These really are worrying times for our good old planet earth. Everyday, we hear a news story about global warming, dwindling resources are causing conflicts, there are more people lacking basic supplies than people having a comfortable lifestyle, animal and plant species are disappearing ... Read review
Advantages: Turn rubbish into something really useful Disadvantages: Some work needed
These really are worrying times for our good old planet earth. Everyday, we hear a news story about global warming, dwindling resources are causing conflicts, there are more people lacking basic supplies than people having a comfortable lifestyle, animal and plant species are disappearing before we even know of their existence… I could go on, but you get the picture, I'm sure.
In the face of all this devastation, we understandably ... ...there is little that individuals can do. In fact, some of these issues are so complex that we can sometimes make things worse by trying to improve them. We probably all know in the back of our mind that we need to make changes, but we are not sure where to start, or we feel it is too much of an effort, or we are not prepared to give up what we have.
To this already dark picture, I would like to add a little known problem, but one which ... more
These really are worrying times for our good old planet earth. Everyday, we hear a news story about global warming, dwindling resources are causing conflicts, there are more people lacking basic supplies than people having a comfortable lifestyle, animal and plant species are disappearing before we even know of their existence… I could go on, but you get the picture, I'm sure.
In the face of all this devastation, we understandably feel overwhelmed. After all, these are global problems, and there is little that individuals can do. In fact, some of these issues are so complex that we can sometimes make things worse by trying to improve them. We probably all know in the back of our mind that we need to make changes, but we are not sure where to start, or we feel it is too much of an effort, or we are not prepared to give up what we have.
To this already dark picture, I would like to add a little known problem, but one which has far reaching consequences, that of soil erosion. When you hear those words, they may bring to mind pictures of land getting washed away where the Amazon forest once was, or some other such global disaster. However this phenomenon affects Europe too, although to a much lesser extent. Its effects and causes are too complex to enter into in a review about the humble composter, but let's just say that combined with soil impoverishment, it could prove a threat to our very existence.
Now, this is going to sound very naïve and unrealistic, but to me it is a simple, logical concept. We are very busy most of the time taking resources from the planet, but we very rarely put something back. Soil can be considered a finite resource, as it took so long to produce. Now, I am not proposing to save the earth with a modest composter, that would sound a bit like when your mum told you to "eat your dinner as there are so many starving children in the world". I always wanted to reply "why don't you send it to them..." Of course, I now know that she was pointing out that waste is unacceptable when so many go without.
On the whole, I am an optimist, and although the state of our planet gets me down sometimes, I can't help but think we can do something about it. As far as I am concerned, a small change is easier to manage than turning your life around completely, it is more likely to be maintained, and it can bring many benefits. When you make your own compost, you are reducing your negative impact on the environment, and you are also having a positive effect. You will not regenerate the Amazon forest by composting, it's true, but you will lessen your contribution to landfill sites, to CO2 emissions caused by the collection and transport of rubbish, and you will produce your very own compost.
~Compost making in general~ **********************************
Compost making is not a new thing, but it has enjoyed a bit of a revival of late. I put this resurgence down to the advent of the composter. Before that, the only way to make compost was the 'heap'. Whilst it is still probably the best way to make compost, the compost heap has many disadvantages that don't really sit well with modern life. For a compost heap to work, you need it to be fairly big, as the heat thus generated is a big part of the process. If I was to use this method, most of my garden would be taken over by compost making. And you also need a fairly big garden to produce enough waste to feed such a monster. You have to be prepared to wait 2 years to see the results of your work. Now that's ok if you have done this before and you know it will work, but for a beginner compost-maker, this could be a little disheartening, waiting all this time with nothing to show for it. And of course, let's not hide our heads in the sand, (and whatever we do, let's not hide our heads in the compost heap!!!) there are one or two side effects with a compost heap that can discourage the most dedicated eco-warrior. You know, what I'm talking about, that's right, flies and smells… I know I would only be prepared to tolerate this if I had a huge garden, where I was able to spare an out-of-the-way corner, and no neighbours nearby.
~Composters~ ******************
So, enter the composter… These come in many shapes and forms, I was amazed to see just how many models there are when researching this review. If you want to check this out for yourself, enter the word 'composter' into a search engine. In this review, I will be talking about the only one I have any experience of, which is a black, plastic, truncated cone shape with a tight fitting lid. It also has a handy hatch at the front for when you only want to take out some of the compost. I think the principles are fairly universal.
As I have explained above, there are many benefits to composting, and many advantages for the average person to using a composter. Which one you choose is a matter for yourself, although you should be aware that prices vary greatly. If you are composting mainly as a way to reduce your negative impact on the environment, then you should of course choose a bin made of recycled plastic (or you could make you own out of wood). One that has a tight fitting lid will help reduce smell leakage and will keep flies and other pests away. Your bin should be heavy enough not to blow away, as it will probably be a while before there is enough waste inside to keep it firmly down. I could be wrong about this, but I feel a black composter helps to absorb ambient heat into the compost. You can buy composters online or from garden centres and DIY stores, but if your local council is trying to encourage composting, they might sell them at a good price.
~What do I have to do?~ ****************************
The process itself is fairly simple, but there are a few rules to follow. A composter will turn your kitchen and garden waste into beautiful, useful compost without you having to do very much.~Do~
Place your composter on well drained soil, in a sunny spot if you can.
Make sure the soil below your bin is loose, to allow drainage and permit your friendly neighbourhood worms to enter.
If you have made compost before, use some of your previous batch at the bottom of the new batch to introduce the necessary bacteria. If not, you could use manure or simply kitchen waste.
Use a good mix of waste material and add them in layers, 5 to 15 cm deep.
It helps if you turn the material in the bin over once in a while, as air is a necessary part of the process.
~Don't~
Add meat, raw or cooked, as the smell can attract rats.
Put in disposable nappies, used paper hankies, human and cat or dog excrement, as they can carry diseases which aren't always destroyed in a compost bin, as these don't get nearly as hot as compost heaps.
Let your compost dry out or get too wet.
Add too many grass cuttings. Although these are very good in small quantities, as they contain nitrogen which acts as an activator, if you put in thick layers, these will turn to slime and it is not the result you want… I find letting them dry out a little first works well.
~What can I compost?~ ***************************A wide range of things is the answer to that, and I will list a few to give you an idea.
vegetable and fruit peelings, or fruit and vegetable that have gone off
tea leaves, coffee grounds and egg shells (egg boxes too for that matter)
hair, yours or your pet's
animal manure and droppings, but stick to vegetarian pets only.
the contents of your dustpan or vacuum cleaner, as long as you don't have synthetic carpets.
garden waste, but avoid weeds as the seeds are not always killed by the composting process. I know some weeds are OK, such as nettles, but you need to be sure, or your lovely compost will turn out to be nothing but a breeding ground for weed. Avoid anything too woody as it takes a long time to break down.
~My experience~ ********************
I have made perhaps 3 or 4 batches of compost. I found it took a little trial and error to manage it well. The first couple of times, there was always a sticky moment, when I felt the awful mess in the compost bin would never turn to compost. But before I knew it, bingo, the magic took place and I had beautiful, dark, and not at all smelly compost. The whole thing takes between 3 and 6 months from start to finish, with winter batches being the slowest to breakdown. I find it a real joy to make something useful out of my rubbish, and the process is an endless source of fascination to me. We have bought a double-bin from the "rationell" range at IKEA which slides out, the front bin being for our kitchen waste. This is a really useful thing to have, as the lid keeps in any possible odour, and it allows you to put a fair amount in the composter at one time, thus saving you having to go out all the time and also allowing faster composting, as the more you put in at once, the quicker it composts. I now have two composters, one I put the waste in, the other already fairly full I leave to turn to compost.
Before you attempt this for yourself however, you need to be aware that it is not just a matter of throwing stuff in a different bin from your usual. One thing I find a bit of a pain is turning the compost over. I now take off the bin and mix the compost before putting it back in the bin. I have also found that you can get the occasional whiff, but only rarely and only when in the vicinity of the bin. However, you might prefer not to put it directly under a window for instance. And whilst flies have not been a problem, there are lots of tiny fly-like things in the bin at time. Oh, and another things: potato peelings might be a big source of waste, but be aware that if you compost them, you might have lots of little potato plants growing in your garden!
~The compost itself~ ************************
The volume of the finished product you obtain is of course a lot less than what you put in. The compost is ready when you cannot see any of the things you put in anymore. By then it should be a lovely shade of brown, crumbly and should have no unpleasant smell.
If you are a keen gardener, there is a lot you could use this for. You can dig it into the ground as it will improve the texture of any kind of soil. If you soil is sandy, it will help it stick together and slow over-drainage. If on the other hand you have a clay-based soil, compost will open it up, make it lighter to work and allow better drainage and aeration. Whatever your soil, it will act as a slow release fertiliser.
If you are a fair-weather gardener like me, you can use this stuff as mulch. Just spread it thickly on a patch of soil, and it will retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing. The worms will eventually do your work for you and dig it into the soil.
If your compost is very well processed, you could even use it as potting compost.
In conclusion, I would say that despite some minor inconveniences, I enjoy making compost. I think anyone can do it, as exemplified by many a primary school across the country, as long as you have a little bit of ground. It is one of the simple ways in which we can regain control of our environment, and if you get into the habit now, it will save you a fortune when they start charging for waste collection by weight or some other waste-reducing scheme is implemented.
~Sources~ *************** Blackwall leaflet: "Getting the best from your composter" http://soilerosion.net/ Alan Tichmarsh, "How to be a gardener", book one.
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