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These articles are based on presentations made by Ms. Rhonda Sherman, Extension Specialist in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University, USA; and Mr. Kelvin Craig, Country Coordinator of the Partners of Americas Farmer-to-Farmer programme . Why compost food scraps?
IF you use food scraps in your compost, you will not throw them into the garbage, where they get smelly and attract pests.
When you throw out your garbage, it goes to landfills, and these are noxious entities that pollute the air and the water; and food scraps in particular make the water and air emissions more toxic.
The very powerful methane gas is generated in landfills, and methane is more powerful than carbon dioxide, being linked the most with global climate change.
Landfills create a really toxic juice that can contaminate ground and even surface water; hence it is really good to keep your food waste and trimmings out of landfills.
Other benefits of composting
In Guyana, we know what the garbage situation is. So if everyone takes out the compostable materials from the garbage that they would normally send off each week, it would reduce the bulk that they send off to the landfill, and put less strain on the system.
You not only reduce the amount of garbage that is going out to the landfills, but also, at the same time, you get compost — a by-product that is good, and that is a win-win situation;
There is also the commercial aspect. Not everyone is going to want to make compost, so if you are living in an area with 100 homes, and 10% of the people there want to do composting and the rest don’t want to, they can take out their organic matter, put it in a bag for you to pick up, and you can build your compost.
You can either use it for gardening, or sell it to other gardeners and make some money.
If there are drains near where you live, and these are blocked by weeds, you can pull those weeds out of the drains and use them as composting materials.
What do I do first?
What you do first is that you determine what you are going to do, based on your goals.
Most people make compost because they want to raise more food in their backyards; and so, by making compost, they are putting something there that will suppress diseases and make their plants grow stronger.
In starting a compost pile or bin, it is best to do an inventory of the materials you generate. Are you going to have a single bin, or are you going to have a large pile?
It all depends on the space you have, how much waste you generate, as well as the degree of effort you are willing to put into the process. Composting doesn’t require a lot of effort. If you are producing and selling organic foods, then you would probably want to put a little more effort into your compost.
Where do I put the pile or bin?
Your compost pile or bin should be set up in a flat, open space that is protected from runoff and flooding. It should be more than two feet away from your home or wooden structures, yet easily accessible. Keep the areas in front of and above the pile or bin clear, so you can work with it without difficulty. The pile ought to be in a shaded area to help it retain moisture, whereas an enclosed bin should be placed in the sun. It must be within reach of a garden hose, as you would need to water it frequently.
How do I compost?
There are two basic styles of composting: (1) Single Batch, where materials are added all at once to form a pile. This method provides the most efficient and the quickest results; and (2) the continuous pile, where you add organic materials as they become available.
Helpful composting tools
A digging fork, watering hose with a spray head, and a square-end shovel or machete are helpful to have for composting. A wheelbarrow or cart can be used to move compost to areas where it will be used.
NEXT WEEK: How to build a compost pile
