Compost System

The Natural Builder P.O. Box 855 Montrose, CO 81402 Phone/Fax: 970-249-8821 The Natural Builder offers on-site construction help, consulting and workshops related to natural plasters, earthen floors, monolithic adobe (cob), straw-bale and other green building projects.  We also authored The Natural Builder book series on Earthen Construction, Monolithic Adobe, and Earth and Mineral Plasters.  These books are available at our web site:  www.naturalbuilder.com.

COMPOST SYSTEM CONTENTS:

DEFINITION
CONSIDERATIONS
COMMERCIAL STATUS
IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
GUIDELINES

1) Commercially available prefabricated compost bins
2) Site-built compost area
3) Vermiculture
4) Suitable materials

RESOURCES

PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE
COMPONENTS / MATERIALS / SYSTEMS
GENERAL ASSISTANCE

Compost is created by the decomposition of organic matter such as yard waste. Compost systems confine compost so that it can receive air and create suitable temperatures for proper decomposition into fertilizer.

Landscape waste amounts to about 129,000 tons per year in Austin. This volume of material if composted could create 77,000 tons of fertilizer. Composting results in: (a) saving landfill space, (b) saving energy for transporting the material, and (c) the creation of a high quality fertilizer at the location where it can be used (thereby again saving energy). In addition, plastic garbage bags are saved.

Animal-based food products should not used to create compost. The compost system should function without odors or difficult labor. Prefabricated composting bin systems are available commercially and can function well with minimal maintenance.

Vermiculture, or composting using worms, can be accomplished as an alternative approach to traditional composting methods. Guidance is available from trained persons in Austin.

	Commercial Status				Implementation Issues
Compost System

Legend
	Satisfactory
	Satisfactory in most conditions
	Satisfactory in Limited Conditions
	Unsatisfactory or Difficult

TECHNOLOGY:

SUPPLIERS:

COST:

FINANCING:

PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE:

REGULATORY:

• Require little or no site preparation.

• They are placed at a convenient outdoor location with easy access and low visibility.

• Different composting techniques may be used with different prefabricated units. Follow suppliers instructions.

• Wire, wood slats, discarded pallets, and blocks or bricks can be used.

• It is important to choose materials or designs that provide air circulation to the compost. The Master Composter Program (listed in Resources Section) offers technical assistance and plans.

• The footprint of a site built compost system should be 4 to 5 feet square.

• The pile will attain about 4 feet in height and will need to have sides to approximately the same height.

  2.1 Composting Guidelines

  • Select a level area near a water source that receives an equal amount of sun and shade.

  • Remove the sod or grass to expose the dirt in the spot where the compost will be placed.
  • Use 3 to 6 inches of coarse materials such as branches, leaves, straw as the bottom layer. These are high carbon materials, that provide for air circulation from the bottom of the pile.

  • The next layer should include high nitrogen materials such as grass clippings or manure. This is added to a depth of 6 inches.

    Repeat the sequence of alternating carbon materials ("browns") and nitrogen materials ("greens").

  • The pile is turned every couple of weeks and kept damp, not soggy. Less turning of the pile slows the decomposition time. A little soil can be added to "inoculate" the mix with healthy microorganisms.

  2.2 Characteristics

  • The pile will settle and approach 160 degrees F. in the center while decomposing.

  • Adding lime, wood ashes, or crushed eggshells will neutralize acids that may cause odors.

  • Mix grass clippings and leaves with other materials. Leaves and grass clippings tend to mat and inhibit air needed for decomposition.

  • Keep the pile covered with a top layer of grass clippings or leaves. This will help prevent insect problems.

  • To avoid the labor of turning, organic materials can simply be piled up and left. Decomposition will still occur although at a slower rate.

• Worms will consume food scraps and paper faster than bacteria.

• Dampened newspaper or cardboard scraps are added with food waste.

• Kits can be purchased or instructions are available to do it yourself. (see Resources)

unprocessed or uncooked kitchen scraps (usually trimmings from vegetable preparation, used coffee grinds, etc.)
leaves (rich in trace minerals);
alfalfa and clover (rich in nitrogen);
sawdust (good soil builder but slows decomposition);
garden residue;
weeds (use "green", some seeds may survive);
grass clippings (will mat without mixing in other materials);
nut shells,
hair (very high in nitrogen);
other (feathers, floor sweepings, pine needles, tobacco without filters, wood ashes, cotton, wool, pure silk, natural material clothing, rugs, and wood scraps.).
Do not use meat, dairy products, grease, bones, fatty foods or cat litter.

Master Composter Certification/Training
Carol Hurst
Austin Community Gardens
4814 Sunshine Drive
Austin TX 78756
(512) 459-2125

Travis County Agricultural Extension Service
1600-B Smith Road
Austin, TX 78721
(512) 4 73-9600

Good Company Associates
Bill Carter
308-B Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-1913

Callahan's General Store
501 Bastrop Hwy
Austin TX 78741
(512) 385-3452
Prefabricated bins

Gardenville
8648 Old Bee Caves Road
Austin, Texas 78735
Prefabricated bins and technical advice

Breed & Company Garden Shop
718 W. 29th
Austin Texas 78705
(512) 474-7058
Compost books and bins

ECO-WISE
110 W. Elizabeth
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 326-4496
Prefabricated bins

Real Goods Trading Co.
966 Mazzoni St.
Ukiah, CA 95482-3471
(800) 762-7325
Prefabricated bins

Gardener's Supply Co.
128 Intervall Rd.
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 660-3506
Prefabricated bins

Austin Area Garden Center
2220 Barton Springs Rd.
Austin, TX 78746
(512)477-8672

Texas Solid Waste/Recycling Information Clearinghouse
P. O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711
(800) 458-9796

Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Research Center
17360 Coit
Dallas, TX 75252
(214) 231-5362

Austin Organic Garden Club
Tim Miller, President
737 Opal Lane
Kyle, TX 78640
(512)458-2009 (daytime # in Austin)

Texas Department of Agriculture
P. O. Box 12487
Austin, TX 78711
Brent Wisemann
(512) 475-1641

Texas Water Commission
Clean Texas 2000 Project
Recycling Division
PO Box 13087
78711-3087
(512)834-6682

The BioCycle Guide to Yard Waste Composting
BioCycle
Box 351
Emmaus, PA 18041
(215) 967-4135

The Composting Council
114 South Pitt Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703 739 2401
fax 703 739 2407
comcouncil@aol.com

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