Garden composter. What is compost

Quality agricultural technology and good harvest require soil fertilization. Compost is one of the most common basic ingredients that summer residents use everywhere. The fact is that in the country it is not so difficult to make compost with your own hands, because everything you need to organize the process is at your fingertips.

What to make

Many gardeners prefer to prepare the compost themselves, as this not only saves time and money, but also reduces the amount of hassle, which is always enough on the site. In order to understand from what and how to make fertilizer correctly, it is important to understand how the procedure for its formation takes place. In fact, composting is a natural process of decomposition of organic waste. During the fermentation process, a fertile loose composition is obtained that is suitable for any soil. The most common way to make compost with your own hands is to collect leftovers from the kitchen and organic garbage in one pile. After that, bacteria begin to work, which will process "yesterday's" borscht and fallen leaves into humus. As a rule, you can prepare compost in different ways, however, the whole process comes down to using the aerobic or anaerobic method.

From what you can make garden "gold" with your own hands:

cut grass;
foliage that falls in autumn;
droppings of cattle and birds;
peat residues;
tea leaves and coffee;
egg shells, provided that they have not undergone heat treatment;
peel and remains of raw vegetables and fruits;
thin branches;
straw, sawdust and seed shells;
shredded paper or cardboard.

vegetable peel after boiling or frying;
diseased leaves and branches;
weed plants;
citrus peel;

Thus, compost waste is divided into two types: nitrogenous (manure and bird droppings, grass, raw vegetables and fruits) and carbonaceous (fallen leaves, sawdust, finely shredded paper or cardboard). When cooking compost heap with your own hands, it is important to adhere to a ratio of 5: 1, i.e. most of it consists of brown components, which are the basis for feeding beneficial bacteria. One part of the pile is green waste. To speed up the process, shredded paper, corn and sunflower shoots, sawdust, dry leaves and grass are used as brown components.

Green components are essential for beneficial microbes, and they decompose quickly. The lack of green part can lead to a lengthening of the time required for composting. If you go too far with the green part, then the pile will smell unpleasantly of ammonia (rotten eggs). The remains of meat and fish products should not be included in the compost in the country, as they take longer to decompose, and there will be standing around. bad smell.

How to do

The balance of components is Golden Rule at the stage when, you are already ready to make garden "gold" in the country with your own hands. A properly stacked pile emits the smell of fertile soil, but if you hear an unpleasant smell, then you need to add brown residues. In order for the process of processing residues to start, the temperature in the center of the pile must reach 60-70 degrees. It should feel warm from it, but if it seems cool to the touch, then you need to add greenery.

The second important rule of a compost heap is constant moisture. It should be like a damp "rug", but not wet. If you notice that a crust is forming, then you need to add a little water. The aerobic composting process requires a constant supply of oxygen, so the pile must be turned frequently. The more often you turn the compost, the faster the finished fertilizer will ripen. You can properly prepare compost in the country in a fast and slow way. Beginning summer residents usually use the first option.

This requires a special box made of wood or plastic, where all the components will be laid. If there is no box, then you can use a pit with wooden lags. The main thing is that oxygen can freely flow from above and to the side to the contents. Laying components in layers or at random is up to you. Consider the option of laying a compost pit in layers:

at the bottom it is necessary to put straw, hay or spruce branches to create a drainage layer;
small branches of trees and waste of fruits that are not subject to heat treatment;
a layer of shredded paper or cardboard;
foliage;
cut grass and remnants of annuals.

When laying, follow the rule - one layer is dry, the second is wet, and alternate soft waste with dense. To speed up the process, you can use nitrogen supplements, manure, dandelions and nettles. You can cook even with rotted manure or ordinary soil. To create a steam effect, the pit or box is immediately covered with a film or rags. Turning the contents of the compost store is required once or twice every thirty days. The slow method of preparing compost requires almost similar laying actions, only it will take several years to wait for the finished result, for the quality finished material, will be much better.

Video "How to make compost in the country"

In this video you can hear and see how to make compost in the country.

Where to lay

To prepare it in the country, you will need to prepare a place where all the components will be laid. As a rule, a box or a hole in the backyard is used for this. Not rotten boards and planks are suitable for making a box. It is important that there is no rot, paint or oil residue on the surface of the wood. Most the best way- this is not a cut pine in the form of a board or a bar. It is this material that allows you to make a solid and at the same time "budget" box.

When choosing a drawer installation, it does not matter whether the surface is flat or elevated. It is advisable to prepare a place for the compost heap slightly above ground level. Such a measure is necessary so that the soil is not washed away. Further, it is necessary to make a large box from a bar or board, while leaving gaps between the planks for oxygen access. We install the supports and three finished walls of the box in a permanent place. We make the fourth wall removable so that it is convenient to ted and extract fertilizer. At the bottom of the pit, you can put a sheet of old linoleum.

Practical use

The use of mature compost, if all the processes have been done correctly, is already possible in 2-3 months. The substance should be crumbly, slightly wet and dark brown in color. If the mixture smells like earth, then the compost is ready. It is possible to prepare and apply fertilizer throughout the year for almost all crops. It is used for planting trees, shrubs and perennials. A little compost does not fit when planting vegetables in the hole. A thin layer on the surface of the lawn will be an excellent stimulant for the growth of juicy and dense grass, and making compost with your own hands is not difficult at all.

Video "How to make good compost"

In this video you can hear tips on making good compost.

Every gardener and gardener knows that compost is one of the the best fertilizers. Most people who have their own plots of land take care to get this product in sufficient quantity and good quality. There are several ways to get garden compost, each of which can be done with your own hands: compost pit, two pile system, compost boxes.

Initially, the pits were used for rotting manure. After about two or three years, high quality fertilizer. Then they began to add grass and foliage to the manure, and a little later peat and various wastes: kitchen, vegetable, feces. In order to provide air access to the pit, a pipe can be placed in it, then the process will go faster.

The disadvantage of this method is the inability to stir up the contents of the pit. You have to wait until everything that is loaded into it rots. This usually takes at least two years. The advantage is simplicity - all you need is your hands, a shovel and material to cover the pit.

Double collar system

First prepare a place for compost. The area is leveled and the turf is removed, then sand is poured 5 cm thick. The next step is laying the ingredients of the future compost in layers. As such, grass, leaves, peat, chicken manure. The main thing is not to add branches, boards, straw, which rot for a very long time. Otherwise, you will have to choose them from ready-made fertilizer. Also avoid waste that has protein origin. They attract flies and rodents that carry diseases. When the components containing protein are decomposed, a characteristic unpleasant odor is formed.

To speed up the process of decay and improve the quality of the compost, you can use ammonium nitrate, ash or urea. The collar must be thoroughly shed with water and closed to reduce the evaporation of the liquid. For this, slate, boards or film are suitable.

During the season, the pile must be thoroughly mixed once or twice, thrown to another place (second pile), and new waste is applied to the old one. As a rule, excellent compost is obtained in spring, which can be used to fertilize the first beds.

The major disadvantage of this method is constant heap sprawl. In addition, it is often necessary to turn the pile more than 1-2 times per season, which means taking up additional space.

Compost bins

most efficient and convenient way obtaining compost is using a garden composter. Loading into it is carried out through the top opening. Such a box is usually made at least one meter high and with a volume of at least one cubic meter. The same ingredients are poured into it as in a compost pit or collar. During the season, the process of compost formation is completely completed in the lower part of the box, and it is removed through a special hole. Everything that is above falls to the vacant seat. Top with fresh ingredients.

Compost bins are made from a variety of materials:

metal;
tree;
plastics.

How to make a composter with your own hands

First of all, pay attention to the place where the composter is supposed to be placed. It is desirable that it be at least twenty meters from water sources and at least ten meters from your home. Consider the wind rose.

Composters differ in their design, but there are basic rules that any composter must satisfy:

Consider several options for how you can make a garden box with your own hands.

Simplified version

It is necessary to dig four pillars into the ground, at the corners of the proposed box. Cement can be used to increase stability. We upholster three walls with boards or stretch the mesh, you can sheathe them with slate sheets. Fourth - the front side is collapsible. This is necessary for building up as new portions of components are added. At the bottom of this wall, you need to leave a gap of 30 cm. You can’t make a box completely sealed. Compost formation requires a constant supply of air.

The disadvantage of this design is the inconvenient process of extracting compost. As the finished compost is removed from below, non-rotten ingredients begin to fall from above, thereby making it difficult to get fertilizer, which is located at the far wall.

To solve this problem, a second version of the composter was invented.

You will need to mark out a rectangular area. It is better if the sides of this rectangle will relate to each other as two to one. Then you need to remove the turf. Some professionals advise preparing a concrete pavement. In this case, you should provide for drainage holes . Six pillars are dug in: four at the corners of the site and two in the middle of the longest sides. The entire area of the future composter is covered with sand. Three sides are sheathed with boards. You can use other material, as long as it is strong, otherwise the contents of the box will simply squeeze it out.

The transverse wall, which separates the two compartments, and the two front walls must be made collapsible. This will be required when the volume of the decaying mass increases. If you have chosen wood as the material from which the composter is made, then it should be processed impregnations for protection against decay and insects. Choose non-toxic products, as toxins can enter the soil along with the compost and then end up on your table.

Compost ingredients are placed in one of the compartments. To increase the efficiency of the process, special accelerators can be used. But, if everything is done correctly and ensure good hydration, then you can not use them. Some gardeners deliberately add earthworms to the composter, but this is usually not required, as the worms naturally get inside the box and take an active part in the formation of the compost.

The filling of the first compartment continues for summer period, and in early autumn, the entire compost mass is transferred to the second compartment. This is necessary for loosening and providing air access. Soil bacteria are activated. The decay process is accelerating. It is possible to spill all the contents with urea or ammonium nitrate already in the second compartment. During the winter, the compost bin should be tightly closed.

In the spring they receive excellent fertilizer. The front wall of the box is disassembled and used required amount compost. Then the wall is reassembled. Usually, during the season, all the finished compost finds its use, and the second compartment is completely filled with new ingredients.

There are many options for garden composters that you can make yourself. The main thing is to take into account all the features of the composting process and follow the instructions, then you will get high quality fertilizer.

The third option for making a composter

Soil fertilization is an important requirement for the agricultural technology of any plant, and compost is considered one of the main components for soil application. Today we will learn how to make it in the country on our own.

Many summer residents have been preparing compost with their own hands for a long time, because this not only saves time and money, but also eliminates a lot of unnecessary worries, which are already enough in their summer cottage.

Benefits of making compost in the country

Compost is considered one of the best fertilizers, which, when applied to the soil, fills it with a huge amount of trace elements.
Compost is the cheapest and most practical means for proper soil structuring, as it increases moisture conservation and creates loosening necessary for all plants.
Spreading compost over the surface of the soil can create the best organic mulch that will conserve moisture and inhibit the growth of many weeds in the area.
Composting in a summer cottage is a very useful process, as well as a significant contribution to the development and protection environment. Not a single mineral fertilizer can be compared with high-quality compost, and a properly formed pit in which organic components rot can become a real incubator for beneficial bacteria and microorganisms.
Composting significantly reduces your physical effort, as now you do not need to remove from the territory suburban area a good part of the garbage, everything can simply be placed in a special pit.

What is garden compost

Compost is a specific product obtained from organic waste under the influence of the environment and a huge variety of insects and microorganisms. It is used for structuring the soil, mulching, fertilizing.

The bark and branches of trees, the stems and leaves of plants - all this can be put in a certain order in a special pit or simply in a pile, ensure the conditions for decay and processing, and get a high-quality, truly environmentally friendly product without any harmful and toxic compounds. Naturally, the process of decomposition of all organic residues will seriously wait, maybe even several years, but then you will get real quality, and not a mixture from the store prepared on the basis of unknown components.

How to make compost

Professionals know how to make compost in a fast and slow way. They are also called cold and hot.

Before we move on to looking at "recipes", we'd like to talk about building a proper compost bin or pit.

How to make a compost bin?

So, initially we need to prepare the material for production compost bin by size. Almost any, but not rotten and not previously in contact with toxic materials, boards or planks are suitable for this. In the first case, during the biological process, rotten planks can deteriorate, in the second, boards in paint or oil can simply poison the compost, damaging its quality irreversibly.

We would advise you to take unedged pine in boards or beams so that the finished box will last for many years, and work with this material. So you will make a quality container, but do not spend a lot of money.

Now choose a place and start building. On a hill or on a flat area, it doesn’t really matter if your terrain is not rainy, and the GWL is low. In general, it is desirable to place a place under the compost a little higher than the standard soil level so that it does not wash away. So, we create four sides of the box, like a standard vegetable box, but much larger.

Be sure to observe the gaps between the prefabricated planks to ensure ventilation of the compost for the correct internal biological processes.

At the place of collection of the box, we install supports, we attach three ready-made walls made of pine boards or timber to the supports. We leave the last side removable so that it is convenient for us to get finished product for fertilizing or mulching the soil in the country.

It is advisable to lay some material, for example, old linoleum, on the bottom of a box or, as they say, a compost pit.

How to make the right compost quickly?

How to make compost the fast way? This question interests many beginners of the dacha business, and therefore, we turn to it without delay.

First of all, we create a special container - a frame that will contain all organic residues entering the compost on a single heap. It can be just a pit fenced with wooden structures, a special wooden or plastic box, in which there will be airing and access to the contents from above or from the side.

We create drainage at the bottom of the tank. You can make it from a layer of hay, straw, spruce branches. The layer should be about 10 cm.

Materials and various products for composting are stacked in layers. For example, you can immediately put branches and other fruit waste, then a layer of paper, the next layer of leaves, then a layer of mowed annuals or grass, and so on. It is important that the layers alternate approximately as follows, dry waste with wet, soft with hard. Such a laying method will provide air access, ventilation, and acceleration of the composting process. In this case, it must be remembered that the seal is useless here, and may even harm.

It is required to lay each layer with special process accelerators, for example, nitrogen supplements that are offered in garden stores, herbivore manure, plants such as legumes, nettles, dandelions, yarrows. You can also use rotted manure or ordinary garden soil.

To maintain the temperature and the correct internal environment, it is necessary to cover the compost storage with special materials - oilcloth, old rags, a piece of linoleum or carpet. The main thing is to keep warm inside.

In the summer, when there is a drought outside, the compost can be shed a little in order to maintain the desired humidity inside the storage. But remember, only spill, and do not fill to the top.

If you smell specific aromas from the compost bin, this may mean that the cooking process has failed and is not going right. If it smells of ammonia, there are too many nitrogen components in the pit (you can correct the situation by adding some torn paper). If you smell rotten eggs, then there is not enough oxygen in the pit or box, and the contents must be well stirred up, spilling the layers with straw or shavings.

If you manage to make the container correctly, as well as fill it with even layers, in a few months the compost will be ready. It is better to choose it from the lower layers, so that the upper ones fall evenly, pressing against the top with new organic residues.

How to make compost the slow way?

How to make compost from grass or branches? How to get the most correct and high-quality product? Naturally, this method is a little more complicated, or rather, longer, but as a result you will get very high quality compost.

By and large, you don’t have to do anything in particular, just prepare everything for rotting once and wait a few years. By the way, this way it is possible to install a new compost pit in the corner of the site every year in order to reach constant annual volumes in 2-3 years.

So how do you make your own compost?

If you can make compost in a barrel in a quick way, then for a slow, cold way, you need an ordinary pit on some hill of the site. The pit is dug small, about the size of a spade bayonet, but wide enough to accommodate enough branches and logs for composting. Further, broken branches and arrows of trees, trimmed parts and rotten logs in a crushed state are poured into the pit. Our whole heap is covered with soil from above and forgotten for a long time. In the second year, if you are very lucky, or in the third, which is stable with proper preparation, you will receive a noble fertilizer for the garden.

When choosing from fertilizer preparation methods, many choose a fast one, and it’s not even worth explaining to anyone the reason. But now I want to say not about the method, but about what should go into the compost pit and what should not.

What can you make compost from?

If you want to make high quality compost and save time, throw in the place of decay only the following:

Kitchen waste (fruits, vegetables, cereals, tea leaves, coffee grounds);
Straw, hay, shavings, sawdust, mowed grass;
Thin branches and stems garden bushes and trees;
recycled wood after garden shredder;
rotted animal manure;
Rotten leaves and other garden waste;
Various algae;
Other natural materials- fabric and paper;
Shredded weeds (avoiding rhizomatous weeds in the compost).

What not to compost

During the preparation of fertilizer, it is necessary to remember that it is impossible to place in the compost storage:

Bones, large and hard, poultry, meat, fish waste, pet droppings;
Fresh leaves, rhizomatous and perennial weeds;
Plants or debris infested with diseases or pests;
Fresh manure, which can only be poured into slow-cooking compost;
Waste from the garden that contains toxins, poisons, herbicides, and so on;
Unnecessary garbage - metal, glass, rubber, plastic, polyethylene, etc.

How to make compost (video)

Following the simplest rules and advice experienced summer residents, who have been preparing a useful “potion” for their garden for more than a year, you can make compost in the country with your own hands very simply and immediately start fertilizing the soil to improve the quality of crops.

Most of the happy owners of country houses and summer cottages who spend their free time in nature try to use this time to good use, and at the end of the summer season, get at least a minimum harvest of fruits and vegetables that will help the family budget. But in order to get a harvest, you need to take care of effective care and timely top dressing, which will improve the growth and maturation of horticultural crops. And if the issue related to processing and care does not cause any particular difficulties, then the problem of adequate nutrition of plant crops in the "world of dominant chemicals" is of particular relevance. Another no less urgent problem of suburban residents and even those who live in the country only for the period of the summer season is the need to dispose of household waste, as well as cut branches, weeds. Despite the outward opposition of these two problems, they have one solution - the purchase or manufacture of a garden composter with their own hands.

The composition and benefits of compost

Compost is a fertilizer of organic origin, which is formed in the process of decomposition of products and substances of organic origin, carried out under the action of aerobic microorganisms. However, the benefits of compost lie not only in its versatility. Being natural fertilizer without causing any harm, the compost remains free at all times.

The main components of compost are:

Inorganic nitrogen, which is included in the organic structure of the compost due to cut grass, green tops of plants and food residues, which are the constituent units of the compost.
Carbon included in the chemical structure of compost as part of organic compounds. The source of this chemical element compost contains dry organic materials- straw, tree bark, which should be half as much as the "green" component enriched with nitrogen;
Oxygen, which comes from the atmosphere, in connection with which, one of the features of the composter is the ability of the material from which its walls are made to freely pass air. In addition, the compost needs to be turned by hand from time to time.
Moisture needed by plants in the right amount. Keep the bin covered with a lid and hose it down if it dries out to keep the compost sufficiently moist.

The components included in the structure of the composter are heated due to the heat released during the life of microorganisms, enter into biochemical contact with it, as a result of which the compost components rot.

Garden composter - an elegant solution to the problem

In ancient times, metal barrels and wooden containers with a lid and used to collect household waste coped with the role of a composter. However, due to its not always attractive appearance, they were often installed in remote and inconspicuous corners of the site.

Many summer residents still prefer to make a choice in favor of the most budgetary options and organize a home-made garden composter from recycled materials - old wardrobes, used slate and metal barrels, arguing their choice by the fact that for them the greatest importance represents the compost itself, not where it is stored and received. Despite its economic attractiveness, low costs and ease of manufacture, this do-it-yourself composter manufacturing method is not ideal, due to the low aesthetic characteristics of the finished structure.

Modern composters: design, characteristics, principle of operation

Modern garden composters, which can be bought at affordable prices, have fundamentally new aesthetic and operational characteristics- the materials used, the shape and volume have changed, but this did not affect the main purpose of the composter for summer cottages - processing and preparation of products of biological origin for the realization of their functional purpose. Their design has become more perfect and is a container with a volume of 200 liters or more, shaped like a box.

Compost made using modern composters is more crumbly, due to the lower moisture content of the fertilizer. In addition, industrial composters are characterized by the following advantages:

Longer service life and ease of use;
Thoughtful design;
Thanks to the ventilation holes, optimal air circulation is ensured;
Design features that ensure the tightness of the container, which contributes to the highest quality decomposition of the organic components of the compost.

The most popular industrial model is Biolan 220, with a capacity of 800 liters, which can be operated all year round. The design of this model implies the presence of a sealed bottom, which is equipped with a hatch and a lid. Year-round operation is ensured by the manufacture of a structure made of frost-resistant plastic, as well as effective insulation, which allows it to work even in severe frosts. The principle of operation of the device is based on autonomous operation, which is provided without additional heating, due to the difference in temperature conditions inside the device and in the environment.

The principle of operation of an industrial composter

The functioning of an industrial composter with a lid is based on the rotting of vegetable and food waste, which is loaded into the composter through the top hatch. To ensure better recycling of waste, each loaded layer is sprinkled with peat, which is included in the accompanying garden composter kit.

It is due to the observance of this requirement, after the natural processing of waste, the finished compost is crumbly in its structure. As mentioned earlier, for optimal processing of plant and food residues, free access of oxygen is necessary, which is fully provided design features modern composters. Inside the tank there are pipes that ensure the free flow of oxygen from the outside.

Control over the course of the process of processing compostable waste can be carried out using a thermometer, which is installed on the front panel of the device. The most optimal temperature regime for the correct functioning of the device, a temperature of 60 degrees is required, otherwise, when the temperature drops, air stops flowing into the container.

Despite the fact that the loading of waste must be done daily, you can get ready-to-use compost only a month after laying the initial portion. Unloading of the finished compost must be done through the hatch located below. The manufacturers of this brand claim that in case of uninterrupted use of the device, you will be able to produce about 800 liters of organic fertilizer.

Rules for choosing a garden composter

When choosing a composter, you need to clearly focus on the list of functional tasks that you plan to solve with its purchase.

If you are planning to purchase a composter necessary for the processing of food waste, experts recommend paying attention to the design, which is a small hermetically sealed container.

In the event that you are the happy owner of a large suburban area with a lawn or a garden of impressive size and focus on ease of use, the best choice for you will be a garden composter with a volume of at least 1000 liters, the full load of which the owner of a summer cottage of 5 acres can easily carry out halfway through the summer season.

In the process of choosing an industrial composter, reviews of which indicate high quality device, it is necessary to take into account the presence of peat complete with the device, which is necessary for pouring each layer of compostable waste.

When choosing devices for composting, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the dimensions of the container itself, but also to the dimensions of the loading and unloading hatches, which also affect the ease of use, since the loading and unloading of compost is facilitated with an increase in the size of the hatches. In addition, from time to time, compostable waste must be agitated to increase air access to the underlying compost layers.

Taking into account the fact that composting can last throughout the year, experts suggest purchasing several composters and alternating their filling and unloading fertilizer. This will make the process of obtaining compost continuous, which will significantly increase the yield on your site.

Waste most suitable for composting

Before you make a garden composter with your own hands, you need to deal with the question, the essence of which is what is suitable for composting, and what is better to refuse in order to avoid violations quality characteristics fertilizers. Experts say that the composter is mainly intended for rotting vegetable waste, for example, wood waste, cut branches, bark, leaves and paper, food leftovers, herbivore dung, and weeds and ash. However, according to some experts, food waste, especially those containing a large amount of protein, must be excluded from these components that are subjected to composting, as they can cause a massive attraction of insects that are frequent carriers of infectious diseases, as well as rodents. In addition, it is necessary to exclude plants that have previously been treated with herbicides and other pesticides, as well as plants affected by diseases that can cause significant harm to cultivated plants.

Sanitary rules and regulations to be observed during the composting process

Making a composter with your own hands often does not present any difficulties, however, there are some pitfalls here, namely the organization of composting, during which it is necessary to observe a number of sanitary regulations and norms stipulated by the sanitary legislation. Do-it-yourself composters, as well as artificial devices for composting, according to this legislation, must be placed at a distance of at least 20 m from sources of drinking water supply, as well as at a distance of 10 m from residential facilities. Compliance with these standards prevents contamination of drinking water sources with products of organic origin formed during the composting process. In addition, sanitary requirements provide for the installation of composting devices below the level ground water which is also aimed at preventing their contamination.

When choosing the location of the compost facility, it is also necessary to take into account the direction of the wind. At correct installation composter, taking into account the direction of the wind, residential buildings will not experience an unpleasant odor coming from the composter. Compost facilities own production experts recommend enclosing with a kind of fence, for the creation of which wooden boards are suitable.

Do-it-yourself composter: types of compost facilities

Due to the variety of compost facilities, you can make a composter with your own hands different ways. There are two types of compost facilities: natural and industrial. In view of convenience and lower economic costs, composters of natural manufacture, which include compost pits and compost heaps, are more popular.

Most optimal dimensions compost pit are as follows:

Width 1-1.5 m;
Length - 1.5-2 m;
Height - 1-1.5 m.

To activate the composting processes, experts recommend organizing timely moistening and high-quality aeration of the pit. To do this, it is recommended to lay the waste in layers, while the laid layers should be characterized by different densities, mix the contents of the composter more often, and also equip a pipe in the pit to ensure an uninterrupted supply of oxygen to the composter. From above, the pit is covered with a variety of materials, while polyethylene, boards and roofing material are most often used, which will ensure unhindered access of oxygen to compostable waste.

Varieties of compost pits

Single section compost pits;
Two-section compost pits.

The design features of a single-section pit suggest a pit that is open from below, which will contribute to the free access of oxygen to the pit, which accelerates the processes of waste decomposition. To construct a single-section pit, you will need:

Wooden boards of individual size;
Hammer;
Nails;
Hacksaw.

The technique for making a single-section compost pit includes the following points:

They cut out boards of the same size, after which 4 pillars are installed in the corners of the future composter, which are driven into the ground. To give them stability, experts recommend using cement mixture, through which the pillars are concreted;

After installing a kind of frame, horizontally oriented boards of small thickness are nailed to the upper and lower parts of the vertical pillars around the entire perimeter, to which the main boards will subsequently be vertically attached. At the same time, it is important to observe the basic rule for arranging the composter, the essence of which is that in the lower part of the composter around the entire perimeter, leave a gap through which the finished compost will be taken out with the help of a pitchfork, after which a new one is laid on top. When attaching the boards, it is also necessary to leave a space between them through which air will freely flow. Another reason why it is not recommended to make the structure airtight is earthworms, the presence of which in the compost pit will favorably affect the composting process. A feature of the two-section compost pit is the presence of which ensures constant renewal of fertilizer: in the upper section there is fresh, not yet processed compost, while in the lower section there is fertilizer ready for use. To ensure that the presence of such a composter does not affect the design of the site in any way, landscape designers recommend decorating it by any means available to you, for example, planting nearby climbing plant and then observe how compost pit turns into blooming flower bed where wild flowers grow.

Garden compost is good and beneficial in every way. For plants, compost applied to the soil is an excellent organic fertilizer, saturated with essential trace elements and humus. For the soil - a natural conditioner, a means of improving the structure of the soil, which has a loosening and moisture-saving effect. Spread out in a layer on the surface of the soil, the compost is excellent organic mulch, suppressing the growth of weeds and helping to retain moisture at the roots of plants. Living inhabitants of the garden appreciate the compost heap at its true worth. This is an excellent "dining room" for birds and small insectivorous animals, as well as a mass habitat and breeding ground for earthworms, which (along with bacteria and fungi) actually decompose organic matter, producing compost.

Making your own garden compost eliminates the need to burn waste garden pruning, old leaves, paper, packaging and cardboard, poisoning the environment and neighbors with smoke. No need to buy synthetic fertilizers and high-quality garden soil. It would not be an exaggeration to say that producing and using your own compost makes life much easier for the gardener and contributes to the protection of the environment. Waste-free gardening and the use of garden compost instead of dangerous and expensive chemical fertilizers are important components of the concept of organic gardening.

The word compost comes from the Latin. componere and compositum and means mixture, something put together. Compost is a composition of organic matter, decomposed under the influence of microorganisms, which is used to improve soil structure and fertilizer. Garden compost should not be confused with ready mixes, which are often sold under the name "compost" at garden centers.

Fast way compost production

If you pile bark, tree branches, cut grass, leaves ... and what else comes to hand in the garden, and leave it all for a while in a secluded corner (so as not to spoil the view), then in the end all this will someday rot and turn into quality compost. This process will only take a few years. This is the so-called slow (cold) method of composting.

In contrast, the fast (hot) method takes approximately 3-6 months and is provided by several indispensable conditions: air access, nitrogen availability, humidity and heat (temperatures in large industrial compost heaps can reach +85 ° C!).

Compost production at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Twigs, wood, grass clippings and other garden waste shredded in a garden shredder are mixed with horse manure delivered from the Royal Mews in Knightsbridge. All this is stored in huge compost heaps, which are regularly moistened with settled rainwater and turned over. The production volume is impressive: 20 tons of manure and 100 tons of garden waste are used weekly! The process takes 10-12 weeks. The results are also impressive: Kew recycles 99% of its own garden waste and all of the resulting compost is used to further the Botanical Garden's prosperity. This is such a constant cycle of economical ecological production! All this is presented to the attention of the public, here you can get detailed instructions to produce compost in your garden

In the UK, gardeners are encouraged to engage in compost production at local council level. Here you can purchase the equipment necessary for creating compost at significant discounts, as well as get the necessary information.

1. You will need a boardwalk or plastic construction for the production of compost, installed in a specially designated place. Advantages wooden structure for compost production in that it is breathable and maintains good ventilation. Such a design can be purchased at a garden center or made by yourself. For a successful process, the volume of the wooden structure must be at least 1 m3 (1x1x1). The plastic container, in turn, retains heat well and is more mobile, it can be used in different places in the garden. Any composting system should have an opening top or side surface(some plastic bins don't have a bottom or the bottom is removable) for easy access to ready-made compost.

2. Lay at the very bottom about 10 cm layer rough material- straw, hay, twigs or spruce branches. This is necessary to ensure drainage and air access.

3. Lay the compost material in alternating layers. For example, on a layer of vegetable or fruit scraps, place a layer of shredded paper, then a small layer of cut grass, then a layer of dug up annuals, then a layer of last year's leaves, and so on. It is important that green ("wet and soft") layers alternate with brown ("dry and hard") layers - this will provide ventilation, speed up the process, and later on - a good texture of the finished compost. Never push or compact the contents as this will disrupt the composting process.

4. On top of each layer, you can add some earth or rotted herbivore manure to speed up the composting process. Garden centers sell special compost "accelerators" that you can use. The decomposition reaction is also catalyzed by freshly cut grass and legumes, which collect nitrogen in their root system. Significantly improve the quality of the finished compost plants rich in beneficial substances: nettle, comfrey, yarrow, dandelion and others.

5. Keep your composting system covered to maintain the correct moisture levels and keep warm. Plastic baskets usually already have a top, and for homemade wooden ones, you can use garden film, a piece of an old carpet, or something else. The ideal temperature for compost production is +55°C.

6. From time to time, the contents should be turned over, providing air access to the resulting compost

Rotating composters are a relatively recent invention. Such structures make it possible to produce compost in a short time (according to the producers, in 2-4 weeks) due to uniform distribution material and heat inside the container. The gardener is only required to rotate the structure twice a day, which is not at all difficult to do with the help of a special handle. The volume of this model is 340 liters. The price for it, unfortunately, remains too high: 300 British pounds (about 600 US dollars)

7. In dry weather (in open plank systems) or when brown materials predominate in the contents of the compost heap, the required moisture content of the compost should be maintained by watering. Avoid stagnant water in the compost system, this will disrupt the decomposition process

8. Unpleasant odors from the contents of the compost bin indicate that something is broken and the process is going wrong. The smell of ammonia (ammonia) or rotten eggs indicates an excessive amount of nitrogen-containing (green) substances in the compost heap and a lack of oxygen. In this case, carbonaceous (brown) materials must be added.

If you did everything right, after a few months the contents of the compost pile should turn brown and have a fresh, sweet smell of earth - signs that your compost is ready for use in the garden. If you filled the system gradually (which is most likely with an established continuous production), then you should start choosing the finished compost from the bottom. Higher layers will thus move down, making room at the top for new material.