cone, which is a form of |
| biodigestor, and a wormery. Then | biodigestor, and a wormery. Then |
| there are traditional cold compost heaps – pallet bins made for free, a leaf | |
| mould and a modern tumbler. | mould and a modern tumbler. |
| They all work on the same principle. Take waste and wait for microbes, | They all work on the same principle. Take waste and wait for microbes, |
| bacteria and fungi to invade over days, weeks and months until what was whole | bacteria and fungi to invade over days, weeks and months until what was whole |
| will be broken down into dark, rich crumbling compost. | will be broken down into dark, rich crumbling compost. |
| Good compost should be dark brown, smell sweet and be neither too wet | Good compost should be dark brown, smell sweet and be neither too wet |
| nor too dry. If you squeeze a handful it should hold its shape briefly before | nor too dry. If you squeeze a handful it should hold its shape briefly before |
| crumbling again. It can be rough, with visible bits of woody stuff. This should | crumbling again. It can be rough, with visible bits of woody stuff. This should |
| be used for mulching, where time and weather will rot it further. Or you can | be used for mulching, where time and weather will rot it further. Or you can |
| leave it to rot down further so it resembles the soil it will one day become. | leave it to rot down further so it resembles the soil it will one day become. |
| Either way it is the stuff of good soil. Compost holds essential | Either way it is the stuff of good soil. Compost holds essential |
| nutrients and moisture needed for good plant growth. It is rich in organic | nutrients and moisture needed for good plant growth. It is rich in organic |
| matter and this feeds the worms and other soil life, which in turn feed the | matter and this feeds the worms and other soil life, which in turn feed the |
| plants. | plants. |
| It’s a cure for all soil ills. Your soil is heavy clay? You need more | It’s a cure for all soil ills. Your soil is heavy clay? You need more |
| compost to break it down. Your soil is thin, like sand? You need compost to | compost to break it down. Your soil is thin, like sand? You need compost to |
| build it back up. Your plants are weedy and too small? Then they are hungry: | build it back up. Your plants are weedy and too small? Then they are hungry: |
| feed them with compost. Your plants are thirsty? Then lock the moisture in with | feed them with compost. Your plants are thirsty? Then lock the moisture in with |
| more compost. | more compost. |
| Compost replaces fertility lost from the soil through plant growth. It | Compost replaces fertility lost from the soil through plant growth. It |
| is particularly important if you are growing annuals, such as vegetables, where | is particularly important if you are growing annuals, such as vegetables, where |
| nutrients are readily lost through harvesting. | nutrients are readily lost through harvesting. |
| It protects the fragile surface of the soil from weather, rain leaching | It protects the fragile surface of the soil from weather, rain leaching |
| away nutrients, wind blowing away particles or sun burning away life. It buries | away nutrients, wind blowing away particles or sun burning away life. It buries |
| emerging weeds when used as a mulch, or boosts emerging seedlings when mixed | emerging weeds when used as a mulch, or boosts emerging seedlings when mixed |
| with potting composts. It is the end of your waste and the beginning of your | with potting composts. It is the end of your waste and the beginning of your |
| garden. This is the reason I love it so. | garden. This is the reason I love it so. |
| Making good compost comes from experience; you learn quickly | Making good compost comes from experience; you learn quickly |
| what will make your compost too slimy (too much nitrogen/fast rotting green | what will make your compost too slimy (too much nitrogen/fast rotting green |
| things) or too dry (too much carbon/brown things such as woody stems or old | things) or too dry (too much carbon/brown things such as woody stems or old |
| roots). | roots). |
| Layers are the key. For example, every time some green | Layers are the key. For example, every time some green |
| (nitrogen) goes in makes sure it’s followed by a layer of brown (carbon). Most food waste (remember | (nitrogen) goes in makes sure it’s followed by a layer of brown (carbon). Most food waste (remember |
| unless the system is designed to take cooked, this mean just peelings, tea | unless the system is designed to take cooked, this mean just peelings, tea |
| bags, carrot tops, etc) is considered green. If you've run out of | bags, carrot tops, etc) is considered green. If you've run out of |
| brown material such as roots or stems, use scrunched up newspaper/ripped up | brown material such as roots or stems, use scrunched up newspaper/ripped up |
| cardboard, cereal boxes, pizza boxes, toilet roll holders or envelopes. You can | cardboard, cereal boxes, pizza boxes, toilet roll holders or envelopes. You can |
| even put your bills in, no-one's going to go through your compost bin to find | even put your bills in, no-one's going to go through your compost bin to find |
| your data. Avoid glossy magazines, there's something in the finish that the | your data. Avoid glossy magazines, there's something in the finish that the |
| worms don't like, but other than that any paper will do. I've composted two | worms don't like, but other than that any paper will do. I've composted two |
| manuscripts and endless book drafts. Homework could go easily go that way too. | manuscripts and endless book drafts. Homework could go easily go that way too. |
| You will also learn that if you fail to visit your bin regularly, never | You will also learn that if you fail to visit your bin regularly, never |
| turn or empty it and fill it full of melon rinds, strawberries ends and carrot | turn or empty it and fill it full of melon rinds, strawberries ends and carrot |
| peelings (anything sweet for that matter) a rat moves in and starts a family. | peelings (anything sweet for that matter) a rat moves in and starts a family. |
| Rats hate changing environments, they are neophobic, so the more you turn your | Rats hate changing environments, they are neophobic, so the more you turn your |
| compost, and the less they will visit. Or move to a system where rats can’t get | compost, and the less they will visit. Or move to a system where rats can’t get |
| in: tumblers, Hotbins and worm bins are the most rat-proof I’ve tried (though | in: tumblers, Hotbins and worm bins are the most rat-proof I’ve tried (though |
| rats will eat through plastic if they are hungry). | rats will eat through plastic if they are hungry). |
| If you are limited to space, say on a balcony, a worm bin is your best | If you are limited to space, say on a balcony, a worm bin is your best |
| bet. It can take a surprising amount of food and will give you perfectly | bet. It can take a surprising amount of food and will give you perfectly |
| digested worm compost to add to the top of pots and containers. If you don’t | digested worm compost to add to the top of pots and containers. If you don’t |
| have outdoor space, but have an allotment, then bokashi bins are ideal. You can | have outdoor space, but have an allotment, then bokashi bins are ideal. You can |
| compost in the kitchen and take the processed results to dig into the ground | compost in the kitchen and take the processed results to dig into the ground |
| (essentially you bury it in a hole to rot down further). | (essentially you bury it in a hole to rot down further). |
| The cheapest bins are those recycled from scrap wood. Three bins in a | The cheapest bins are those recycled from scrap wood. Three bins in a |
| row are ideal as you can turn one into the next easily, but you can easily get | row are ideal as you can turn one into the next easily, but you can easily get |
| away with one. The smaller the bin the longer the compost (unless you add worms or | away with one. The smaller the bin the longer the compost (unless you add worms or |
| bacteria) will take to make, so go as large as you can. | bacteria) will take to make, so go as large as you can. |
| As this is International Compost Awareness week, it only makes sense to spread | As this is International Compost Awareness week, it only makes sense to spread |
| all this joy around. If you haven’t got a heap, now is the time to start. You | all this joy around. If you haven’t got a heap, now is the time to start. You |
| can't fault the advice of Garden Organic as a starting point. | can't fault the advice of Garden Organic as a starting point. |
| It takes you through all the basics and has great resources for schools. | It takes you through all the basics and has great resources for schools. |
| Interested in finding out more about how you can live better? Take a look at this month's Live Better Challenge here. | Interested in finding out more about how you can live better? Take a look at this month's Live Better Challenge here. |
| The Live Better | The Live Better |
| Challenge is funded by Unilever; its focus is sustainable living. All | Challenge is funded by Unilever; its focus is sustainable living. All |
| content is editorially independent except for pieces labelled | content is editorially independent except for pieces labelled |
| advertisement feature. Find out more here. | advertisement feature. Find out more here. |