Site preparation and composting

Regardless of whether the compost is laid in a log or a plain heap, it is necessary to prepare a platform, which then can be laid with layers of prepared material. To do this, you need to delineate the boundaries of the proposed site, from the entire area choose the soil to a depth of at least 30 cm and set it aside. Soil will be needed to create intermediate layers when laying material in the compost and for

. There is a place for a small compost pile in any garden. It can look quite decorative if you plant a curly nasturtium or a pumpkin nearby, the massive leaves of which will create a shade of

for the compost. At the bottom of the pit, it is necessary to make a drainage layer of coarse organic material, for example shredded wood trimmings and fibrous stems, which will filter out excess moisture and provide ventilation. On light sandy soils, it is recommended to lay a layer of clay soil on the bottom of the pit to prevent compost subsidence and the immediate penetration of nutrients from the compost into the lower soil layers. After the preparation of the site is complete, you can begin laying the raw materials for composting. Well-ground raw materials should be laid in layers of 10-15 cm, while carefully mixing such subtle organic remains as kitchen waste, grass, foliage, with coarser material. To prevent caking and the appearance of rotting processes due to inadequate air access, wet kitchen waste or mowed grass should be mixed with larger dry constituents. In addition, as already noted, the complex combination of different types of material, large and small, animal and vegetable, rich in protein and containing carbon, allows to achieve the optimum ratio of carbon( C) and nitrogen( N) in the compost and serves as a pledge of favorable decomposition. In a homogeneous tab, for example, only a "fatty" material containing protein( kitchen waste, fresh grass, sideral plants), the decomposition process will proceed extremely slowly because of the poor composition of the raw materials, and the occurrence of rotting processes is not ruled out. Layers of household and garden waste should be alternated with soil layers;manure or bird droppings. Compost also recommends adding additional materials: pulverized silica, lime, bone and clay flour. These additives enrich compost with valuable nutrients and serve to some extent as decomposition catalysts. The last layers of the laid compost should be soil and a thick layer of coarse mulching material, straw or foliage, acting as an air cushion to prevent overheating of the compost and retaining excess water in case of waterlogging. It is also recommended to cover the compost with reed mats or a perforated film, but in any case the coating should have a porous structure so as not to limit the gas exchange processes in the compost. To protect from direct sunlight and rain, you can build a canopy of boards.