Compost and Mulch

Composting helps the earth by diverting organic waste from landfills, reducing methane emissions, enriching soil with valuable nutrients, promoting healthy plant growth, and providing a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers.

Topsoil is the best for growing things. Landscaping is laying out plants and grass to make things look good. You want the topsoil so the plants will get the right mix of moisture and nutrients.

The addition of nutrient rich organic matter is the help that compost gives to the earth. Organic content in the soil encourages the passage of air and water. So at the same time, it encourages the well being of plants and the critters of the soil food web. Soil that has adequate air and water pore space, as well as appropriate levels of nutrients, is less likely to compact or erode. It therefore is more likely to be supportive to healthy plants and soil food web critters. Healthy plants tend to lead to healthier environments, without the rampant use of chemicals; and to healthier people in the process.

Landfills and compost piles are both places where organic waste decomposes. However, landfills are designed to store waste without oxygen, leading to anaerobic decomposition and the production of methane gas. In contrast, compost piles are aerated to promote aerobic decomposition, which breaks down organic matter into nutrient-rich compost.

Forty (40) pounds (18.14 kilograms) is the amount of compost that is needed to fill an empty bag of soil. A bag that intends to hold compost and soil may have just 8 pounds (3.63 kilograms) of compost and 32 pounds (14.52 kilograms) of soil. The general ratio of compost to soil tends not to rise above a maximum of 20 percent in most cases.

Composting will not eliminate landfills, but it can help reduce them in size.

Composting takes organic waste (like kitchen scraps and garden trimmings) out of landfills. If organic waste goes to landfill it often generates methane which, if not captured, is a dangerous greenhouse gas 21 times stronger than carbon dioxide.

Many local authorities are beginning organic waste collection schemes as part of their contribution to reducing global warming.

Vermiculite is a natural mineral that is found in various parts of the world, including countries like the United States, South Africa, China, Brazil, and Russia. It forms from the weathering of certain minerals like biotite and phlogopite.

A mix of browns (carbon-rich materials like dried leaves, straw, and paper) and greens (nitrogen-rich materials like food scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds) is ideal for composting. The soil used for composting should be well-aerated, have a balanced moisture level, and contain a diverse array of microorganisms to break down organic matter effectively. Avoid using soil that is too compacted or has been treated with pesticides or chemicals.

Clay can be added to compost in small amounts to help improve soil structure. It can also help retain moisture and nutrients. However, too much clay can cause the compost to become compacted and reduce air flow, so it's best used in moderation.

The addition of nutrient rich organic matter is the help that compost gives to the earth. Organic content in the soil encourages the passage of air and water. So at the same time, it encourages the well being of plants and the critters of the soil food web. Soil that has adequate air and water pore space, as well as appropriate levels of nutrients, is less likely to compact or erode. It therefore is more likely to be supportive to healthy plants and soil food web critters. Healthy plants tend to lead to healthier environments, without the rampant use of chemicals; and to healthier people in the process.

LESS than one thirty - second of it!

they break down the cellular materials, or digest it like your stomach digests food. this is the way a cow digests grass, they release heat and make nitrogen and carbon dioxide and use oxygen just like people do when they breathe, and their metabolism generates heat and carbon dioxide. :) yeast cells ferment when bread is made, they eat sugars in the bread dough and make alcohol, this causes the bread to rise from the carbon dioxide that is released, also bacteria in septic tanks yeast and enzymes also digest the paper and fecal matter, methane gas is generated, and heat is released, this is known as an exothermic reaction, which generates heat in the chemical reaction, the opposite of an endo thermic reaction where heat is needed to sustain the chemical reaction, such as sugar in iced tea, if the sugar is put in the hot tea it disolves rapidly, whereas it just lies there in the bottom of the glass when the tea is cold. :)

Moisture needs to be at 60-85%. Compostable material shouldn't be soggy or sopping wet. A 21"x15"x16" container could hold a week's worth of newspapers and 3-5 lbs of kitchen scraps. It wouldn't need more than a quart-sized watering container. The material needs to be moist, not soggy or sopping wet.

That it is considered a brown-colored, carbon-rich recyclable is a reason why compost rich in cellulose is likely to be poor in nitrogen. Dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic matter called compost or humus originates in and possesses carbon and nitrogen from respectively brown-colored, dead, decaying, dying and green-colored, living recyclables. The chemical formula for cellulose reveals contributions from carbon, hydrogen and oxygen: C6H10O5.

Oxygen can accelerate decay by enhancing the growth of aerobic bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter. This process is known as aerobic decomposition. Oxygen acts as a catalyst in this process by boosting the metabolic activity of these organisms, leading to faster decay of the material.

Some basic gardening tools include a trowel, a hand fork, pruning shears, and a garden hoe. These tools are essential for planting, weeding, pruning, and cultivating soil in a garden.

Yes, proteins can be composted. However, they decompose more slowly compared to other organic materials due to their complex structure. It is recommended to balance protein-rich materials with carbon-rich materials in the compost pile to facilitate decomposition.

Alternating layers of properly aerated and moistened carbon- and nitrogen-rich recyclables is the need that microbes have to build compost heaps. Dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic matter called compost or humus results from the consumption and excretion of dead, decaying, dying or living animal and plant matter by macro- and micro-organisms. The alternating brown- and green-colored layers will have to be turned at least once a week and supplementally watered to the consistency of a wrung-out sponge to prevent mildew, mold or wildfire and to support the temperature levels that befit proper composting.

Alternating layers of carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials, checking heat and moisture levels, and turning layers daily or weekly are the steps in making compost. The materials previously must be divided into smaller sizes since composting proceeds fastest with less extensive and unwieldy surfaces and with frequent ventilating of the container's or heap's contents.

During composting, the microorganisms in the compost pile break down the organic matter, including carbon, into simpler compounds like carbon dioxide, water, and humus. This process releases carbon back into the environment in the form of carbon dioxide, which can then be used by plants for photosynthesis.

Support for micro-organisms and soil food webs are reasons why water is necessary in compost. In the first case, the support is critical to produce dark-colored, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic matter whereas in the second roots and underground organisms require adequate drainage, infiltration, and percolation in order for nutrients to be solubly accessible and available.

Heat helps to break down organic materials in the compost pile faster by speeding up the decomposition process. The heat generated during composting also helps to kill off weed seeds and pathogens present in the material. Additionally, the heat is an indicator that the microbial activity in the compost pile is at an optimal level for decomposition.

Composting is a proven method and is no longer a hypothesis.

The concept is that if organic materials are left together with the proper ratio of nitrogen to carbon, then the microscopic life will begin devouring the substance of the organic waste and as the food chain develops the waste turns to soil.