PDC LESSON 7.10 COMPOST - MATERIAL TO AVOID – LAYERING THE HEAP

 

PERMACULTURE COURSE AGRO-ECONOMY

PDC LESSON 7.10 COMPOST - MATERIAL TO AVOID – LAYERING THE HEAP

Material to avoid in the compost

Fats and oils

Weeds with seed unless it’s a thermophilic compost; Diseased plants.

Chemically treated wood products.

Coal or charcoal ash.

Dog and cat poo unless it’s a separate compost.

Typical example of available material for a good compost mix.1 bucket moist kitchen waste.

½ bucket old horse manure mixed with straw.

2 wheel barrows with old plants from the garden, shredded.

1 bag of hedge clippings, shredded.

Layering the Heap

On the ground lay some coarse material such as old corn stalks, then some greens from the gardens such as comfrey, weeds, or spent plants. These two layers are a great start for the bottom of the pile. Begin to layer with some manure, roadkill or offal from a home kill and add some more comfrey leaves, nettle or lucerne etc. more manure, urine, and or kitchen waste. These bottom layers will make up a good foundation for the new compost heap as the furnace for the compost. The most intense activity will begin from there and radiate out throughout the heap. The course stalks will allow air to come through the heap and will allow the aerobic bacteria to thrive. It’s crucial to wet down each layer thoroughly or soak the material in water prior to assembling the heap. You can add some diluted molasses to feed the microbes so they quickly increase in numbers.

Text from the roots, Elisabeth Ferkonia (Aus.) PDC studied with Bill Mollison,  #