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Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Composting
From the Latin word meaning "to bring together," composting is an excellent way to experience cycling of
nutrients up close. Composting is recycling at its best.
Yard clippings, spent plants, leaves, kitchen waste including egg
shells, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peelings, potassium
rich wood ash from the fire place, newspaper, paper towels
You can use any mechanism that collects the compost materials
in a convenient stack while providing air and space to turn the
pile. One of the easiest ways to make a bin is by rolling a few feet
of fence wire into a tube. Another approach is to construct old
shipping pallets into a box with one side hinged for ease of
opening and turning. Locate the bin in a convenient, protected
place with filtered light and access to water.
Layer carbon materials (brown stuff) such as straw, sawdust, dead leaves, chipped twigs with nitrogen materials
(green stuff) such as grass clippings, kitchen waste and worm castings. Then moisten the stack with a little
water to the consistency of a damp sponge. This will create a habitat for microorganisms ready to start the
process of decomposition, converting the compost materials to humus. Turn the pile frequently to keep it aerated
and watch the community of decomposers develop within. Nematodes, mites, springtails, spiders, centipedes,
pill bugs, beetles, and earthworms will join fungi and microbes already present in the pile. An active
pile will turn into humus within three to six months. This humus can then be applied to your garden as a fertile
soil or natural fertilizer.
Symptom: unwanted pests.
Cause: addition of waste such as meat, bones, dairy products, grease.
Solution: remove such items from the pile; bury any food scraps deep within the pile to discourage raiding. Insect pests such as flies or maggots can be controlled by turning
the pile to encourage high temperatures to kill larvae.
Symptom: unpleasant odor.
Cause: not enough oxygen, too much nitrogen, or too much water.
Solution: turn the compost pile to aerate. Add carbon.
Symptom: won't heat up.
Cause: many causes.
Solution: change the mix ratio; turn to aerate; moisten; add manure or soil to introduce microorganisms.
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