Digging Deeper On Compost for a Thriving Garden
Guest Contributor: Cassey Anderson, Horticulture Agent, Colorado State University Extension
From backyard bins to vermiculture and countertop composters—discover the science behind composting and find the perfect system to turn your waste into garden gold!
Commercial compost, backyard systems, vermiculture, countertop composters, what do you need to know to understand these systems? Basically, composting is the process by which microorganisms and macroorganisms break down organic (things that were once alive) materials. This process occurs naturally, whether we encourage it along or not. In some places it may happen rapidly, in others, slowly. There are numerous factors in play that can contribute to composting such as moisture, temperature, aeration, micro- and macro-biota (i.e. the living things that help this process out). However, you may wonder how each system can work for you. Let’s look at some of the most common means composting occurs and discuss how they work, their pros and cons etc.
Commercial composting system
The most efficient and economical approach, but not one that can be achieved in an individual backyard setting. These systems usually work at the city or municipal level, bringing in material and household waste on a large scale. Commercial compost systems have a great advantage that they use a lot of material, so they can maintain high temperatures and turn over plant material into finished compost very rapidly. They get hot enough to kill pathogens and weed seeds, so can manage many issues that a backyard system may not be able to. However, they do require machinery, space, labor, and funds, and many municipal systems have not established one.
If you have one in your area, some commercial and municipal compost programs provide finished compost to the community. If you don’t have one, it could be worth reaching out to your local city or waste management organizations to see whether it could be an option in the future.
In yard composting
Probably one of the best known, but also occasionally with a bad (or stinky?) reputation, backyard compost systems can range from highly managed, to hardly touched. Backyard systems are inexpensive, local, and allow for substantial reduction in food and yard waste going to landfills. You can manage them actively and get workable compost in as little as 3 months, or you can let them go and harvest every few years. Be aware of what you put into a backyard system as fats, meats etc. can attract unwanted yard pests and may lead to growth of human pathogens that we don’t want in our landscapes. For more on getting started with a backyard compost system, check out our Composting 101 post here.
Vermiculture
For those of you who are gardening on a smaller scale, perhaps in a very small yard, on a large porch, or inside, you may have a much smaller amount of compost to manage. This is where a vermiculture system could shine. Vermiculture uses a beneficial worker worm, called a red wriggler (Eisenia fetida), layered with food and shredded paper or newspaper, to break down plant and food waste in a small, dark space. Systems can purchased, or set up in a small Rubbermaid-style container and housed under the sink or in another dark space. Red wrigglers can eat up to ¼ of their body weight in food each day, but you must check that they have eaten the available food before adding more. One great advantage of using a worm bin is that there is little to no odor throughout the process unlike a compost pail that may smell or attract fruit flies in just a day or two. There are numerous incredible resources from Extension services around the nation detailing how to set up your very own worm composting setup. It can be a fun science experiment for kids too!
Countertop composters
A newer option for composting that has come about recently is the countertop style composter. These machines will often chop and heat food scraps to simulate the composting process. Often the product that comes out is a great starting point to a compost, but it is not a finished product and likely does not have any of the live microbes that can help make compost such a powerhouse for our plants and our landscapes. However, if it helps you to reduce the amount of food scraps and plant material that go into the landfill, it can be a good option. Just bear in mind that it is not a point at which you should add the material to container or your garden.
In the end, these all help return nutrient-dense plant waste into a form that can be used, and help to divert yard waste from landfills. If you can use multiple sources, that’s awesome. If you have a community space that could be used for multiple households and you can use it, go for it! Let’s save our scraps to help reduce landfill contributions and help feed our plants in the process!
As always, reach out to your local Extension office with additional questions and for further resources. Happy composting!
Gardening in Colorado? Check out Grow & Give www.growandgivecolorado.org and in particular our Colorado Vegetable Guide https://growgive.extension.colostate.edu/colorado-vegetable-guide/ for more crop information on all of the above plants.
What if every gardener planted just one extra plant to share?
One small donation can have a tremendous impact. Just imagine, if every gardener planted one extra plant to share, collectively, we would have an abundant source of fresh, healthy produce available to be distributed to families experiencing food insecurity in our own communities! The free Fresh Food Connect mobile app connects you to a local hunger relief program, then manages and tracks your donations of homegrown produce throughout the season. Download the app today!
