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 dcomposition 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.
There is more information on composting in my soon to
be released ebook “How to Master Affordable Organic Gardening.”
meet you on the garden path.
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