Organic waste composting has a long history Prior Organic waste ...

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Organic waste composting has a long history. history Prior to the concentration of cities, waste, which used to be almost entirely organic, was either burned for fuel, used d as crop fertilizers, f tili or fed f d to t livestock. li t k

As populations became concentrated in larger towns and cities, waste heaps also grew. Organic waste was not as useful in this situation and was referred to as “garbage”

The concept of composting is intertwined with the development of agriculture as a whole.

Compost improves soil structure, texture and aeration while increasing the soil’s water holding capacity. Compost loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils retain water. Adding compost to soils also assists in erosion control,, p promotes soil fertility, and stimulates healthy root development in plants.

30% of each US household’s household s trash consists of yard clippings & kitchen scraps.

Composting at home REDUCES your personal volume of trash, conserves water, increases plant growth and replaces the need for harsh chemical fertilizers & pesticides.

Composting REDUCES your generation of trash. After reducing the volume, you can REUSE the compost in your yard. Then the compost RECYCLES nutrients back into the soil and plant life. Increased plant growth helps to RESTORE health to our neighborhoods.

In building a compost pile pile, you are speeding up the natural process of decomposition. Whether it is a hot or cold ld pile, il jjustt th the ffactt th thatt you are providing a mixture of carbon and nitrogen materials means that you will get finished compost quicker than if left to nature.

VEGETABLE PEELINGS & KITCHEN SCRAPS

FRUIT SKINS

PET MANURES & BEDDING

DEAD FLOWERS

CITRUS PEELS

COFFEE GROUNDS DECIDUOUS HEDGE CLIPPINGS

VEGETABLE SCRAPS & CROP RESIDUES TEA BAGS

CONIFER CLIPPINGS

WEEDS NETTLES TORN PAPER & CARDBOARD

GRASS CLIPPINGS

DO NOT COMPOST: MEAT FAT BONES POULTRY FISH DAIRY PRODUCTS

BROWNS

GREENS

MOISTURE

OXYGEN

You need to p provide a balance of wet,, GREEN,, nitrogen-producing materials (grass clippings, food scraps, manures) and dry, BROWN, carbon-producing items (dry leaves leaves, straw straw, woody materials)

A Sa Sample p e “Recipe” ec pe 6 parts 3 parts 3 parts

Dry Leaves Food Scraps Fresh Grass Clippings

ADD: Rainwater and an occasional turning

Browns Greens Greens

Source: USEPA

TYPES OF COMPOST UNITS:

Synthetic Fertilizers provide quick jolts of nutrition to the plant roots, but in the process they also disturb roots from developing naturally

MULCH: Compost

METHOD:

Water plants before applying mulch then water again after mulch, D G Dry Grass Cli Clippings i mulching. The thickness Straw of the application depends on the th material t i l th thatt Dry Leaves you are using. Wood Chips

By composting at home and providing idi proper, chemicalh i l free nutrients to your plants, yyou can be support pp a healthy y habitat for our local wildlife, flora and fauna

AVOID EXOTIC AND INVASIVE PLANT VARIETIES

IF A PLANT REQUIRES LARGE AMOUNTS OF FERTILIZER WATER AND MAINTENANCE TO KEEP IT FERTILIZER, ALIVE, YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT PLANTING IT IN YOUR YARD.

NATIVE PLANTS ARE SUITED TO OUR AREA AND CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT EXCESS WATER AND CHEMICALS

When planning a landscape, try to create areas that will welcome local wildlife to your yard. yard BE SURE TO INCLUDE: Pl t for Plants f food f d * Water W t sources Shelter * Places to raise young

SOURCES: Backyard Composting

Harmonious Technologies

Compost This Book!

Tom Christopher & Marty Asher

The Rodale Book of Composting

Rodale Press

Hands on Gardener Composting Hands-

Liz Ball

USEPA Ocean County Master Composter Program

RESOURCES: How to Compost

Lars Hundley

Learn How to Compost

Margette Riley

The Rodale Book of Composting

Rodale Press

Hands on Gardener Composting Hands-

Liz Ball

Composting in a Nutshell

Stephen Stone