Organic Composting
Is manure necessary in making compost?
Even if animal manures are not available, compost can be made successfully. Cut or shred the plant materials as finely as possible in order to expose a maximum amount of surface to the organisms of decay.
The leaves of all trees are a valuable source of organic matter and minerals.
Leaves of such trees as eucalyptus, camphor and walnut should be exposed to the weather for a time before composting so that components they contain which might interfere with organisms of composition will be leached out.
Shredding helps prepare any leaves for composting.
As soon as the heat has subsided, the heap of finely ground plant materials may be inoculated with earthworms especially bred for the compost heap and soils rich in organic matter.
These worms will supply the manure and the various animal excretions needed. It is also worth adding animal residues as bone meal, dried blood, dried meat meal, dried fish and dried manure if available.
Seaweed and kelp can also be added as they are high in trace minerals as well as potash.
Human hair, like wool and silk, has a high nitrogen content. If the sweepings from a hairdresser’s shop were regularly
applied to a compost heap, a great amount of nitrogen could be saved.
Six to seven pounds of hair contain approximately a pound of nitrogen, equivalent to 100-200 pounds of manure.
If kept in a well-moistened heap, hair will disintregate as easily as feathers.
meet you on the garden path.
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