As a sustainable farm, composting is an important part of what we do. Composting is a way to allow organic materials to biodegrade so that the resulting material, compost, can be used to fertilize crops, since compost has many of the nutrients that plants need to grow. Unlike using artificial fertilizer, composting adds nutrients to the soil in a natural way, using microorganisms that are already in the soil. Composting is done by both microorganisms and larger organisms like earthworms.
There are two kinds of processes that produce compost: anaerobic decomposition (without oxygen) and aerobic (with oxygen). When anaerobic decomposition takes place in nature, it usually takes place in places with low oxygen levels, like the muds at the bottom of marshes. Aerobic decomposition, on the other hand, takes place where there is sufficient oxygen, like ground surfaces like the forest floor. A couple differences between anaerobic and aerobic decomposition are that anaerobic decomposition often gives off unpleasant odors and doesn’t give off much heat; whereas aerobic decomposition gives off no odors and releases a great deal of heat.
Several requirements for efficient composting include aeration, moisture, particle size, and temperature. Aeration is important to allow aerobic decomposition to take place, since aerobic decomposition is quicker than anaerobic, and doesn’t allow foul odors to develop like with anaerobic. Moisture is also important, because a dry compost pile won’t biodegrade very well. There should be enough water that the compost is damp but not soggy, because too much water can create anaerobic conditions. Also, grinding the organic material into smaller particles can reduce the time it takes to biodegrade the compost. The smaller the size of the particles of the compost, the more quickly the microbes can break down the compost. Finally, temperature is important to ensuring proper decomposition of compost. Lower temperatures slow down decomposition, while higher temperatures speed it up.
Many different types of organisms help to break down compost. The most important ones are bacteria. The bacteria present in a compost pile depend on the raw material present, the amount of moisture in the pile, the amount of oxygen in the pile, the temperature in the pile, and various other factors. Compost normally contains a large number and wide variety of bacteria, fungi, molds, and other organisms.
There are two kinds of processes that produce compost: anaerobic decomposition (without oxygen) and aerobic (with oxygen). When anaerobic decomposition takes place in nature, it usually takes place in places with low oxygen levels, like the muds at the bottom of marshes. Aerobic decomposition, on the other hand, takes place where there is sufficient oxygen, like ground surfaces like the forest floor. A couple differences between anaerobic and aerobic decomposition are that anaerobic decomposition often gives off unpleasant odors and doesn’t give off much heat; whereas aerobic decomposition gives off no odors and releases a great deal of heat.
Several requirements for efficient composting include aeration, moisture, particle size, and temperature. Aeration is important to allow aerobic decomposition to take place, since aerobic decomposition is quicker than anaerobic, and doesn’t allow foul odors to develop like with anaerobic. Moisture is also important, because a dry compost pile won’t biodegrade very well. There should be enough water that the compost is damp but not soggy, because too much water can create anaerobic conditions. Also, grinding the organic material into smaller particles can reduce the time it takes to biodegrade the compost. The smaller the size of the particles of the compost, the more quickly the microbes can break down the compost. Finally, temperature is important to ensuring proper decomposition of compost. Lower temperatures slow down decomposition, while higher temperatures speed it up.
Many different types of organisms help to break down compost. The most important ones are bacteria. The bacteria present in a compost pile depend on the raw material present, the amount of moisture in the pile, the amount of oxygen in the pile, the temperature in the pile, and various other factors. Compost normally contains a large number and wide variety of bacteria, fungi, molds, and other organisms.
One form of composting that people can do in their homes is called vermicomposting, which is the biodegradation of organic material by worms, such as earthworms or red wigglers. The waste from the worms, called worm castings, is high in nutrients and is an excellent natural fertilizer. Average people can even purchase worm bins for their homes, and once you have worms and some starting organic material for the worms to eat, you’ll be ready to start vermicomposting. A couple tips: you need to make sure the worm bin is balanced between carbon-rich (paper, cardboard, dryer lint, etc.) and nitrogen-rich (fruit and vegetable scraps) organic matter. Also, there are certain foods that worms don’t like to eat. For example, citrus fruits are poisonous to worms, and worms also avoid garlic.
We encourage you to do your own composting, perhaps starting by having a worm bin to use at your house. If you have the room for it on your property, you can also start an outdoor compost pile. Composting helps the earth, and we hope you do your part to repurpose food waste and create healthy, sustainable soil!
We encourage you to do your own composting, perhaps starting by having a worm bin to use at your house. If you have the room for it on your property, you can also start an outdoor compost pile. Composting helps the earth, and we hope you do your part to repurpose food waste and create healthy, sustainable soil!
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