Composting 101

Composting 101: Start Your Own Organic Compost Pile This Spring

Composting is an easy and eco-friendly way to recycle kitchen scraps and garden waste, creating nutrient-rich soil for your garden, for free! By starting a compost pile this spring, you’ll have rich organic material ready to boost your plants’ health in no time. Here’s a simple guide to help get you on your way to soulful soil.

Step 1: Choose Your Composting Spot

Pick a location that’s easily accessible but out of direct view, like a corner of your garden. Make sure it's on bare soil for good drainage and to allow worms and beneficial organisms to move in. If space is limited, you can use a compost bin or tumbler, which are made in all manner of accessible shapes and sizes these days.

Step 2: Layering the Right Materials

Successful composting relies on a balance of "green" and "brown" materials. Green materials are nitrogen-rich, such as fruit and veggie scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds. Brown materials are carbon-rich, including leaves, straw, shredded uncoated paper, and cardboard.

Aim for a ratio of about 3 parts browns to 1 part greens. Start your pile with a layer of browns (like leaves or straw) to allow air circulation.

Step 3: Keep It Aerated

Composting requires oxygen to break down the materials properly. Turn your compost pile every couple of weeks with a garden fork or shovel to keep it aerated. This also helps prevent odours and speeds up the decomposition process.

Step 4: Maintain Moisture

Your compost should be moist but not soaking wet—think of a damp sponge. If it’s too dry, add a little water. If it’s too wet, add more brown materials like dry leaves or cardboard.

Step 5: Be Patient and Let Nature Do the Work

Depending on the size of your pile and how often you turn it, your compost could be ready in as little as 3 months, or it may take up to a year. You’ll know it’s ready when the material is dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling, with no recognisable food or plant scraps.

What to Avoid Composting:

• Meat, dairy, and fats (they attract pests and take longer to decompose)
• Diseased plants or weeds that have gone to seed
• Glossy paper, plastic, or synthetic materials

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating your own nutrient-packed compost this spring. Not only will you reduce waste, but your garden will thank you with healthier, more vibrant plants and you'll never need to purchase pre-made compost again.

**Biodynamic Preparations**

Once you're sorted with composting 101, biodynamic composting takes traditional composting to the next level by incorporating specific preparations and practices aimed at enriching the compost with life force and boosting soil health. Here are some key inclusions and methods used in biodynamic composting.

Biodynamic composting uses specific herbal preparations to enhance microbial life and nutrient activity in the compost pile. These preparations include yarrow, chamomile, stinging nettle, oak bark, dandelion, and valerian. Each one plays a unique role in balancing the elements within the compost.

- Yarrow (BD 502): Encourages sulfur and potassium activity in the soil.

- Chamomile (BD 503): Helps stabilize nitrogen and enhances plant nutrient uptake.

- Stinging Nettle (BD 504): Provides essential iron and aids in nutrient circulation.

- Oak Bark (BD 505): Brings in calcium and helps control plant diseases.

- Dandelion (BD 506): Stimulates potassium absorption and balances plant growth.

- Valerian (BD 507): Increases phosphorus availability and protects against frost.

Cow Horn Manure (BD 500):

A key element in biodynamic farming, BD 500 involves filling a cow horn with manure, burying it in the soil over winter, and then later mixing the decomposed contents with water. This is then sprayed on the compost or soil to enhance root development and soil structure.

Animal Inclusion:

Biodynamic compost piles often include animal manure, typically cow manure, as it is considered highly beneficial due to its microbial richness. The manure is layered with plant material in the compost, creating a balanced mixture that promotes a healthy decomposition process.

 Cosmic Rhythms:

Biodynamic practices align with cosmic rhythms, particularly the lunar cycle. Compost is often turned or worked on during specific phases of the moon to encourage stronger microbial activity and decomposition, creating a nutrient-rich, life-filled compost for your garden.

These inclusions add a rich layer of vitality to your compost, making it not just a soil amendment, but a living organism itself that can greatly enhance plant health, soil fertility, and the overall ecosystem of your garden.