PDC LESSON 7.11 COMPOST – THE COOL HEAP

 

PERMACULTURE COURSE AGRO-ECONOMY

PDC LESSON 7.11 COMPOST – THE COOL HEAP

The cool heap

Passive. Pile organic matter in a heap as material becomes available. Six months to two years for finished compost

Hot heap

Active. Manage the heap carefully to achieve heat and decomposition.

Compost Activators

If there isn’t any manure in the compost heap it may pay to add some activators. Urine, comfrey and yarrow, a roadkill or even some leftover meat are all good activators for the compost as they are high in nitrogen. A spade full mature compost also helps.

Common problems

The heap starts to smell unpleasant- too much nitrogen rich material, balance by adding dry straw and twigs. The heap could be getting anaerobic, not enough oxygen, turn the pile.

The compost heap is too dry-nothing seems to be rotting down-do you need an activator?

Compost will rot down to 40% of its original size.

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

 



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