When it comes to a successful organic garden, your compost is key.
Compost adds nutrients back into the soil and feeds plants to help them thrive.
This is an imperative for organic gardeners.
What is It? Compost is a "pleasant" word for decomposing materials.
Grass clippings, leaves and even household food will start to break down after a relatively short period of time.
The end result is nutrient rich mulch.
This mulch can be mixed into your garden soil, making it available for plant roots to reach and draw out.
Organic gardening techniques discourage the use of chemical fertilizers to feed plants.
Nutrients in the soil are limited, and plants can deplete them quickly.
Once the nutrients are gone, plants simply have a difficult time growing, so compost can be used to replenish the nutrients for those plants.
Compost has Layers The term "compost pile" is a misnomer in a way.
Gardeners who just dump anything biodegradable into a pile usually end up with a mess.
Instead of having nutrient rich mulch, these gardeners are eventually left with a rotting pile of plants and other less desirable things.
There is something of a science to composting.
A productive compost pile needs heat, organisms and the occasional boost of oxygen.
Each organic material you add needs to be layered.
(Think of these layers sort of like making lasagna.
) Every organic material releases different minerals as it decomposes.
Placing the materials in layers allows them to break down without forming concentrated spots that may rot.
Building a Compost Pile It is fairly easy for a gardener to build their own compost bin.
The bin you use will hold the organic material, allowing it to decompose gradually.
Bins that are roughly three cubic feet work well.
This size is easy to manage but still can do the job it was designed for.
There are all types of compose bin designs.
The simplest involves pounding four posts into the ground and wrapping chicken wire around them.
There are also commercially made compost bins available in gardening stores.
They are fairly expensive but a good choice for a beginner.
Once the compost bin is ready, you can start adding the organic materials.
Just about anything is fair game.
Dry leaves, grass clippings, shredded paper, animal and food wastes can all be added to form your compost "lasagna" layers.
The pile should be rotated every two weeks to speed up the decomposition process.
Organic gardens - like any garden - need to be fed.
A compost pile can feed the garden in the most natural way possible.
A little carpentry, planning and layering will yield nutrient rich soil that make plants smile.